The pipeline to expand the number of health care providers able to serve persons with musculoskeletal conditions is a long one. For someone to be trained as an orthopedic surgeon may require 15 years or more, including medical school; it may take only slightly fewer years for someone to be trained as a rheumatologist. The increased access to health insurance as a result of the ACA may, therefore, strain the existing workforce.
As noted, there is likely to be a dramatic increase in the number of persons with musculoskeletal conditions seeking access to health care as a result of the ACA. This may result in increased use of mechanisms to limit access to select providers. It may also result in increased cost sharing required of those with insurance to limit their use.
The increased prevalence and increased costs associated with musculoskeletal conditions that accompany the aging of the population pose several problems for society. Clearly, at a time of cost constraints in health care, society cannot continue to devote an ever-growing share of scarce resources to the treatment of these conditions.
The economic impact of musculoskeletal diseases is increasing due to a combination of factors. These factors include:
• The aging of the US population
• The concomitant increase in the prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases
• The growth in average total expenditures to treat musculoskeletal diseases
• The average total and incremental earnings losses that result from these conditions (although there was a dip in the total aggregate earnings losses associated with the recession)
Spine
Special Symptoms or Syndromes, NEC : 307
Migraine: 346
Trigeminal Nerve Disorders : 350
Nerve Root and Plexus Disorders : 353
Dentofacial Anomalies, Including Malocclusion : 524
Pain and Other Symptoms Associated with Female Genital Organs : 625
Menopausal and Postmenopausal Disorders : 627
General Symptoms : 780
Symptoms Involving Skin and Other Integumentary Tissue : 782
Symptoms Involving Head and Neck : 784
Spine
Special Symptoms or Syndromes, NEC : 307
Migraine : 346
Trigeminal Nerve Disorders : 350
Nerve Root and Plexus Disorders : 353
Dentofacial Anomalies, Including Malocclusion : 524
Pain and Other Symptoms Associated with Female Genital Organs : 625
Menopausal and Postmenopausal Disorders : 627
General Symptoms : 780
Symptoms Involving Skin and Other Integumentary Tissue : 782
Symptoms Involving Head and Neck : 784
