Use of Imaging Studies for Low Back Pain Utilization Report

This report is a public document from Komodo Health that presents findings on the utilization of imaging studies for low back pain (LBP) in the United States during the year 2021. It utilizes a standard process measure from the National Committee for Quality Assurance to assess how effectively and equitably patients are receiving diagnostic services for LBP. The report outlines the methodology used for measurement, which includes a combination of internal data and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Medicare Fee-For-Service dataset. It details the inclusion and exclusion criteria applied to evaluate a population of 2,358,165 adults aged 18 to 75 with a principal diagnosis of uncomplicated low back pain. The report highlights the demographics of the eligible population segmented by health insurance categories, including Commercial, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and others, providing insights into the distribution of imaging studies across these groups. Additionally, it discusses the implications of the findings in relation to evidence-based guidelines for LBP management.