A national intervention to reduce imaging for low back pain by general practitioners: a retrospective economic program evaluation using Medicare Benefits Schedule data.

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  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: BioMed Central Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101088677 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1472-6963 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 14726963 NLM ISO Abbreviation: BMC Health Serv Res Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Original Publication: London : BioMed Central, [2001-
    • Subject Terms:
      General Practitioners*; Low Back Pain/*diagnostic imaging ; National Health Programs/*economics ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*statistics & numerical data ; Unnecessary Procedures/*statistics & numerical data; Australia ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Humans ; Primary Health Care ; Program Evaluation ; Referral and Consultation/statistics & numerical data ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/economics ; Unnecessary Procedures/economics
    • Abstract:
      Background: The overuse of diagnostic imaging for low back pain (LBP) in Australia results in unnecessary cost to the health system and, for patients, avoidable exposure to radiation. The 2013 NPS MedicineWise LBP program aimed to reduce unnecessary diagnostic imaging for non-specific acute LBP in the Australian primary care setting. The LBP program delivered referral pattern feedback, a decision support tool and patient information to 19,997 (60%) of registered Australian general practitioners (GPs). This study describes the findings from evaluation of the effectiveness of the 2013 LBP program at reducing X-ray and computed tomography (CT) scans of the lower back, and the financial costs and benefits of the program to the government funder.
      Methods: The effectiveness of the 2013 LBP program was evaluated using population-based time-series analysis of administrative claims data of Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) funded X-ray and CT scan services of the lower back. The CT scan referral trend of non-GP health professionals was used as an observational control group in a Bayesian structural time-series model. A retrospective cost-benefit analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted using program costs from organisational records and reimbursement data from the MBS.
      Results: The 2013 NPS MedicineWise LBP program was associated with a statistically significant 10.85% relative reduction in the volume of CT scans of the lumbosacral region, equating to a cost reduction to the MBS of AUD$11,600,898. The best available estimate of program costs was AUD$141,154. Every dollar of funding spent on the 2013 LBP program saved AUD$82 of funding to the MBS for CT scan reimbursements. Therefore, from the perspective of the Australian Government Department of Health, the 2013 LBP program was cost saving. The program cost AUD$2.82 per CT scan averted in comparison to the scenario of no program. No association between the 2013 NPS MedicineWise LBP program and the volume of X-ray items on the MBS was observed.
      Conclusions: The 2013 NPS MedicineWise LBP program reduced CT scan referral by GPs, in line with the program's messages and clinical guidelines. Reducing this low-value care produced savings to the health system that exceeded the costs of program implementation.
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    • Grant Information:
      Not applicable Department of Health, Australian Government
    • Contributed Indexing:
      Keywords: Audit and feedback; Choosing wisely; Computed tomography (CT); Economic evaluation; General practitioner education; Low back pain; Low value care
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20191223 Date Completed: 20200327 Latest Revision: 20231027
    • Publication Date:
      20240105
    • Accession Number:
      PMC6925437
    • Accession Number:
      10.1186/s12913-019-4773-y
    • Accession Number:
      31864352