I was interested to see that Back problems are the ninth most costly clinical category in US healthcare at almost $40B / yr. I chose back pain as the second in my series on disease economics.
Most ($31B) of the costs falling into the back problem category come from a single clinical condition code #205 (Spondylosis; intervertebral disc disorders; other back problems).
And most of these expenditures go toward hospital in-patient visits/procedures ($11B), and Clinician office visits ($13B).
For the details, read on.
