An October 14, 2009, Web Exclusive in the journal Health Affairs includes an article exploring the association between expanded MRI availability and low back pain care for fee-for-service Medicare patients. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a technology frequently used to evaluate low back pain, despite evidence that challenges the usefulness of routine MRI and the surgical interventions it may trigger. Authors Jacqueline D. Baras and Laurence C. Baker find that increases in MRI supply are related to higher use of both low back MRI and surgery.

The article, supported by the California HealthCare Foundation, is available at no charge at the Health Affairs site listed under External Links.