Testing for Cause of Back Pain
2023-24 Edition
Low back pain is one of the most common reasons people go to the doctor or miss work. It can come on suddenly or it can develop slowly. Because there are many different sources of back pain, it is important to understand the cause of your back pain to make sure you get the right care and treatment.
How should doctors test for the cause of back pain?
To test the cause of your back pain, your doctor should examine your back and assess your ability to sit, stand, walk, and lift your legs. This exam helps your doctor understand why you have back pain. Usually you do not need to have tests like an MRI or a CT scan, or other x-rays when you are first diagnosed.
Talk with your doctor and health plan to find out about what other services are available. Many health plans offer additional support and resources for patients with back pain. These additional services may be educational materials (online and in print), therapy, classes or support groups, or phone counseling.
What do the stars mean?
The scores show how well each health plan did at making sure patients with low back pain did not receive unnecessary imaging studies, according to recommended standards of care. The higher score means more patients got the right care at the right time.
The scores are based on information from at least 30 PPO member administrative records in 2015.
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When comparing plans, small differences between scores are expected. The larger differences are important.
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Testing for Cause of Back Pain
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Data Disclaimer
The data source for data for the Report Cards is Quality Compass® 2023 and is used with the permission of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Quality Compass® 2023 includes Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) and Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) data. Any data display, analysis, interpretation, or conclusion based on these data is solely that of the authors. NCQA specifically disclaims responsibility for any such display, analysis, interpretation, or conclusion. Quality Compass and HEDIS are registered trademarks of NCQA. CAHPS® is a registered trademark of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
Users of the data shall not have the right to alter, enhance, or otherwise modify the data. Anyone who wants to use or reproduce the data without modification for a noncommercial purpose may do so without obtaining any approval from NCQA. All commercial uses must be approved by NCQA and are subject to a license at the discretion of NCQA. Use by healthcare providers in connection with their own practices is not commercial use. A "commercial use" refers to any sale, license, or distribution of the data for commercial gain, or incorporation of the data into any product or service that is sold, licensed, or distributed for commercial gain, even if there is no actual charge for inclusion of the data. ©2004-2023 National Committee for Quality Assurance, all rights reserved.
Why isn't my health plan listed?
Related links
311.110/311.210