Dataset Information

Explosive growth of facet joint interventions in the Medicare population in the United States: a comparative evaluation of 1997, 2002, and 2006 data.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (OIG-DHHS) issued a report which showed explosive growth and also raised questions of lack of medical necessity and/or indications for facet joint injection services in 2006.The purpose of the study was to determine trends of frequency and cost of facet joint interventions in managing spinal pain.

Methods

This analysis was performed to determine trends of frequency and cost of facet jointInterventions in managing spinal pain, utilizing the annual 5% national sample of the Centers forMedicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for 1997, 2002, and 2006.Outcome measures included overall characteristics of Medicare beneficiaries receiving facet joint interventions, utilization of facet joint interventions by place of service, by specialty, reimbursement characteristics, and other variables.

Results

From 1997 to 2006, the number of patients receiving facet joint interventions per 100,000Medicare population increased 386%, facet joint visits increased 446%, and facet joint interventions increased 543%. The increases were higher in patients aged less than 65 years compared to those 65 or older with patients increasing 504% vs. 355%, visits increasing 587% vs. 404%, and services increasing 683% vs. 498%.Total expenditures for facet joint interventions in the Medicare population increased from over $229 million in 2002 to over $511 million in 2006, with an overall increase of 123%. In 2006, there was a 26.8-fold difference in utilization of facet joint intervention services in Florida compared to the state with the lowest utilization - Hawaii.There was an annual increase of 277.3% in the utilization of facet joint interventions by general physicians, whereas a 99.5% annual increase was seen for nurse practitioners (NPs) and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) from 2002 to 2006. Further, in Florida, 47% of facet joint interventions were performed by general physicians.

Conclusions

The reported explosive growth of facet joint interventions in managing spinal pain in certain regions and by certain specialties may result in increased regulations and scrutiny with reduced access.

SUBMITTER: Manchikanti L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2907752 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Explosive growth of facet joint interventions in the Medicare population in the United States: a comparative evaluation of 1997, 2002, and 2006 data.

Manchikanti Laxmaiah L Pampati Vidyasagar V Singh Vijay V Boswell Mark V MV Smith Howard S HS Hirsch Joshua A JA

BMC health services research 20100330

<h4>Background</h4>The Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (OIG-DHHS) issued a report which showed explosive growth and also raised questions of lack of medical necessity and/or indications for facet joint injection services in 2006.The purpose of the study was to determine trends of frequency and cost of facet joint interventions in managing spinal pain.<h4>Methods</h4>This analysis was performed to determine trends of frequency and cost of facet jointInte ...[more]

PMID: 20353602

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundFoot and ankle problems are highly prevalent in the general community and a substantial proportion of people seek surgical treatment to alleviate foot pain and deformity. However, the epidemiology of foot and ankle surgery has not been examined in detail. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine patterns and costs of private sector foot surgery provision in Australia.MethodsData pertaining to all foot and ankle surgical procedures for the calendar years 1997-2006 were extracted from the Australian Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) database and were cross-tabulated by sex and age. Descriptive analyses were undertaken to assess sex and age differences in the number and type of procedures performed and to assess for temporal trends over the ten year assessment period. The total cost to Medicare of subsiding surgeons' fees in 2006 was also determined.ResultsDuring the 1997-2006 period, 996,477 surgical procedures were performed on the foot and ankle by private surgeons in Australia. Approximately equal numbers of procedures were performed on males (52%) and females (48%). However, males were more likely to undergo toenail, ankle, clubfoot, tarsal coalition and congenital vertical talus surgery, whereas females were more likely to undergo lesser toe, first metatarsophalangeal joint (MPJ), neuroma, heel, rearfoot and lesser MPJ surgery. The total number of procedures was stable over the assessment period, however there was a relative increase in the number of procedures performed on people aged over 55 years. The total contribution of Medicare to subsiding surgeons' fees for procedures performed in 2006 was $14 M.ConclusionFoot and ankle surgery accounts for a considerable degree of healthcare expenditure in Australia, and the number of procedures in those aged over 55 years is increasing. Given the ageing demographics of the Australian population, the future public health and economic impact of foot morbidity is likely to be substantial. Strategies need to be implemented to ensure that the surgical labour force is adequate to address this increasing demand.

Project description:BackgroundAlthough prior studies of inpatient maternal mortality in the United States provide data on the overall rate and trend in inpatient maternal mortality, there are no published reports of maternal mortality data stratified by timing of its occurrence across the pregnancy continuum (antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum).ObjectiveThe study objective was to determine whether the maternal mortality rate, trends over time, self-reported race/ethnicity, and associated factors vary based on the timing of the occurrence of death during pregnancy.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database to identify pregnancy-related inpatient stays stratified by timing. Among women in the sample, we determined in-hospital mortality and used International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes to identify comorbidities and behavioral characteristics associated with mortality, including alcohol, drug, and tobacco use. Joinpoint regression was used to calculate rates and trends of in-hospital maternal mortality.ResultsDuring the study period, there were 7,411 inpatient maternal mortalities among an estimated 58,742,179 hospitalizations of women 15-49 years of age. In-hospital maternal mortality rate stratified by race showed that African Americans died at significantly higher rates during antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum periods compared to hospitalizations for Whites or Hispanics during the same time period. Although the postpartum hospitalization represents only 2% of pregnancy-related hospitalizations among women aged 15-49 years, hospitalization during this time period accounted for 27.2% of all maternal deaths during pregnancy-related hospitalization.DiscussionMost in-hospital maternal mortalities occur after hospital discharge from child birth (postpartum period). Yet, the postpartum period continues to be the time period with the least maternal healthcare surveillance in the pregnancy continuum. African American women experience three times more in-hospital mortality when compared to their White counterparts.

Project description:BackgroundThe estimated number of new HIV infections in the United States reflects the leading edge of the epidemic. Previously, CDC estimated HIV incidence in the United States in 2006 as 56,300 (95% CI: 48,200-64,500). We updated the 2006 estimate and calculated incidence for 2007-2009 using improved methodology.MethodologyWe estimated incidence using incidence surveillance data from 16 states and 2 cities and a modification of our previously described stratified extrapolation method based on a sample survey approach with multiple imputation, stratification, and extrapolation to account for missing data and heterogeneity of HIV testing behavior among population groups.Principal findingsEstimated HIV incidence among persons aged 13 years and older was 48,600 (95% CI: 42,400-54,700) in 2006, 56,000 (95% CI: 49,100-62,900) in 2007, 47,800 (95% CI: 41,800-53,800) in 2008 and 48,100 (95% CI: 42,200-54,000) in 2009. From 2006 to 2009 incidence did not change significantly overall or among specific race/ethnicity or risk groups. However, there was a 21% (95% CI:1.9%-39.8%; p = 0.017) increase in incidence for people aged 13-29 years, driven by a 34% (95% CI: 8.4%-60.4%) increase in young men who have sex with men (MSM). There was a 48% increase among young black/African American MSM (12.3%-83.0%; p<0.001). Among people aged 13-29, only MSM experienced significant increases in incidence, and among 13-29 year-old MSM, incidence increased significantly among young, black/African American MSM. In 2009, MSM accounted for 61% of new infections, heterosexual contact 27%, injection drug use (IDU) 9%, and MSM/IDU 3%.Conclusions/significanceOverall, HIV incidence in the United States was relatively stable 2006-2009; however, among young MSM, particularly black/African American MSM, incidence increased. HIV continues to be a major public health burden, disproportionately affecting several populations in the United States, especially MSM and racial and ethnic minorities. Expanded, improved, and targeted prevention is necessary to reduce HIV incidence.

Dataset Information

Explosive growth of facet joint interventions in the Medicare population in the United States: a comparative evaluation of 1997, 2002, and 2006 data.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Explosive growth of facet joint interventions in the Medicare population in the United States: a comparative evaluation of 1997, 2002, and 2006 data.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets