Hinge Health + Carrum Health: Helping Members Overcome Chronic Pain, Together

63 million.¹ That’s how many U.S. adults are living with chronic pain—one in every four. This condition is more than just a nuisance. It can change the way a person experiences the world. And when it’s left unaddressed, it creates a ripple effect, resulting in more problems for both the individual in pain and for those around them. 

The Impact of Chronic Pain

Chronic pain isn’t solely a physical issue. Over time, it can wear down an individual’s emotional, social, and mental well-being. Think about it: How would you feel if pain prevented you from walking your dog, or picking up your grandchild, or sitting on a plane to travel to your dream vacation destination? What if, because of your pain, you couldn’t work, and you were rendered jobless?

It’s no surprise that those living with persistent pain often experience: 

• Depression and anxiety

• Insomnia and other sleep disorders

• Social isolation

• Reduced productivity and increased absenteeism

And when individuals don’t have access to high-quality, whole-person care, they often seek out other ways to cope. That’s where things can take a dangerous turn.

When Chronic Pain Goes Unaddressed

Of the 42 million U.S. adults with a substance use disorder, 60% of them (25 million) also experience chronic pain.² That’s a staggering overlap—but not necessarily a surprising one. Without a long-term solution, many people end up turning to alcohol, painkillers, and/or other opioids in an attempt to numb their pain. 

Consider musculoskeletal (MSK) care, for example. Of the 11 million people who are prescribed opioids for MSK-related reasons, 40% of them³ eventually end up misusing those medications or developing an opioid use disorder.* When someone is living with a substance use disorder, the impact extends far beyond them, touching the lives of their loved ones, coworkers, and community. People struggling with substance use are more likely to:

• Experience job instability or loss

• Encounter legal issues 

• Face financial hardship

• Develop co-occurring mental health conditions

In the workplace, substance use disorders can lead to issues with absenteeism and productivity, higher injury rates, strained team dynamics, and more. The financial aspect doesn’t look great, either. For members, treatment can cost thousands of dollars, even with insurance coverage. And for employers, substance use disorders cost them an average of $9,000 more per year, per member. In 2022, employers collectively spent a whopping $35 billion on substance use.⁴

The Current State of Substance Use Treatment 

Unfortunately, despite the breadth and severity of the issue, access to high-quality treatment remains elusive for many.

Of the working Americans who would benefit from substance use treatment—whether solely detox, outpatient, inpatient, or a combination of treatment types—only one in five actually receive the care they need. There are several reasons for this, including high cost, lack of insurance coverage, logistical hurdles (e.g., getting in for an appointment, geographical location), and the persistent stigma that surrounds this disease. And, even when someone does get treatment, there’s no guarantee it will be high-quality. Unfortunately, the fee-for-service healthcare system doesn’t tend to support long-term recovery, and there are predatory facilities that prioritize profit over patient and do not implement the complete set of responsible treatment actions to prevent relapse.

As a result, patients face a disconnected care experience, shorter-than-needed stays, minimal follow-up, and little-to-no supplementary support—all of which contribute to high relapse rates and compounding costs.

How Carrum Health Can Help

We should not settle for the current state of substance use disorder and treatment in this country. People are desperate for help, and everyone deserves access to high-quality, low- or no-cost treatment. There’s a better way. 

For more than a decade, Carrum Health’s value-based centers of excellence network has helped self-funded employers provide their people with access to the highest quality specialty care in the country, including surgeries and cancer treatment. A few years ago, we recognized the critical gap in substance use treatment and responded by launching the market’s first and only value-based COE network for substance use treatment.

With this addition, employers and their members get access to: 

• A nationwide network of top-quality providers who can treat patients across all levels of care (e.g., detox, residential, partial hospitalization)

• Transparent pricing that is significantly lower than traditional payer rates

• Dedicated clinical care navigators (licensed clinicians who are certified alcohol and drug counselors) who secure facility access and provide a white-glove concierge service

• Quick referrals, with 90% of members referred to a treatment facility within one day

With better access to high-quality, coordinated care, both the human and financial cost of substance use can be dramatically reduced.

“I wanted to say thank you to Carrum Health. I wish more people had access to the kind of healthcare that we’re getting through [Carrum]. I think they’re doing it the right way, and it’s going to make a world of difference for me. It’s the treatment that everybody should get.”

– Carrum Health Substance Use Treatment Member

How Hinge Health + Carrum Work Together

Hinge Health and Carrum have been partnering since 2021, when the two companies first established our fully integrated, end-to-end digital MSK solution.

The integrations work both ways. If a member begins physical therapy with Hinge Health and, after exploring all conservative options, surgery is determined to be the best path forward, Hinge Health will make a warm referral to Carrum. Conversely, if a member seeks surgery through Carrum and the provider determines that surgery isn’t necessary, the member will be referred to Hinge Health for physical therapy.

This partnership is also quite valuable when it comes to substance use disorder. Let’s say, for example, a patient begins physical therapy with Hinge Health for chronic back pain. When asking the patient about their prior pain management strategies, the Hinge Health physical therapist uncovers a potential opioid use disorder. From there, Hinge Health seamlessly refers the patient to Carrum. The patient speaks with one of Carrum’s substance use disorder patient specialists, who is able to connect the patient with one of Carrum’s best-in-class treatment facilities—no prior authorization required.

By investing in better care, employers aren’t just addressing a health problem—they’re building a stronger, more resilient workforce. Because when it comes to chronic pain and substance use, the status quo isn’t sustainable. But change is possible, and the payoff is worth it.

*Misuse is episodic while opioid use disorder is a diagnosed medical condition as measured by the DSM-5.