16 Jul The Task Force Releases a Case Study Featuring a Musculoskeletal Care Partnership between Henry Ford Health, Health Alliance Plan, and Protera Health
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 16, 2026) –The Health Care Transformation Task Force released a new publication, Implementing Value-Based Musculoskeletal Care in Integrated Health Systems Through Digital Clinical Models, featuring a value-based musculoskeletal (MSK) care partnership between Henry Ford Health, Health Alliance Plan by Henry Ford Health, and Protera Health.
This case study demonstrates how integrated digital care, multidisciplinary support, specialty evaluation, and coordinated in-person services improve patient outcomes and reduce costs. 85% of participants achieved clinically meaningful improvements in physical health or pain scores, and savings exceeded $10,000 compared to usual MSK clinician care and $15,000 compared to usual physical therapy care.
“Musculoskeletal conditions are among the most common and costly health challenges facing patients and employers today,” said Chris Stanley, MD, MBA, President of Populance, the population health services subsidiary of Henry Ford Health and Task Force Board member. “This partnership demonstrates how providers, health plans, and innovative care delivery organizations can work together to enhance patient experiences, improve access, and achieve better outcomes while reducing avoidable costs.”
“We are focused on helping members access high-quality, affordable care,” said Charles Bloom, DO, FACOEP, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Health Alliance Plan by Henry Ford Health. “This model creates the flexibility to invest in care management, coaching, and other services that improve the member experience while advancing our goals for quality and affordability.”
“Too many patients with musculoskeletal conditions face barriers to accessing timely, evidence-based care,” said Eric Makhni, MD, MBA, CEO and Co-Founder of Protera Health. “By partnering with Health Alliance Plan and Henry Ford Health, we’ve been able to deliver a more connected care experience that combines virtual-first multidisciplinary treatment, health outcome monitoring, and seamless care navigation to in-person services when needed. The results show that we can improve patient outcomes while generating meaningful savings.”
This publication is part of a series of case studies on value-based specialty integration.