Beyond physical fitness: How movement as medicine delivers for Medicare members

Over the years, we’ve come to understand – and largely accept – the extensive benefits of exercise for improving physical and mental health, preventing and addressing chronic conditions, reducing pain, recovering from injuries, and more. In fact, the concept of “exercise as medicine” – especially among clinical researchers and practitioners – is nothing new. It dates back at least to Hippocrates, known as the “father of scientific medicine”, who is believed to be among the first physicians to prescribe exercise to his patients.  

Yet, the power of exercise as preventive healthcare – especially for our oldest and most vulnerable populations – remains widely untapped thousands of years later.

Why? 

For individuals, it goes beyond access to places to safely exercise — a key social determinant of health. With more than 95% of older adults suffering from at least one chronic condition, and 80% from 2 or more, the suitability of exercise programs is paramount. 

Today’s exercise gap, with less than 15% of older adults meeting recommended physical activity guidelines, comes down to this disconnect between what’s available and what’s appropriate. Medicare members may also be unsure where to start – especially based on their own unique needs, pains, and chronic conditions. As one Bold member shared: “I have a lung disease so I decided I can't exercise… I don't like going to places [for activity], I like doing it at home.”

For plans and providers, there’s a larger story. By and large, traditional exercise programs aren’t delivering results, and there are major hurdles to engagement – which, of course, has a downstream impact on outcomes and costs. 

But the tide is turning. Innovative Medicare Advantage plans are beginning to understand, embrace, and fully leverage evidence-based exercise programs like Bold that drive engagement and outcomes, improve independence and longevity, and lower costs for adults 65 and older. 

Here is what Medicare leaders need to know about the potential of exercise as preventive care for aging members, and how to unlock the full value of movement. 

Unpacking the evidence: The value of exercise as preventive care 

In today’s cost-constrained environment, guiding members to evidence-based preventive care is table stakes for plans seeking to reduce MLR, improve Star performance, and drive growth. To advance all of these goals and more, plan leaders would do well to emphasize closing their members’ exercise gaps by promoting more suitable programs that deliver long-term results.

There is ample and growing evidence that points to the value of regular exercise for individuals 65 and older. These benefits span body and mind, while helping to manage many common chronic conditions and mitigate some of the major impacts of aging like loss of bone mass or decline in cognitive abilities. 

Let’s go deeper into what decades of clinical research tells us about the extensive benefits of regular exercise for older adults. 

Physical health: Exercise impacts several areas of physical health that are especially critical for aging adults. A few key proven benefits of exercise include: 

• Lower blood pressure 
• Slow loss of bone mass 
• Maintain healthy muscle mass 
• Reduce risk of heart disease or stroke 
• Reduce risk of type 2 diabetes 
• Reduce risk of certain types of cancer, such as breast cancer and colon cancer 

Mental health and emotional well-being: According to the CDC, regular exercise reduces feelings of anxiety and depression. Physical activity has also been shown to improve sleep quality – which has a proven correlation with overall mental health and stability, along with key components of physical health. 

Chronic conditions: Exercise improves the quality of life for individuals living with many chronic conditions. For instance, regular physical activity has been shown to help individuals maintain a healthy weight and reduce joint and muscle pain. Beyond that, there is ample evidence that points to the value of exercise for older adults with specific chronic conditions. 

Four in 5 of the most costly chronic conditions among adults 50 or older can be prevented or managed with physical activity. Consider how tailored exercise programs help manage just three of the chronic illnesses that are top cost drivers for health plans: 

• Diabetes: Lower blood sugar levels, and lower risk of dying of heart disease for people living with type 2 diabetes
• Heart disease: Improve overall heart health, lower the risk of dying of heart disease or of heart disease worsening
• Cancer: Reduce risk of dying of breast, colorectal, or prostate cancers

Brain health and cognitive function: The ties between regular physical activity and brain health are deep: it helps to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Exercise has also been shown to help improve thinking skills and overall cognitive function in people with dementia. 

Prevent falls: The U.S. Preventive Services Taskforce recommends strength-focused exercise programs as the current gold-standard approach in falls prevention. Forward-thinking plans are going a step further and leveraging holistic, personalized exercise platforms like Bold to outperform traditional fall prevention programs, which are often time-bound and can be hampered by stigma and overall accessibility.

How movement as medicine delivers for Medicare Advantage plans’ key measures and goals

The benefits of exercise for your members are clear. Yet far too many plans aren’t realizing the full value of exercise across their populations. True evidence-based exercise programs deliver value for your plan’s bottom line, driving quality improvements, maintaining clinical excellence, and retaining members. A strategic partner like Bold will also work with you to stay on top of regulatory and market changes. 

Yes, we’re talking about ROI. Given the well-documented benefits of exercise, plans should expect their offerings to deliver outsized value across their business lines, leveraging member engagement to deliver real-world impact.  

• Reduce MLR: Exercise programs should result in fewer hospitalizations and readmissions, help avoid care costs, and improve management of chronic conditions.
• Improve Star Ratings: Evidence-based exercise programs should support improvements across key HOS, HEDIS, and CAHPS measures. Impact should be seen in HOS metrics like reducing the risk of falling, improving bladder control, and improving/maintaining physical and mental health; HEDIS metrics tied to Osteoporosis Management for Women (OMW) and diabetes care; and CAHPS ratings for health care quality.
• Drive member engagement and retention: Finally, exercise programs should close care gaps, provide equitable and accessible offerings proven to engage members who don’t engage with traditional fitness offerings, and ultimately help plans retain members by offering valuable and personalized programs.  

Designing the right exercise programs for your members starts with these 5 critical components

Looking ahead, it’s clear that unlocking the value of exercise will be critical for Medicare Advantage plans. Members are increasingly making their enrollment decisions based on Star Ratings and benefit offerings in addition to provider networks and out-of-pocket costs. The right exercise strategy can help ensure plans stay ahead of the curve and remain first choice in a given market.

What should you look for in the right strategic partner? How can you ensure your exercise program will engage your members? How can you identify a program that is designed as “movement as medicine” compared with traditional fitness offerings? 

Here are five critical components we recommend leaders look for when finding an exercise program that is truly designed to unlock the benefits of movement as medicine for your members and your bottom line:

1. Purpose-built for older adults: Accessibility, simplicity, and dignity need to be at the core of any effective exercise program for individuals 65 and older. The exercise needs of older adults look different than Commercial populations, and solutions should reflect that reality.
2. Personalized programs: Guidance around exercise largely varies. And it should. Look for programs that gather the right inputs during enrollment about a member’s unique needs, pains, chronic conditions, and experience with, or current level of, physical activity in order to develop customized tracks to make the biggest impact for them.   
3. Low barriers to entry: Technology and language are key here, along with easy-to-follow guidance on where to start and programs that can fit their schedule. Meet older adults where they are, especially your hard-to-reach dual-eligible populations. 
4. Evidence-based classes informed by leading clinicians and licensed trainers: Exercise programs should be developed by physical therapists, kinesiologists, and certified exercise instructors – especially those with specific experience tailoring movements for older adults. In addition, they should follow evidence-based guidelines from key sources like the CDC and the U.S. Preventive Services Taskforce.
5. Combine exercise with education and habit formation: Incorporating behavioral science in programs helps to drive outcomes. Programs should include personalization, skill-building, and commitment devices, along with education and ongoing engagement.   

Unlocking dignity and outcomes for your aging population with Bold’s clinical exercise platform

As the leading evidence-based exercise platform purpose-built for today’s Medicare members, Bold has been proven to increase physical activity by 182%. Eight in 10 members say they are more likely to stay with their plan because of Bold. Bold’s personalized programs help prevent falls, manage chronic conditions, and improve quality of life and overall physical and mental health for older adults. Innovative Medicare Advantage plans and providers partner with Bold to engage diverse populations of older adults and deliver meaningful clinical outcomes and cost savings through our always-on, dynamic programming. 

Here’s what one Bold member shared: “I feel like Bold was made for people like me! It is challenging, but it makes me want to keep going. Bold makes me think I will be able to do things again! And knowing it was made for me makes me believe that.” 

Ready to join the movement for movement as medicine? Get in touch to find out what sets Bold apart in exercise as preventive care for Medicare members, and learn how we can partner.