Humana Expands Value-Based Musculoskeletal Care as Chronic Condition Costs Are on the Rise

Humana is honing in on value-based care with recently announced partnerships with Vori Health and HOPCo—adding to its existing TailorCare program—to deliver personalized, coordinated support for Medicare Advantage members living with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.

This collaboration comes at a time when MSK-related healthcare costs are increasing, posing one of the greatest burdens on insurers, employers and the healthcare system at large.

MSK conditions range from arthritis and osteoporosis to back and joint pain. The condition affects more than half of U.S. adults and is the leading cause of disability nationwide. The annual direct healthcare costs exceed $420 billion, making MSK conditions one of the most expensive chronic health challenges in the U.S.
In addition, the Cleveland Clinic–led study of Global Burden of Disease data estimated MSK spending at $380.9 billion, ranking it ahead of diabetes at $309 billion and cardiovascular disease at $255 billion.

As costs climb, more health plans and employers are increasingly turning to value-based models that reward outcomes rather than volume.

For example, UnitedHealthcare launched bundled payment programs for knee, hip and spine procedures that reduced readmissions by 22% and complications by 17%, generating savings of roughly $18,000 per procedure in 2018.

At the same time, value-based care programs are changing how healthcare is delivered, putting more focus on prevention and better coordination of services, according to UnitedHealth Group.

Based on Humana’s latest announcement, consumers are being offered a layered MSK care strategy that expands access to personalized, value-based support for Medicare Advantage members.

In fact, Vori Health will be available nationwide to Group Humana Medicare Advantage members, while HOPCo will serve individual Medicare Advantage members in Arizona through a musculoskeletal clinically integrated network. TailorCare, already established in Atlanta, will extend its care navigation, education and scheduling services to Dallas in November 2025 and Denver in January 2026, broadening Humana’s reach for members managing MSK conditions.

“These innovative programs are designed to deliver personalized care for our members to help improve their quality of life,” Bryan Loy, M.D., corporate medical director at Humana, said in the release. “Care navigation and whole-person care are crucial for every Humana member, particularly those living with musculoskeletal conditions.”

With the growing cost pressure, especially among employer-sponsored plans, this expansion comes at a good time.

According to a recent survey by Business Group on Health, healthcare cost trends are projected to expand by nearly 8% in 2025, the largest increase in over a decade—highlighting the urgency to tackle chronic-condition spending head on.

In addition, in the evolving employer-benefits landscape, MSK remains a key chronic-condition driver amidst other high-cost trends such as pharmacy and specialty drugs.

The 2025 State of Musculoskeletal Care report from Hinge Health also shows that nearly 40% of U.S. adults experience MSK conditions, generating $381 billion in annual expenses.

It also highlights that digital care can dramatically reduce invasive procedures. For example, Hinge Health patients underwent 56% fewer spinal fusions, 73% fewer knee replacements and 50% fewer hip replacements compared to traditional care pathways.

Additionally, employers face two kinds of costs from musculoskeletal (MSK) problems.

Workers with arthritis add almost $9,000 a year in extra medical costs, and those with low back pain cost about $2,400 more. These conditions also hurt productivity. For example, people with knee pain miss nearly 19 workdays each year on average, according to Rezilient Health.

Humana’s new value-based MSK programs are part of a larger change in healthcare, moving away from one-time treatments and surgeries toward more coordinated, whole-person care that focuses on long-term health results.

As MSK costs continue to increase, the integration of value-based care services and digital-first care offers a promising path forward.