MSK Care Needs a Business Mindset—Here’s Why

By Gus Georgiadis , former Area Chairman of the Gallagher Benefit Services operations in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and upstate New York, founder and President of Triad USA, Inc., and Executive Vice President for Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Let’s face it: Musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders are the elephant in the room of healthcare. We see the numbers. We feel the impact. And yet, MSK remains one of the least efficiently managed healthcare costs.

Why? Because we treat MSK care like a transaction, not a long-term investment.

Healthcare costs are rising, and MSK is quietly becoming one of its largest drivers:

• $1 in every $6 spent on healthcare in the U.S. goes to MSK disorders.
• Nearly 50% of MSK surgeries may not have been necessary.
• And yet, most people continue relying on temporary fixes: injections, opioids, or a treadmill of physical therapy sessions that don’t stick.

So here’s the big question: What would happen if we stopped putting Band-Aids on MSK care—and started treating it like a long-term investment?

If MSK care were a company, it would be underperforming. Bloated budgets, inefficient operations, and no measurable return on investment.

But smart businesses know this:

? The earlier you intervene, the less you pay later.

? Prevention is cheaper than crisis management.

? Long-term outcomes matter more than quick fixes.

Now apply this thinking to MSK:

? Efficiency Over Waste Successful businesses streamline operations to cut waste. In healthcare, the equivalent is eliminating unnecessary treatments that drive up costs without delivering value.

Think about it this way: Why keep spending on repeated interventions when smarter approaches can solve the problem at its root?

? Focus on Long-Term Value, Not Short-Term Fixes In business, short-term wins might boost the numbers—but it’s the long-term strategy that drives real growth.

The same holds true for MSK care. Instead of patching the problem with quick fixes, we need to focus on approaches that deliver lasting results:

• Solutions that restore function and keep employees healthy for years to come.
• Programs that reduce repeat costs by addressing the underlying issues.

The lesson? It’s not just about “treatment” but creating sustainable value for individuals and organizations alike.? Companies of all sizes and types struggle to balance offering attractive benefit programs to retain and recruit talent with the bottom-line cost impacts of that objective.? MSK is one of those vexing problems where there is no rationale for the continual increase in cost trends.? It’s time to bring value into this equation.??

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? ROI Isn’t Just About Money Investing in MSK health isn’t just about saving dollars—it’s about returning employees to work, increasing their quality of life, and improving morale. After all, healthier people are happier people.

The smartest businesses invest early, measure outcomes, and focus on long-term results.

What if we brought that same mindset to MSK care?

By treating MSK health as a strategic investment, we can reduce costs, avoid unnecessary interventions, and—most importantly—help people move, work, and live better.

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