The relationship between low back magnetic resonance imaging, surgery, and spending: impact of physician self-referral status.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To examine the relationship between use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and receipt of surgery for patients with low back pain.

Data sources

Medicare claims for a 20 percent sample of beneficiaries from 1998 to 2005.

Study design

We identify nonradiologist physicians who appear to begin self-referral arrangements for MRI between 1999 and 2005, as well as their patients who have a new episode of low back pain care during this time. We focus on regression models that identify the relationship between receipt of MRI and subsequent use of back surgery and health care spending. Receipt of MRI may be endogenous, so we use physician acquisition of MRI as an instrument for receipt of MRI. The models adjust for demographic and socioeconomic covariates as well as

SUBMITTER: Shreibati JB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3207182 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature