Why Easy Access to PT and CBT Is a Smart Benefits Investment

Part of a sound PROACTIVE CARE benefit strategy is removing all barriers to acute treatment and maintenance of symptoms like chronic musculoskeletal pain by making physical therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy as easy as possible for members. If people feel they cannot get their pain addressed efficiently, they will end up utilizing higher-acuity, higher-cost care such as the emergency department and specialty services, while also generating a significant amount of occult presenteeism. While musculoskeletal claims costs are easy to see, once you add the extensive hidden work-related costs, the return on investment for these benefit investments becomes truly compelling—a reality reinforced by research showing that nearly half of U.S. adults living with arthritis report activity limitations and more than one-third experience arthritis-related work limitations, with higher prevalence among those facing greater social and economic barriers (White et al., 2025; Stowe et al., 2025).

References:

White, D. K., Zhao, F., Boring, M. A., Barbour, K. E., & Fallon, E. A. (2025). Prevalence of arthritis-attributable work limitations among adults 18–64 years with arthritis—United States, 2023. Arthritis Care & Research. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.25683

Stowe, E. W., Boring, M. A., Fallon, E. A., Foster, A. L., Lites, T. D., Eke, P. I., Town, M., Seth, P., & Odom, E. L. (2025). Prevalence of arthritis and nonmedical factors that influence health among adults—42 U.S. jurisdictions, 2022. Arthritis Care & Research. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.70020