Outcomes not improving for back and neck pain
Outcomes not improving for back and neck pain
Costs, however, are rising
Despite higher costs for imaging and therapy for back and neck problems of employees, work limitations and disability claims aren't improving, says a new study.1
Researchers analyzed 1997-2005 data from the nationally representative Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, and found that costs increased 65% during that period. Costs were higher each year for employees with spine problems than those without. In 2005, the average age- and sex-adjusted medical expenditures among respondents with spine problems was $6,096, compared with $3,516 among those without spine problems. The increased costs were mainly due to outpatient services (36%), inpatient services (28%), and prescription medications (23%).
"This study suggests that we are not getting sufficient value when it comes to treating back problems," says Brook Martin, MPH, the study's author and a research scientist at the University of Washington's Center for Cost and Outcomes Research. "Organizations would likely benefit by informing patients that the vast majority of back problems in people resolve with conservative care."
Reference
- Martin BI, Deyo RA, Mirza SK, et al. Expenditures and health status among adults with back and neck problems. JAMA 2008; 299(6):656-664.
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