Taking Action to Address Medical Overuse: Common Challenges and Facilitators

Medical overuse is defined as the provision of health care services whose potential for harm exceeds the possible benefit.1 These include services such as advanced imaging for chronic low-back pain and antibiotics for viral upper respiratory infections.2 Medical overuse is a pervasive global problem and is seen across multiple settings of care and diverse patient populations.3 It is estimated that 8-10% of patients receive an overused service in any given year in a commercially insured population and up to 25% of Medicare beneficiaries.