The percentage of patients with a primary diagnosis of low back pain who did not have an imaging study (plain X-ray, MRI, CT scan) within 28 days of diagnosis.
Measure Specs
General Information
Numerator
Patients who received an imaging study (x-ray, CT, MRI) within the 28 days following a diagnosis of low back pain.
Denominator
All patients 18 years as of January 1 of the measurement year to 50 years as of December 31 of the measurement year with a claim/encounter for an outpatient, observation, emergency department, physical therapy, or telehealth visit, or osteopathic or chiropractic manipulative treatment, with a principal diagnosis of low back pain during the Intake Period (January 1 – December 3 of the measurement year).
Exclusions
Because the intent of the measure is to assess imaging for patients with a new episode of low back pain, exclude patients with a recent diagnosis of low back pain.
Also, exclude any patient who had a diagnosis for which imaging is clinically appropriate. Any of the following meet criteria:
(1) Cancer
(2) Trauma
(3) Recent IV drug abuse
(4) Neurologic impairment
(5) HIV
(6) Spinal infection
(7) Major organ transplant
(8) Prolonged use of corticosteroids
Measure Record
Point of Contact
© [2005] by the National Committee for Quality Assurance
1100 13th Street, NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20005
Public Comments