Publications

Association of State Share of Nonphysician Practitioners With Diagnostic Imaging Ordering Among Emergency Department Visits for Medicare Beneficiaries

The objective of this study was to investigate whether the state share of ED visits for which an NPP was the clinician of record is associated with imaging studies ordered, given that state NPP share is associated with state-level NPP scopes of practice. Full Article

Eric W. Christensen, PhD; Chi-Mei Liu, PhD; Richard Duszak Jr, MD; Joshua A. Hirsch, MD; Timothy L. Swan, MD; Elizabeth Y. Rula, PhD. 2022. "Association of State Share of Nonphysician Practitioners With Diagnostic Imaging Ordering Among Emergency Department Visits for Medicare Beneficiaries," JAMA Network Open

Drivers of Ischemic Stroke Hospital Cost Trends Among Older Adults in the United States

The researchers objective was to examine the association of treatment and neuroimaging with ischemic stroke total hospital cost growth for the Medicare fee-for-service population. Full Article

Eric W. Christensen, PhD , Casey E. Pelzl, MPH, Jennifer Hemingway, MS, Jason J. Wang, PhD, Maria X. Sanmartin, PhD, Jason J. Naidich, MD, MBA, Elizabeth Y. Rula, PhD, Pina C. Sanelli, MD, MPH. 2022. "Drivers of Ischemic Stroke Hospital Cost Trends Among Older Adults in the United States," Journal of American College of Radiology (JACR)

Relationship between Race and Access to Newer Mammographic Technology in Women with Medicare Insurance

This study in Radiology examines the relationship between use of newer mammographic technology and race in women receiving mammography services. This was a multiyear (January 2005 to December 2020) retrospective study of women aged 40–89 years with Medicare fee-for-service insurance who underwent mammography. Full Article

Eric W. Christensen, Mikki Waid, Jinel Scott, Bhavika K. Patel, Jacqueline A. Bello, Elizabeth Y. Rula. 2022. "Relationship between Race and Access to Newer Mammographic Technology in Women with Medicare Insurance," Radiology

Professional Services Rendered by Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants Employed by Radiology Practices: Characteristics and Trends From 2017 Through 2019

With radiology practices increasingly employing nonphysician practitioners (NPPs), the study researchers aimed to characterize specific NPP clinical roles. As radiology practices employ more NPPs, radiologist-employed NPPs’ aggregate services have increased for E&M, invasive procedures, and imaging interpretation. Full Article

Stefan Santavicca, MS , Danny R. Hughes, PhD, Andrew B. Rosenkrantz, MD, MPA, Eric Rubin, MD, Richard Duszak Jr., MD. 2022. "Professional Services Rendered by Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants Employed by Radiology Practices: Characteristics and Trends From 2017 Through 2019," Journal of American College of Radiology (JACR)

Diversity in Radiology: Current Status and Trends Over the Past Decade

There have been growing efforts nationally and institutionally toward diversity in radiology. The purpose of this Radiology study is to analyze sex and racial and ethnic diversity over time (2010–2019) for the various levels of the U.S. academic radiology physician workforce in context of the available pipeline of medical students and trainees. Full Article

Xiao Wu, Suryansh Bajaj, Mihir Khunte, Margarita Revzin, Dheeraj Gandhi, Max Wintermark, Pina Sanelli, Howard Forman, Ajay Malhotra. 2022. "Diversity in Radiology: Current Status and Trends Over the Past Decade," Radiology

Association and Trends in Medicare Denials and Utilization for Brain CT: Indirect Impacts by Targeted Policy Intervention?

Twenty-five years of annual Medicare Physician/Supplier Procedure Summary (PSPS) Master File data were used to assess trends in normalized volume and claim denial rates for brain CT. Alongside growth in utilization of brain CT services, denial rates, fell from 1999-2005 and with relatively leveled growth and less denial rate volatility thereafter. More recent trends in denial rates may be related to policy interventions initially aimed at cost and volume reduction. Full Article

Robert J.French, Jr. MD, Joshua Hirsch, MD, Jennifer Hemingway, MS, Danny R. Hughes, PhD, Reginald Lerebours, MA, Sheng Luo, PhD, Brian C. Allen, MD, Richard Duszak, Jr. MD, David A. Rosman MD, MBA. 2022. "Association and Trends in Medicare Denials and Utilization for Brain CT: Indirect Impacts by Targeted Policy Intervention?," Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Breast Imaging: An Analysis of the National Mammography Database

The aim of this study was to quantify the initial decline and subsequent rebound in breast cancer screening metrics throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Full Article

Lars J. Grimm, MD, MHS, Cindy Lee, MD, Robert D. Rosenberg, MD, Judy Burleson, MHSA, Michael Simanowith, MD, Tom Fruscello, Jr., MBA, Casey E. Pelzl, MPH, Sarah M. Friedewald, MD, Linda Moy, MD, Margarita L. Zuley, MD. 2022. "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Breast Imaging: An Analysis of the National Mammography Database," Journal of American College of Radiology (JACR)

COVID-19 Pandemic Reduced Utilization Of Interventional Techniques 18.7% In Managing Chronic Pain In The Medicare Population In 2020: Analysis Of Utilization Data From 2000 To 2020

The objectives of this analysis include an evaluation of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as an updated assessment of the utilization of interventional techniques in managing chronic pain in the Medicare population from 2010 to 2019, 2010 to 2020, and 2019 to 2020 in the FFS Medicare population of the United States. Full Article

Laxmaiah Manchikanti, MD, Vidyasagar Pampati, MSc, Mahendra R. Sanapati, MD, Radomir Kosanovic, MD, Douglas P. Beall, MD, Sairam Atluri, MD, Salahadin Abdi, MD, PhD, Shalini Shah, MD, Mark V. Boswell, MD, PhD, Alan D. Kaye, MD, PhD, Amol Soin, MD, Christopher G. Gharibo, MD, Bradley W. Wargo, DO, and Joshua A. Hirsch, MD.. 2022. "COVID-19 Pandemic Reduced Utilization Of Interventional Techniques 18.7% In Managing Chronic Pain In The Medicare Population In 2020: Analysis Of Utilization Data From 2000 To 2020," Pain Physician, 25(3)

An Empiric Medicare Claims-Based Utilization Approach to Mitigating the Iodinated Contrast Shortage

The current shortage of iodinated contrast in the United States due to the COVID-19 related production shutdown in China is causing severe disruptions in patient care. A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study outlines the most frequently used computed tomography (CT) services performed on Medicare beneficiaries as focus areas for mitigation strategies for the greatest overall impact. Full Article

Richard Duszak Jr. MD, Jennifer Hemingway, MS, Eric W. Christensen, PhD, Amit M.Saindane, MD, MBA, Danny R.Hughes, PhD, Elizabeth Y. Rula, PhD. 2022. "An Empiric Medicare Claims-Based Utilization Approach to Mitigating the Iodinated Contrast Shortage," Journal of American College of Radiology (JACR), 19(7)

Updated Trends, Disparities, and Clinical Impact of Neuroimaging Utilization in Ischemic Stroke in the Medicare Population: 2012 to 2019

The purpose of this study was to update trends, investigate sociodemographic disparities, and evaluate the impact on mortality of stroke neuroimaging across the United States from 2012 to 2019. Full Article

Jason J. Wang, PhD, Casey E. Pelzl, MPH, Artem Boltyenkov, PhD, Jeffrey M. Katz, MD, Jennifer Hemingway, MS, Eric W. Christensen, PhD, Elizabeth Rula, PhD, Pina C. Sanelli, MD, MPH. 2022. "Updated Trends, Disparities, and Clinical Impact of Neuroimaging Utilization in Ischemic Stroke in the Medicare Population: 2012 to 2019," Journal of American College of Radiology (JACR), 19(7)