As healthcare leaders look ahead to 2025, the shift toward value-based care remains a top priority—but are we moving fast enough to transform outcomes and reduce costs? This question is at the center of Health IT Answers’ annual predictions, and Confluent Health’s Chief Operating Officer, Mark Steiger, weighed in with critical insights.
Steiger highlights physical therapy as a largely untapped opportunity to accelerate value-based care. By emphasizing early intervention with a PT-first approach, significant progress can be made in improving outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. Studies show that preventative physical therapy within 14 days of pain onset can minimize the total cost of care by 50%, benefiting patients, payers, employers, and the broader healthcare system.
Steiger also points to the stark difference in costs when physical therapy is prioritized. Research reveals that patients who undergo an MRI before seeing a physical therapist face an average $4,793 increase in total care costs. A PT-first model not only saves money but also sets the stage for better, more sustainable patient outcomes.
The bottom line? Physical therapy has the potential to be a key driver in value-based care, aligning quality outcomes with cost-efficiency.
Read the full article featuring Mark Steiger and other industry leaders on Health IT Answers’ predictions for 2025: https://www.healthitanswers.net/2025-value-based-care-will-it-look-any-different/