Testing for Cause of Back Pain
2024-25 Edition
Why is it important to test for the cause of back pain?
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 ages 18 to 75 with low back pain did not receive unnecessary imaging studies, according to recommended standards of care. A higher score means more patients got the right care at the right time.
The scores are based on information from at least 30 health plan member administrative records in 2023.
Data Disclaimer
The data source for data for the Report Cards is Quality Compass® 2024 and is used with the permission of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Quality Compass® 2024 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).
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