UnitedHealthcare offers virtual PT program

UnitedHealthcare says it has introduced a new virtual physical-therapy (PT) program to help improve support for people with musculoskeletal issues. 

It provides eligible members with round-the-clock, on-demand exercise feedback powered by artificial intelligence (AI), the health insurer said in an April 18 announcement.

The program builds upon a broad set of musculoskeletal products for employers designed to help enhance health outcomes; and reduce costs and avoid often unnecessary invasive treatments, such as imaging, surgery, or opioid prescriptions.

UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of Minnetonka, Minnesota–based UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH).

UnitedHealthcare sees the new program as important given that an estimated 50 percent of U.S. adults are affected by musculoskeletal conditions, such as back, knee, or shoulder pain. Associated treatments account for about 10 percent of annual medical expenses, the health insurer said, citing a Healthcare Economics analysis of UnitedHealthcare 2020 claims.

Many orthopedic procedures may be beneficial, but UnitedHealthcare points to a recent study that found that some treatments are “no more effective than noninvasive options,” including exercise, physical therapy, or acupuncture. 

“UnitedHealthcare’s Virtual Physical Therapy program offers people the convenience of 24/7 access to PT coaching sessions at home or on the go, further enhancing our holistic approach to help address musculoskeletal issues by combining advanced technology with proactive engagement, personalized support, and consumer-centric benefit designs,” Dr. Russell Amundson, national senior medical director at UnitedHealthcare, said. “With millions of Americans experiencing orthopedic issues currently or at some point during their lifetimes, this AI-driven approach supplements our existing virtual physical therapy benefit with a new resource to help people recover from injury or surgery.”

UnitedHealthcare says virtual physical therapy is part of its focus on expanding the use of virtual care and digital-health resources, which is “bolstered by an annual enterprise-wide investment” of more than $5 billion in data, technology, and innovation. 

The program is available nationwide as a buy-up option for employers with self-funded health plans. 

About virtual physical therapy  

UnitedHealthcare says eligible members recovering from surgery or injury start by completing an assessment of current issues, either on a mobile device or at myuhc.com, and will receive a referral to virtual physical therapy if appropriate.

Qualified members then download the Kaia Health app, which uses an AI-based system to help support individuals through PT exercises and deliver personalized feedback to help ensure the movements are done correctly.

Program participants also have access to one-to-one health coaching, including by phone or via the in-app chat feature, along with educational information and meditation and breathing exercises to help with pain management and relaxation, UnitedHealthcare said. 

Health coaches are available to help motivate members, assist with setting realistic goals, and encourage adherence to the recommended exercises.

To track progress and determine if further support is necessary, the app uses motion monitoring to provide feedback in real-time, offering suggestions akin to what people might receive from a physical therapist at an in-person appointment. 

The exercises are analyzed over time by the app’s “triage” algorithms, along with self-reported outcomes such as perceived pain levels and mobility, to help identify members in need of additional coaching or intervention, per the health insurer’s announcement.