$15 billion taxpayer funding for musculoskeletal conditions sparks call for essential reform

MedTech & Diagnostics News: Nearly 100 consumers and health leaders gathered in Canberra last week to urge Ministers and politicians for more affordable and accessible early care for Australians living with musculoskeletal conditions. The policy summit, organised by Arthritis Australia, spotlighted the growing demand for reform in how these conditions are managed.

Musculoskeletal conditions represent the most expensive disease group in the country, costing the healthcare system nearly $15 billion annually and reimbursement is skewed towards late stage interventions such as joint replacements.

Patients, however, bear significant financial burdens, often facing difficult choices between paying for essentials – like food and bills – or covering out-of-pocket expenses for medicines, allied health services, and necessary medical appointments.

Osteoarthritis, in particular, is placing a huge strain on the health system. Knee and hip replacements, cost billions each year. Yet, affordable alternatives that could delay these surgeries remain underfunded.

Knee osteoarthritis affects 1.2 million Australians, representing a massive burden not only for individuals but also for the healthcare system. To address this, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has collaborated with experts to introduce the 2024 Osteoarthritis of the Knee Clinical Care Standard.

Adjunct Professor Christopher Vertullo, an orthopaedic surgeon and Deputy Clinical Director of the Australian Orthopaedic Association’s (AOA) National Joint Replacement Registry, emphasised that knee surgery should not be seen as a “quick fix.”

“In Australia, while we’ve seen a gradual decline in knee arthroscopy rates, there’s been an increase in investigations like X-rays, MRIs, ultrasounds, and CT scans, accompanied by a reduction in proper clinical assessments and appropriate management before patients are referred for surgery,” he said.

The newly updated Standard details best practices for knee osteoarthritis care, covering the patient journey from community-based services such as general practitioners, physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, and dietitians, to specialist care from rheumatologists and orthopaedic surgeons.

According to Arthritis Australia, the next crucial step is securing government funding to ensure that this care is affordable and accessible to all who need it.

Louise Hardy, Acting CEO of Arthritis Australia, said “Implementing proven models of care, including allied health support for exercise and symptom management for people on joint replacement waiting lists, will make an immediate difference to their quality of life.

:And we know that a large proportion will find their osteoarthritis so improved that they choose not to proceed with costly surgery, resulting in quickly realized savings to the health budget bottom line.”

Dr Michael Johnson, President of the AOA, further highlighted the importance of early intervention.

“With over $2 billion spent annually on healthcare costs directly related to osteoarthritis, including knee and hip replacement surgery, there is an urgent need to prioritise funding for preventative measures that can delay or even prevent these surgeries. By doing so, we can improve patient outcomes and reduce the financial strain on our healthcare system,” emphasised Dr Johnson.

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