You heard that right. Nationally, musculoskeletal disorders are among the costliest health issues in the U.S. workforce with the total estimated annual cost of $600 BILLION dollars – that’s Billion, with a B. This spend comes from healthcare expenses and lost productivity from back, neck, shoulder, knee and joint pain issues.
- Musculoskeletal Conditions cost more than heart disease ($309B), cancer ($243B), and diabetes ($188B) annually
- Worker’s compensation claims account for approximately $20 Billion
- Treatments range from $15,000 to $85,000 per case, with the average cost per case of $32,000
- Lost Productivity, Retraining, & Presenteeism is estimated to cost 3–5 times the direct costs
- Musculoskeletal Conditions result in 38% more lost days than the average workplace injury
Potentially half your workforce may suffer from a Musculoskeletal condition. These conditions affect a significant portion of the U.S. population, with estimates showing:
- Over 126 million Americans—roughly 1 in 2 adults—are living with a musculoskeletal condition
- These conditions include arthritis, back and neck pain, osteoporosis, joint injuries, and other disorders affecting bones, muscles, and joints
- Low back pain alone affects nearly 65 million Americans annually
- Arthritis is the most common cause of disability, affecting 51.8 million people, especially those over age 65
MB Clients and the $100 Million Problem
We have seen the costs on a national level, but what about locally? McGohan Brabender clients in our data analytics system had nearly 33,000 patients (26% of the total population) spend nearly $100 million dollars in the past 12 months on musculoskeletal conditions. That is a 2% increase in the number of patients and 6% increase in the average cost per patient from the prior 12-month period. This equates to 11% of the total health care spend being spent on musculoskeletal conditions.
Another issue that goes hand-in-hand with musculoskeletal conditions is painkillers. MB clients had a 3% increase in the number of members taking a prescription drug for MSK issues. The good news is that the cost of those prescriptions per member decreased 10% over the last 12-month period, with the average cost of MSK drugs at $900/patient.
What can Employers do to Lower Costs?
PREVENTION is a key factor in musculoskeletal conditions. Implementing proven prevention strategies for workplace injuries can dramatically lower the incidence and/or severity of injury. More importantly, behavior changes including proper posture, correct body mechanics, exercise, stretching and weight loss are all keys in preventing musculoskeletal conditions.
Starting with an appropriate health care provider who knows how to screen, diagnose, treat and/or refer musculoskeletal conditions can have a huge cost savings to both the employee and employer. Providers that incorporate evidence-based treatments and care pathways, utilize alternative treatments, have better care coordination between physicians and other health care providers (primary care physicians, specialists, physical therapists, chiropractors, etc.) result in savings not only to your wallet, but your time as well. These providers can often eliminate unnecessary imaging, costly and potentially dangerous painkillers and opioids, injections, and surgeries by determining the root cause of the pain.
And there are easy things that everyone can do as well.
- Take a break and go for a walk around the office
- Stretch
- Purchase a standing desk if you sit all day
- Make a conscious effort to not stare down at your phone
- Ensure your monitor is at eye level, if not, stack books under it to raise it up
For stretches and more tips to combat a sedentary lifestyle, check out Airrosti’s website.
Musculoskeletal conditions are painful, expensive and oftentimes debilitating. Making an effort to ensure your well-being is time well spent.
Written by: Kelly McCall, Manager Health Intelligence Analytics