The American College of Radiology has responded to a study in Health Affairs that reported a decline in imaging use, saying the findings are incomplete and potentially misleading.
The study showed use of advanced diagnostic imaging has decreased from approximately 6 percent during the mid-1990s to mid-2000s to between 1 percent and 3 percent from 2007 to 2009. The authors suggested this decrease could be attributed to several policy changes, such as requiring prior authorization for imaging tests.
ACR wrote the study's list of contributing factors is incomplete and that the reduction in imaging use has some negative effects. For example, ACR said Medicare cuts in reimbursement for imaging has led to reduced access to imaging services for patients, causing them to pay more and travel further for needed care. In addition, ACR wrote scans are "safer and less expensive than many of the invasive procedures that they now replace."
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The study showed use of advanced diagnostic imaging has decreased from approximately 6 percent during the mid-1990s to mid-2000s to between 1 percent and 3 percent from 2007 to 2009. The authors suggested this decrease could be attributed to several policy changes, such as requiring prior authorization for imaging tests.
ACR wrote the study's list of contributing factors is incomplete and that the reduction in imaging use has some negative effects. For example, ACR said Medicare cuts in reimbursement for imaging has led to reduced access to imaging services for patients, causing them to pay more and travel further for needed care. In addition, ACR wrote scans are "safer and less expensive than many of the invasive procedures that they now replace."
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