A study completed by HealthCore, a research subsidiary of WellPoint, found that around 36,000 patients enrolled in six WellPoint health plans were overtreated for back pain, according to a WellPoint news release.
The study, which was conducted over a 12-month period, revealed that more than 35,000 patients had unnecessary imaging tests while almost 1,000 underwent unnecessary surgery.
The study compared treatment of the WellPoint patients to guidelines developed by the National Committee on Quality Assurance 2007 Back Recognition Program, which recommends holding off on back pain treatment during the first six weeks of symptoms.
HealthCore's study found that $23.6 million was spent on back surgery and diagnostic imaging for these patients during the first six weeks after the first reported episode of back pain.
Read about HealthCore's study on back pain overtreatment.