Mutual of Omaha has partnered with Kaia Health, a digital musculoskeletal (MSK) provider based in New York, New York, to provide digital therapy to its policyholders.
Digital MSK Provider Kaia Health Partners With Mutual of Omaha
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Mutual of Omaha is a Fortune 500 company that provides insurance and financial services. The engagement kicks off this year with select companies in Indiana and Colorado. The initial companies will have access to Kaia Health’s “clinically-validated digital therapy program for pain management” throughout 2023.
This is a novel offering for Mutual of Omaha. It is the first time it has offered these services to its Medicare Supplement insurance population.
According to the company, musculoskeletal issues are a top priority for Mutual of Omaha. Mutual of Omaha Chief Medical Officer Manoj Pawar, M.D. commented, “We are thrilled to work with Kaia Health and bring an innovative solution to support our policyholders in living healthier, pain-free lives.”
Dr. Pawar continued, “With over half of our population experiencing a MSK condition and difficulty accessing quality care, Kaia is addressing a critical need for us with its clinically-validated digital therapy program that can be used from anywhere.”
It is no secret that the U.S. population is aging. This growing population continues to have MSK issues. Per the press release, “Kaia’s app and care team have been developed to address the specific needs of seniors who are experiencing chronic and/or acute musculoskeletal pain conditions.”
Kaia Health’s technology can be accessed through a digital app and the user’s smartphone camera. Seniors can use the digital app to access “personalized and self-directed care.” Additionally, when seniors utilize the smartphone’s camera, “Kaia’s advanced motion analysis technology provides real-time corrective feedback on body movements.”
Users do not have to go through the program alone. They are provided with “1:1 support from licensed health coaches and board-certified physical therapists.” This support can help seniors to access and use the app and the program.
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This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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