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Online therapy vendor pitches Simple Therapy as covered benefit; board discusses pilot and costs
Summary
Simple Therapy proposed a fully online, personalized exercise program for musculoskeletal pain as a covered benefit for the HSS population starting January 2018; vendor offered a free retiree fall-prevention pilot and cited potential monthly cost under $30,000 (about $360,000/year). Commissioners asked about overlap with existing plan services and payer integration.
Helena Plater Ziberg, CEO of Simple Therapy, presented an online, evidence-informed program for people with muscle, joint and back pain and proposed making it a covered benefit for Health Service System members beginning in January 2018. Plater Ziberg said Simple Therapys platform triages users through a brief screening questionnaire, personalizes 15-minute exercise sessions, offers 24/7 coaching and refers about 18-20% of users for in-person care when clinically indicated.
The vendor proposed a free retiree fall- and fracture-prevention pilot starting in September for the 65+ population and estimated that universal coverage for the Systems 103,000+ population could be provided for under $30,000 per month (approximately $360,000 per year). She cited prior insurer pilots and reported return visits, user-reported pain improvement rates and a claim of $1,953 in average savings per person in one employer pilot.
Commissioners raised questions about overlap with existing plan services, whether the vendor would integrate with the Systems three contracted health plans, and how patients screened out as needing in-person care would be referred. Director Dodd and staff said they would pursue conversations with the three vendors and could run a limited pilot to assess utilization and savings before full implementation.
No vote was taken; staff will examine plan overlap, vendor integration and pilot feasibility.
