Hawaii had the lowest rate of lumbar spine MRIs performed for lower back pain between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, according to CMS data released Feb. 19.
CMS measures the percentage of lumbar spine MRIs performed for eligible Medicare patients who present with lower back pain as an indicator of imaging efficiency.
Higher percentages may indicate the imaging department is performing more imaging than necessary. Becker’s has reported on state-level cardiac imaging efficiency rates, the highest breast cancer screening recall rates and the lowest breast cancer screening recall rates.
The national efficiency rate of lumbar spine MRIs performed for patients with lower back pain between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, was 36.2.
Here are the imaging efficiency rates for lumbar spine MRIs by state:
| State | Score |
| Alabama | 40.5 |
| Alaska | 44.2 |
| Arizona | 35.1 |
| Arkansas | 37.4 |
| California | 38.5 |
| Colorado | 36.2 |
| Connecticut | 35 |
| Delaware | 32.9 |
| District of Columbia | 31.5 |
| Florida | 36.6 |
| Georgia | 35.9 |
| Hawaii | 29.1 |
| Idaho | 37 |
| Illinois | 36 |
| Indiana | 35.9 |
| Iowa | 32.8 |
| Kansas | 36.6 |
| Kentucky | 33.7 |
| Louisiana | 37.8 |
| Maine | 35.4 |
| Maryland | 38.3 |
| Massachusetts | 35 |
| Michigan | 34.8 |
| Minnesota | 41.3 |
| Mississippi | 36.2 |
| Missouri | 37 |
| Montana | 39.3 |
| Nebraska | 33.3 |
| Nevada | 40.8 |
| New Hampshire | 33.9 |
| New Jersey | 35.3 |
| New Mexico | 36.1 |
| New York | 34.8 |
| North Carolina | 35.3 |
| North Dakota | 32.3 |
| Ohio | 34.4 |
| Oklahoma | 37.3 |
| Oregon | 39.7 |
| Pennsylvania | 33.3 |
| Rhode Island | 31.9 |
| South Carolina | 34.8 |
| South Dakota | 35.1 |
| Tennessee | 33.8 |
| Texas | 38.9 |
| Utah | 43.5 |
| Vermont | 31 |
| Virginia | 33.8 |
| Washington | 36.2 |
| West Virginia | 36.1 |
| Wisconsin | 34.7 |
| Wyoming | 44.7 |
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