{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The Better Outcomes Show","title":"166: Why MSK is the Next Healthcare Battleground","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2857,"description":"The Battle for MSK Care Is Already Underway\n\nMusculoskeletal care is quietly becoming one of the most important battlegrounds in healthcare.\nMSK conditions affect over 120 million Americans, account for roughly $420 billion in annual healthcare spending, and remain the leading cause of disability worldwide.\nAnd because of that, nearly every major stakeholder in healthcare is moving into this space.\nDigital health companies.\nEmployers.\nPayers.\nOrthopedic groups.\nHealth systems.\nWearable tech companies.\nThey’re all competing for one thing:\nControl of the musculoskeletal patient relationship.\nBecause whoever controls the entry point into MSK care often controls everything that follows—from imaging and therapy to injections, surgery, and long-term outcomes.\nIn this episode, we take a step back and look at what’s really happening in the MSK space—and why this moment represents more than just innovation. It represents a fundamental shift in how care is delivered.\nWhat we cover in this Episode:\n-Why Musculoskeletal Care Has Become a $420B Healthcare Category\nMSK is one of the largest drivers of healthcare spending, disability, and lost productivity in the United States.\n-Why the Current MSK System Is So Fragmented\nHow disconnected care pathways create inefficiencies—and opportunities for disruption.\n-The 4 Competing Models of MSK Care\nProcedure-centric, therapy-centric, digital-first, and hybrid care models—and how they’re competing for control of the patient journey.\n-Why Policy and Payment Models Are Beginning to Shift\nHow CMS initiatives like the ACCESS model and the expansion of RTM are beginning to support more coordinated, longitudinal care.\n-Why Technology Alone Won’t Solve the Problem\nThe role of clinicians in guiding movement, behavior change, and long-term capacity building.\n-Why the Future of MSK Care Will Likely Be Hybrid\nHow digital tools and clinical expertise are coming together to reshape care delivery.\nFull episode note:...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/TRw7TPxyAwWympKv0xhI25HiRrQGqPAeghmslhuz_bI/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9kODg3/MjI5OGRmYWI3MGFm/MTMwYjI2Mzk3Yjk1/ZDIyNC5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}