Kiio Program Dramatically Cut Medical Spending; Reduced Utilization of Emergency and Urgent Care, Unnecessary Treatments and Diagnostics; and Decreased Fills for Opioid and Benzodiazepine Prescriptions
Madison, Wis. (March 26, 2019) – Today, WEA Trust and Kiio released the results of a two-year claims data analysis evaluating the impact of Kiio’s digital therapeutic on medical utilization and cost of care for low back pain. WEA Trust began offering Kiio’s digital therapeutic to its public sector employee members in 2018.
“Low back pain has been on our radar for many years because chronic back pain is both a quality of life issue for our members and a consistent leading cost driver for our health plan and employer groups,” said Lisa Harlow, MS, CES, Director of Member Health Services at WEA Trust. “What I really love about Kiio is that it is customized to each member’s individual needs and situation. It is a real-time solution that empowers members to take control of their condition, use less medication, and avoid unnecessary aggressive treatments.”
The results of the study demonstrate significant improvement in WEA Trust members who participated in Kiio:
64% reduction in low-back-pain-related medical spend
>90% decrease in emergency and urgent care
24% decrease in filled opioid prescriptions
66% decrease in filled benzodiazepine prescriptions
>90% decrease in spinal injections
67% decrease in radio frequency ablation
32% decrease in imaging
Mary Hughes, Vice President of Medical Affairs at WEA Trust, added, “Our main objective is always to improve member health and experience. This is exactly what we are seeing with Kiio, while also dramatically lowering medical costs.”
According to the World Health Organization, low back pain affects one in three adults every year and costs U.S. health plans and employers over $100 billion annually.
In addition to savings, the majority of WEA Trust members who participated in Kiio achieved significant pain reduction, improved function and indicated they were “extremely satisfied” with their experience with 92% of participants saying the program was easy to use. Participants reported that they value the 24/7 access to care, convenience and the fact that the program does not require special equipment or appointments.
“It is a testament to the efficacy of the solution that WEA Trust’s results are consistent with what we see across the board with our other partners,” said David Grandin, founder and CEO of Kiio. “Musculoskeletal issues are a top priority for payers. And forward-thinking health plans and employers are actively seeking new care delivery models that combine consumer-centricity, scalability, and evidence-based medicine to deliver significant benefits to all stakeholders – member, health plan, and employer. The positive impact we are having helping people get healthier and return to the activities they love is gratifying to everyone at Kiio.”
“We are committed to being good stewards of our members’ health and to providing solutions that help our employer partners. That means taking a leadership role in advancing new high-value care delivery models like Kiio that provide patients with immediate access, convenience, and supported control over their health outcomes,” said Tim Bartholow, MD, WEA Trust Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. “Because of the combination of Kiio’s current product and outcomes, content covering all musculoskeletal, and a technology platform enabling automated delivery of individualized care, we made a strategic investment. Kiio is right in the sweet spot of the future of healthcare, and we are extremely excited about helping more people and more employers benefit.”
To read the case study, visit weatrustcasestudy.kiio.com.
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