Proactive, physician-led approach aims to prevent unnecessary surgeries, improve outcomes
DETROIT, March 5, 2025 – Health Alliance Plan (HAP), a Michigan-based nonprofit health plan, is enhancing care and reducing unnecessary musculoskeletal (MSK) costs for its Medicare Advantage members through a new partnership with Protera Health.HAP was an early adopter of this technology, with 1,000 members already benefiting from the program in its Medicare and commercial lines of business. By combining HAP’s commitment to high-quality, affordable care with Protera’s proactive, physician-led clinical platform, the partnership aims to provide earlier interventions that can help reduce the need for surgery and improve overall health outcomes. HAP’s investment in value-based solutions underscores its commitment to delivering innovative, high-quality care for Medicare Advantage enrollees affected by MSK conditions.
The impact of musculoskeletal pain
- High prevalence – Musculoskeletal pain is one of the most common health concerns worldwide, affecting millions of people across all age groups.
- Work and lifestyle factors – Sedentary habits, poor posture, repetitive movements and physically demanding jobs contribute to MSK symptoms.
- Quality of life impact – Chronic pain and MSK disorders can limit mobility, reduce productivity and increase the risk of mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.
“At HAP, our mission is to provide exceptional care and improve health outcomes for our members,” said Margaret Anderson, HAP’s interim president and chief sales and marketing officer. “This collaboration allows us to deliver on that promise by leveraging Protera’s multidisciplinary approach, giving members easy access to robust digital care and a physician-led care team — no matter where they live.”
A new approach to MSK care
Protera Health was founded by physician leaders with expertise in managed care, value-based MSK delivery and clinical informatics. Unlike many digital MSK solutions that rely on automated pathways or health coaches, Protera’s program supports both simple and complex MSK conditions — particularly for Medicare populations — by focusing on:
- Comprehensive clinical care – Live telehealth sessions with a multidisciplinary, physician-led team, plus up to one year of active digital engagement.
- Precision treatment – The only digital program using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to track physical, pain and mental health progress, guiding personalized education and care.
- Seamless in-person care navigation – A platform that offers concierge access to health plan benefits and preferred provider networks for in-person care, such as surgical consultations, when needed.
“We evaluated many digital MSK solutions and selected Protera because of its proven clinical outcomes, use of PROMs and demonstrated success in Medicare Advantage,” said Dr. Charles Bloom, HAP’s chief medical officer. “We’re excited about how this program’s proactive approach can transform the member experience while lowering costs.”
Rethinking utilization management
Dr. Eric Makhni, a renowned orthopedic surgeon at Henry Ford Health, played a key role in developing the concept.
“It’s time to rethink utilization management,” said Dr. Makhni, CEO and co-founder of Protera Health. “Instead of cutting costs by delaying or denying care, we focus on helping people better manage their back and joint pain — so they can avoid surgery altogether.”
Protera launched its Medicare Advantage Digital solution in September 2024 and has opened a limited number of priority registration spots for health plans and systems looking to reduce MSK costs. Interested organizations can submit their information through the Protera website.
About Health Alliance Plan (HAP)
Health Alliance Plan (HAP) is a Michigan-based, nonprofit health plan that provides health coverage to individuals and companies of all sizes. For 60 years, HAP has partnered with leading doctors and hospitals, employers and community organizations to enhance the health and well-being of the lives it touches. HAP offers a product portfolio with six distinct product lines: Group Insured Commercial, Individual, Medicare, Medicaid (through HAP Empowered Health Plan), Self-Funded and Network Leasing. HAP excels in delivering award-winning preventive services, disease management and wellness programs, as well as personalized customer service. HAP is an operating unit of Henry Ford Health, one of the nation’s leading health care systems. For more information, visit www.hap.org.
About Protera Health
Many health plans struggle to contain the rising costs of musculoskeletal (MSK) care. Protera Health (Troy, MI) helps solves this problem through a virtual, physician-led, multidisciplinary solution. This not only results in valuable cost savings – through reduction of MSK and emergency room utilization/surgeries - but also in member health and satisfaction improvement as well. Protera can deliver services through in-network contracting, which minimizes administrative expenses for health plan partners. Interested health plans can learn more online.