Spine Care Link: Bridges to Excellence

Bridges To Excellence. Rewarding Quality Across the Healthcare System

Programs

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Spine Care Link

The Spine Care Link (SCL) program is focused on improving the quality of care for patients with sub acute or chronic back pain. Physicians who demonstrate they are top performers in spine care can earn up to $50 per year for each spine care patient covered by a participating employer. Participating employers fund these incentives from the savings they achieve through lower health care costs and increased employee productivity that results from the delivery of higher quality of spine care. Therefore, SCL is a win-win-win situation for physicians, employers and patients.

Check out the Spine Care Analysis- Savings Estimate (PDF).

NCQA Back Pain Performance Assessment Program

To obtain the rewards available through the BTE SCL reward program, eligible physicians must demonstrate that they provide high levels of Spine care by passing NCQA's Back Pain assessment program. NCQA developed the Back Pain Recognition Program (BPRP) requirements based on scientific evidence supporting their relevancy to improved care for people with back pain. Physicians must submit data on 16 evidence-based criteria: thorough patient assessment; recommendations for appropriate physical activity; avoiding unnecessary imaging, epidural and surgical procedures; patient education; and shared decision-making with the patient about surgery and alternatives to surgery and other measures. Physicians who demonstrate high-quality performance based on these requirements will help patients receive care that best meets their needs and avoid unnecessary treatment, tests and expenses.

How will the public know which physicians have obtained recognition?

All BTE rewards-eligible practices and physicians who obtain certification will be promoted on the HealthGrades' Physician Quality Ratings website.

What measures will be used to determine eligibility for recognition?

Two-year recognition from NCQA requires submission of standards and outcome measures for a sample of a physician's spine care patients. For specific clinical measures visit NCQA.

Read more about the BTE Spine Care Link program.

© BTE 2007. All rights reserved.
Bridges to Excellence does not endorse any particular product or service or any physician or physician group. Bridges to Excellence relies on third-party performance assessment organizations such as the NCQA and Quality Improvement Organizations to measure a physician or physician's group performance and ability to demonstrate that they meet certain measures of quality care.