While cervical disc pathology can unquestionably produce radiculopathy, many patients presenting with arm pain, paresthesia or perceived weakness do not exhibit the clinical behavior of true nerve-root compromise. In these cases, failure to differentiate the primary pain generator may lead to unnecessary spinal injections, nerve ablation procedures or surgical consultation despite limited likelihood of benefit.
Managed Satisfaction
While Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) may not be popular with health care providers, consumers often prefer them. A survey that queried 10,000 consumers found the following percentages completely or very satisfied:
Health Plan Satisfaction
HMOs - 63.6%
PPOs - 50.0%
Traditional Plans - 55.1%
Medicare Only - 40.7%
Percentage of consumers completely satisfied or very satisfied with their health plan.
SOURCE: National Research Corp. survey.