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The Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute® studies the value and role of radiology in evolving health care delivery and payment systems, including quality based approaches to care and the impact of medical imaging on overall health care costs. Neiman Institute research provides a foundation for evidence-based imaging policy to improve patient care and bolster efficient, effective use of health care resources.

CT Colonography Rates Bolstered by US Preventive Service Task Force Recommendation

March 25, 2021 Press Release

Our new study found a 50% increase in screening computed tomography colonography rates after the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force announcement of the updated recommendation on colorectal cancer screening in 2016. This American Journal of Preventive Medicine study evaluated the association among the updated recommendation, patient cost sharing, and the uptake of colorectal cancer screening through CTC in the privately insured population.   Read More

New Study Reveals Radiologists Now Perform the Majority of Lumbar Punctures in the Medicare Population

March 8, 2021 Press Release

A new American Journal of Neurology (AJNR) study found that radiologists performed 54% of lumbar puncture procedures (LPs) in 2017, representing significant growth over the 14 year longitudinal study.  This study evaluated trends in performance of LPs by various medical specialties from 2003 to 2017 and raises the question of whether the shift of LPs from other specialties to radiology is justified. Read More

About the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute

The Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute® studies the value and role of radiology in evolving health care delivery and payment systems, including quality based approaches to care and the impact of medical imaging on overall health care costs. Neiman Institute research provides a foundation for evidence-based imaging policy to improve patient care and bolster efficient, effective use of health care resources.

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March 25, 2021 in Press Releases

CT Colonography Rates Bolstered by US Preventive Service Task Force Recommendation

Our new study found a 50% increase in screening computed tomography colonography rates after the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force announcement of the updated recommendation on colorectal cancer screening in 2016. This American Journal of Preventive Medicine study evaluated the association among the updated recommendation, patient cost sharing, and the uptake of colorectal cancer screening through CTC in the privately insured population.   Read More

March 8, 2021 in Press Releases

New Study Reveals Radiologists Now Perform the Majority of Lumbar Punctures in the Medicare Population

A new American Journal of Neurology (AJNR) study found that radiologists performed 54% of lumbar puncture procedures (LPs) in 2017, representing significant growth over the 14 year longitudinal study.  This study evaluated trends in performance of LPs by various medical specialties from 2003 to 2017 and raises the question of whether the shift of LPs from other specialties to radiology is justified. Read More

Predicted Cost Savings Achieved by the Radiology Support, Communication and Alignment Network from Reducing Medical Imaging Overutilization in the Medicare Population

The Radiology Support, Communication and Alignment Network (R-SCAN) is a quality improvement program through which patients, referring clinicians, and radiologists collaborate to improve imaging appropriateness based on Choosing Wisely recommendations and ACR Appropriateness Criteria. R-SCAN was shown previously to increase the odds of obtaining an appropriate, higher patient or diagnostic value, imaging study. In the current study, the researchers aimed to estimate the potential imaging cost savings associated with R-SCAN use for the Medicare population. Full Article

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Disparities in the Use of Emergency Department Advanced Imaging in Medicare Beneficiaries

The purpose of this study was to assess potential disparities in the utilization of advanced imaging during emergency department (ED) visits. This retrospective study was conducting using 5% Research Identifiable Files. All CT and MRI (together defined as “advanced imaging”) examinations associated with ED visits in 2015 were identified for continuously enrolled Medicare beneficiaries. Among Medicare beneficiaries receiving care in U.S. EDs, significant disparities exist in advanced imaging utilization. Although imaging appropriateness was not investigated, these findings suggest inequity. Further research is necessary to understand why consistent health benefits do not translate into consistent imaging access among risk-adjusted ED patients. Full Article

Read more in Published Papers

November 29, 2020 in Infographics

The Neiman Institute COVID-19 Studies

To understand the impact of COVID-19 on radiology in a variety of care-delivery settings, the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute (HPI®) initiated a series of studies from an integrated healthcare system in New York and community radiology practices, and analyzed data from a national survey of radiology practices. View the infographic to see how COVID-19 affected imaging volumes and radiology practices. View Infographic