New Research from Omada Health Demonstrates Significant Cost Savings of Virtual Physical Therapy

Rhea-AI Summary

Omada Health (Nasdaq: OMDA) has released groundbreaking research demonstrating significant cost savings from their virtual physical therapy program. The study compared virtual PT to in-person physical therapy for musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions using claims data from July 2019 to May 2023.

Key findings show that Omada's virtual MSK program achieved median per-member-per-month savings exceeding $100 in the first six months, with median gross MSK savings per member over $1,000 at both six and 12 months. The program delivered a positive ROI of 1.8x at both intervals, while reducing total medical care utilization and MSK-related costs compared to traditional in-person therapy.

This research is particularly significant as MSK conditions affect over 50% of U.S. adults and cost the healthcare system more than $420 billion in 2018, surpassing costs for diabetes and heart disease.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• Study limited to claims data analysis without direct patient outcome measures
• Long-term effectiveness beyond 12 months not yet demonstrated

Insights

Healthcare Economics Analyst

Omada's virtual PT shows 1.8x ROI with $1,000+ per member savings vs. traditional therapy, positioning it favorably in the $420B MSK market.

This peer-reviewed research presents compelling economic evidence for Omada's virtual physical therapy approach. The study addresses a significant gap in previous research by including the cost of the virtual program itself in the ROI calculations, making this a more comprehensive economic analysis than prior studies.

The data reveals median per-member-per-month savings exceeding $100 in the first six months and median gross MSK savings per member over $1,000 at both six and 12-month intervals. This translates to a positive ROI of 1.8x at both measurement periods - a metric that will catch the attention of payers and employers.

The research is particularly significant considering the massive scale of the MSK market - affecting more than half of U.S. adults and costing the healthcare system over $420 billion annually (exceeding costs for diabetes and heart disease). For employers specifically, MSK treatments account for approximately 15% of total medical costs, representing a $353 billion annual expenditure.

Beyond the direct cost savings, the study highlights how virtual PT addresses critical access barriers in traditional care: geographic limitations, provider availability, and coverage restrictions. By removing these obstacles, Omada's approach may prevent costly delays in treatment initiation that typically lead to downstream expenses like imaging and pain management.

The strategic importance extends beyond immediate savings. The research establishes Omada's potential as a consolidation point for employers seeking to streamline their healthcare offerings, particularly given the documented connection between MSK conditions and cardiovascular disease - directly aligning with Omada's position as a cardiometabolic care provider.

Compared to in-person physical therapy, claims data revealed lower healthcare utilization and spending for patients who used Omada’s programs for musculoskeletal conditions

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Omada Health (Nasdaq: OMDA), the virtual between-visit healthcare provider, released new data¹ demonstrating that patients who used Omada’s virtual physical therapy (PT) program to address musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, Omada for Joint & Muscle Health, had lower utilization of total medical care and reduced MSK-related costs and encounters on average at 6 and 12 months compared to patients who used in-person PT (IP-PT). This study is believed to be one of the first peer-reviewed healthcare claims analyses to compare costs and utilization of virtual PT (V-PT) and IP-PT in treating MSK conditions while also accounting for the cost of the virtual program itself.

In the U.S., MSK conditions affect more than one in two adults and cost the healthcare system over $420 billion in 2018—more than cost of diabetes, heart disease, or any other chronic condition.² While physical therapy is often the first line of defense for MSK-related conditions³ ahead of costlier and higher-risk interventions like surgery, patients can face multiple barriers to accessing and participating in timely physical therapist care—geographic barriers, provider availability, and coverage restrictions like coinsurance or limits on the number of visits.⁴ Delays in starting PT treatment can add to downstream costs associated with care—like imaging and pain management—and increase the cost burden on individuals, employers, and health plans alike.⁵

“Previous studies have shown that virtual physical therapy can reduce healthcare utilization and spending, but they have left out critical cost components,” said Sarah Linke, PhD, MPH, Senior Director, Clinical & Translational Research, Omada Health. “Our findings demonstrate that Omada’s human-led, virtual MSK program not only reduced direct service expenditures but also has the potential to be more cost-effective than in-person physical therapy over time, even after accounting for the cost of the program itself.”

Omada’s study used Identity Manager, HealthVerity’s patient de-identification and identity resolution technology, and claims data from July 2019 to May 2023, sourced from HealthVerity Marketplace™, to compare V-PT patients in Omada for Joint & Muscle Health to a control group of patients enrolled in IP-PT to analyze healthcare utilization, cost savings, and return on investment (ROI) at 6 and 12 months post-treatment initiation. As a partner to digital health innovators, HealthVerity works with companies like Omada to validate impact using a large, privacy-protected real-world data ecosystem.

Omada’s virtual MSK program was found to have a significant impact on all measures in the study when compared to controls, yielding a lower utilization of total medical care, driven in large part by a reduction in MSK-related costs and encounters. Median per-member-per-month savings were more than $100 in the first six months, with median gross MSK savings per member over $1,000 at both six and 12 months, reflecting a positive ROI (1.8x) at both six and 12 months.¹

These savings are significant as research has shown that employers spend $353 billion annually on MSK-related treatments and conditions for their employees,⁶ which accounts for nearly 15% of their total medical costs.

“For employers and health plans, this study is a significant indicator of the value of virtual MSK programs with meaningful ROI in just the first year,” said Wei-Li Shao, President, Omada Health. “Given that those with chronic MSK pain have been found to be almost twice as likely as those without to have cardiovascular disease,⁶ we are well-positioned as a virtual-first, cardiometabolic care provider to provide high-quality MSK care to employers and payers who are consistently looking for ways to consolidate their offerings.”

Omada for Joint & Muscle Health has earned URAC for Telehealth accreditation, and provides treatments delivered by extensively trained, licensed physical therapists.

“We’re proud to contribute to Omada’s growing body of peer-reviewed studies and to the broader industry literature, leveraging claims data to demonstrate the potential for virtual care programs, like Omada for Joint & Muscle Health, to deliver care that can be more cost-effective than traditional, in-person PT,” said Ian Livingstone, Senior Director, Data Insights & Analytics, HealthVerity. “These findings highlight how real-world data can uncover the true impact of digital interventions on both patient outcomes and value-based care.”

Omada Health
Omada Health is a virtual-first healthcare provider that nurtures lifelong health, one day at a time. Omada care teams implement clinically-validated behavior change protocols for individuals living with diabetes, hypertension, prediabetes, and musculoskeletal issues. With more than a decade of experience and data, and 30 peer-reviewed publications that showcase its clinical and economic results, Omada is designed to help improve health outcomes and contain healthcare costs. Omada’s scope exceeds 2,000 customers, including health plans, health systems, and employers ranging in size from small businesses to Fortune 500s.

The foundation of Omada’s success is a strong, vibrant work culture, which helped earn the company the distinction of becoming an officially certified Great Place to Work^®. An industry leader, Omada was the first virtual provider to join the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Leadership Alliance, reflecting the aim to complement primary care providers for the benefit of members, and affirming its guarantee to every partner: Omada works differently.

Contacts
Rose Ramseth
press@omadahealth.com

Sources

1. Napoleone, JM, Devaraj, SM, Noble, M, et al. Health Care Cost Savings and Utilization Reductions Associated With Virtual Physical Therapy Care: A Propensity-Matched Claims Analysis. Phys Ther. 2025;105(8). https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzaf084
2. The health care total cost of musculoskeletal conditions. Evernorth. August 3, 2022. Accessed July 22, 2025. https://www.evernorth.com/articles/health-care-total-cost-musculoskeletal-conditions.
3. Lin I, Wiles L, Waller R, et al. What does best practice care for musculoskeletal pain look like? Eleven consistent recommendations from high-quality clinical practice guidelines: systematic review. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2020;54:79-86.
4. Carvalho E, Bettger JP, Goode AP. Insurance Coverage, Costs, and Barriers to Care for Outpatient Musculoskeletal Therapy and Rehabilitation Services. N C Med J. 2017 Sep-Oct;78(5):312-314. doi: 10.18043/ncm.78.5.312. PMID: 28963265; PMCID: PMC6021174.
5. Addressing Musculoskeletal Conditions and Physical Therapy Needs with Virtual Solutions: Key Trends and Employer Considerations. Business Group on Health. November 15, 2024. Accessed July 22, 2025. https://www.businessgrouphealth.org/resources/addressing-musculoskeletal-conditions-and-physical-therapy-needs-with-virtual-solutions.
6. Oliveira CB, Maher CG, Franco MR, Kamper SJ, Williams CM, Silva FG, Pinto RZ. Co-occurrence of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain and Cardiovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis. Pain Med. 2020 Jun 1;21(6):1106-1121. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnz217. PMID: 31591645.

FAQ

What cost savings did Omada Health's virtual physical therapy program demonstrate?

The program showed median per-member-per-month savings over $100 in the first six months and median gross MSK savings per member exceeding $1,000 at both 6 and 12 months, with a 1.8x ROI.

How does Omada's virtual PT program compare to traditional in-person physical therapy?

Omada's virtual PT program demonstrated lower utilization of total medical care and reduced MSK-related costs compared to in-person PT, while maintaining cost-effectiveness even after accounting for program costs.

What is the market size for musculoskeletal conditions that Omada Health (OMDA) addresses?

MSK conditions affect more than 50% of U.S. adults and cost the healthcare system over $420 billion in 2018, exceeding costs for diabetes and heart disease.

How many customers does Omada Health serve with its virtual healthcare programs?

Omada Health serves over 2,000 customers, including health plans, health systems, and employers ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies.

What accreditation has Omada Health's Joint & Muscle Health program received?

Omada for Joint & Muscle Health has earned URAC accreditation for Telehealth and provides treatments delivered by licensed physical therapists.