Education Module: Tackling MSK Costs
Speaker: Chad Gray, CEO of Integrated Musculoskeletal Care
Musculoskeletal (MSK) procedures, primarily surgeries such as knee replacements and spinal fusions, are another example of our overspending on care we don’t want or need. These unnecessary MSK procedures are also one of the significant on-ramps to opioid overuse disorders. One estimate is that 2% of the entire U.S. economy (not just health care) is wasted on non-evidence-based MSK procedures that add no value. Given that MSK issues frequently account for 20% of total claim costs and that over 50% of procedures are not evidence-based, this is a tremendous opportunity to slash costs and ill-advised overtreatment. Evidence-based approaches build on clinical knowledge with modern quality management techniques and data analytics. The results, validated in many settings, demonstrate far superior health outcomes.
Gray graduated from Florida A&M University in 1994, earned a Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy credential from the McKenzie Institute International in 2002, served on the Board of McKenzie Institute U.S.A. and has taught Accountable Community Development to hundreds of STEM researchers, human capital consultants, insurance brokers, benefit program directors and clinicians.
Gray remains trusted consultant to the C-Suite of self-insured companies, as well as to vice presidents and directors of group health, workers’ compensation and disability programs. He is a regular speaker at national/international healthcare conferences and a guest lecturer in a broad range of clinical education settings.
