Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Utilization Patterns of Facet Joint Interventions in Managing Spinal Pain in a Medicare Population
Abstract Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in major disruptions in all aspects of human life including a decline of medical services utilized during 2020. An analysis of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic showed an 18.7% reduction in utilization patterns of interventional techniques in managi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Adis, Springer Healthcare
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Pain and Therapy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40122-023-00476-3 |
| _version_ | 1797860020421918720 |
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| author | Laxmaiah Manchikanti Alan D. Kaye Richard E. Latchaw Mahendra R. Sanapati Vidyasagar Pampati Christopher G. Gharibo Sheri L. Albers Joshua A. Hirsch |
| author_facet | Laxmaiah Manchikanti Alan D. Kaye Richard E. Latchaw Mahendra R. Sanapati Vidyasagar Pampati Christopher G. Gharibo Sheri L. Albers Joshua A. Hirsch |
| author_sort | Laxmaiah Manchikanti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in major disruptions in all aspects of human life including a decline of medical services utilized during 2020. An analysis of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic showed an 18.7% reduction in utilization patterns of interventional techniques in managing chronic pain in the Medicare population from 2019 to 2020. However, specific changes in utilization patterns of facet joint interventions have not been studied. Thus, we sought to assess the utilization patterns including an update of facet joint interventions from 2018 to 2020, with analysis of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic in managing chronic spinal pain utilizing facet joint interventions in the fee-for-service Medicare population of the United States. Methods The present investigation was designed to assess utilization patterns and variables of facet joint interventions, in managing chronic spinal pain from 2010 to 2020 in the fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare population in the United States (US), and how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted these utilization patterns. Data for the analysis were obtained from the master database from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) physician/supplier procedure summary from 2000 to 2020. Results Results of this analysis showed significant impact of COVID-19 with overall decrease of 18.5% of all facet joint interventions per 100,000 Medicare population compared to 20.2 and 20.5% decrease for lumbar and cervical facet joint injections, 15 and 13.1% decrease per 100,000 Medicare population of lumbosacral and cervicothoracic facet joint neurolysis procedures. The results are significant in that comparative analysis from 2000 to 2010 and 2010 to 2019 showing an annual increase of 14.4 vs. 2.2%, illustrating a decelerating pattern. There were also significant growth patterns noted with decreases in facet joint injections and nerve blocks compared to facet joint neurolytic procedures. Conclusions This analysis shows a significant effect of COVID-19 producing an overall decrease in utilization of facet joint interventions relative to pre-COVID data. Further, the analysis demonstrates continued deceleration of utilization patterns of facet joint interventions compared to the periods of 2000–2010 and 2010–2019. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:38:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-60042cdb77e04835b7ca441829488bfc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2193-8237 2193-651X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:38:57Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Adis, Springer Healthcare |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pain and Therapy |
| spelling | doaj.art-60042cdb77e04835b7ca441829488bfc2023-03-26T11:06:07ZengAdis, Springer HealthcarePain and Therapy2193-82372193-651X2023-02-0112250552710.1007/s40122-023-00476-3Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Utilization Patterns of Facet Joint Interventions in Managing Spinal Pain in a Medicare PopulationLaxmaiah Manchikanti0Alan D. Kaye1Richard E. Latchaw2Mahendra R. Sanapati3Vidyasagar Pampati4Christopher G. Gharibo5Sheri L. Albers6Joshua A. Hirsch7Pain Management Centers of AmericaLouisiana State University Health Sciences CenterDepartment of Radiology, University of California at Davis Health SystemPain Management Centers of AmericaPain Management Centers of AmericaNYU Langone Health and NYU School of MedicineRadiology Research and ConsultationMassachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolAbstract Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in major disruptions in all aspects of human life including a decline of medical services utilized during 2020. An analysis of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic showed an 18.7% reduction in utilization patterns of interventional techniques in managing chronic pain in the Medicare population from 2019 to 2020. However, specific changes in utilization patterns of facet joint interventions have not been studied. Thus, we sought to assess the utilization patterns including an update of facet joint interventions from 2018 to 2020, with analysis of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic in managing chronic spinal pain utilizing facet joint interventions in the fee-for-service Medicare population of the United States. Methods The present investigation was designed to assess utilization patterns and variables of facet joint interventions, in managing chronic spinal pain from 2010 to 2020 in the fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare population in the United States (US), and how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted these utilization patterns. Data for the analysis were obtained from the master database from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) physician/supplier procedure summary from 2000 to 2020. Results Results of this analysis showed significant impact of COVID-19 with overall decrease of 18.5% of all facet joint interventions per 100,000 Medicare population compared to 20.2 and 20.5% decrease for lumbar and cervical facet joint injections, 15 and 13.1% decrease per 100,000 Medicare population of lumbosacral and cervicothoracic facet joint neurolysis procedures. The results are significant in that comparative analysis from 2000 to 2010 and 2010 to 2019 showing an annual increase of 14.4 vs. 2.2%, illustrating a decelerating pattern. There were also significant growth patterns noted with decreases in facet joint injections and nerve blocks compared to facet joint neurolytic procedures. Conclusions This analysis shows a significant effect of COVID-19 producing an overall decrease in utilization of facet joint interventions relative to pre-COVID data. Further, the analysis demonstrates continued deceleration of utilization patterns of facet joint interventions compared to the periods of 2000–2010 and 2010–2019.https://doi.org/10.1007/s40122-023-00476-3Facet joint interventionsFacet joint nerve blocksFacet joint neurolysisInterventional techniques |
| spellingShingle | Laxmaiah Manchikanti Alan D. Kaye Richard E. Latchaw Mahendra R. Sanapati Vidyasagar Pampati Christopher G. Gharibo Sheri L. Albers Joshua A. Hirsch Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Utilization Patterns of Facet Joint Interventions in Managing Spinal Pain in a Medicare Population Pain and Therapy Facet joint interventions Facet joint nerve blocks Facet joint neurolysis Interventional techniques |
| title | Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Utilization Patterns of Facet Joint Interventions in Managing Spinal Pain in a Medicare Population |
| title_full | Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Utilization Patterns of Facet Joint Interventions in Managing Spinal Pain in a Medicare Population |
| title_fullStr | Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Utilization Patterns of Facet Joint Interventions in Managing Spinal Pain in a Medicare Population |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Utilization Patterns of Facet Joint Interventions in Managing Spinal Pain in a Medicare Population |
| title_short | Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Utilization Patterns of Facet Joint Interventions in Managing Spinal Pain in a Medicare Population |
| title_sort | impact of the covid 19 pandemic on utilization patterns of facet joint interventions in managing spinal pain in a medicare population |
| topic | Facet joint interventions Facet joint nerve blocks Facet joint neurolysis Interventional techniques |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40122-023-00476-3 |
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