Initially, the Center for Pain Control designed and implemented multiple measures to indicate treatment efficacy in an outpatient setting. Decreased use of medical care at 1 year after treatment was one of five measures used. Economic concerns, both in the health and the insurance industries, mandated greater emphasis on cost effectiveness at a primary success determinate. Cost effectiveness was measured through broad diagnostic categories: lumbar pain with or without radiculopathy, cervical pain with and without radiculopathy, and a combination of lumbar and cervical pain. Cost for surgical treatment was determined using community-based charges. This cost was compared to actual cost incurred by outpatient pain treatment together with 6 months aftercare. Significant savings is indicated by the above cost comparison.