Interview by Jonathan Kersting
Highmark Health, a leading national blended health organization, today announced that it is working with AposTherapy to bring a non-invasive, drug-free option to patients suffering with knee osteoarthritis pain.
Developed by experts in orthopedics and sports medicine, the AposTherapy device is cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to help temporarily reduce knee pain and improve lower extremity function. The AposTherapy program is a year-long, at-home treatment that requires patients to wear a personalized device for approximately one hour per day during normal daily activities. Supported by more than 60 clinical studies, including recent research published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), patients using the AposTherapy system have experienced significant improvements in temporary pain relief, function and gait patterns.
“Advancing safe and effective emerging treatments and technologies is a priority for Highmark Health,” said Dr. Tony Farah, Executive Vice President & Chief Medical and Clinical Transformation Officer of Highmark Health. “AposTherapy’s at home treatment is simple, effective, and affordable, aligning with our strategy to transform health care by proactively driving better patient outcomes and clinician experiences and lowering the total cost of care.”
“We are honored and excited to have earned this vote of confidence from Highmark Health, a leader in innovative patient care. Our partnership brings a convenient, clinically proven knee osteoarthritis treatment option to patients and provides clinicians with an alternative non-invasive option,” added Dr. Cliff Bleustein, CEO and President of AposTherapy®. “Through partnerships with industry leaders like Highmark Health, AposTherapy is bringing the right care, at the right place, at the right time to those suffering from knee pain.”
“Osteoarthritis continues to be a worldwide health issue. The biggest growing need for innovations to treat this condition is within people in the 40 to 60 age range and often elderly individuals who do not have the option of joint replacement surgery,” commented Dr. Ed Snell, Sports Medicine, Allegheny Health Network. “We’re looking forward to joining forces with AposTherapy to bring a world-class treatment option into our marketplace. Because of this partnership, Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network will continue to stimulate innovative approaches to our ever-changing healthcare environment.”
“AposTherapy focuses on biomechanical adaptations to provide an additional conservative management option to those with knee arthritis,” added Dr. Todd France, Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, Allegheny Health Network. “By incorporating simple natural movements to restore alignment and improve walking patterns, this unique technology aims to solve and ease the disabling nature of knee osteoarthritis.
The AposTherapy treatment is currently available to Highmark Inc. commercial health plan members in western Pennsylvania at Allegheny Health Network’s Cool Springs, Federal North and Wexford Health + Wellness locations. Throughout 2021 Highmark Health will be exploring opportunities to make this treatment available to health plan members in its other core markets of central and northeastern Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Delaware.
About Highmark Health
Highmark Health, a Pittsburgh, PA-based enterprise that employs more than 35,000 people who serve millions of Americans across the country, is the parent company of Highmark Inc., Allegheny Health Network, and HM Health Solutions. Highmark Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates provide health insurance to more than 5.6 million members in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Delaware as well as dental insurance, and related health products through a national network of diversified businesses. Allegheny Health Network is an integrated delivery network comprised of thirteen hospitals, more than 2,500 affiliated physicians, ambulatory surgery centers, an employed physician organization, home and community-based health services, a research institute, a group purchasing organization, and health and wellness pavilions in western Pennsylvania. HM Health Solutions is focused on meeting the information technology platform and other business needs of the Highmark Health enterprise as well as unaffiliated health insurance plans by providing proven business processes, expert knowledge, and integrated cloud-based platforms. To learn more, visit www.highmarkhealth.org
About AposTherapy®
AposTherapy® is a global leader in the identification and treatment of gait-related conditions. The AposTherapy® foot-worn device is FDA-cleared for treating knee osteoarthritis, to help temporarily reduce knee pain and improve lower extremity function during activities of daily living. It is also a non-FDA cleared wellness device which can help patients live well with other gait-related conditions such as chronic low back and hip pain. With a mission to advance global health through the power of movement, the AposIQ, business unit combines innovative technology, data science and over a decade of experience in gait modification to determine the optimal way to adjust patients’ gaits over time.
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