Publications

Facet Injection Trends in the Medicare Population and the Impact of Bundling Codes

The aim of this study was to evaluate if the CPT code changes correlated with a decreased utilization of facet injections. Full Article

Beckworth, J.W., Jiang M., Hemingway, J., Hughes, D.R., Staggs, D. 2016. "Facet Injection Trends in the Medicare Population and the Impact of Bundling Codes," The Spine Journal, 16(9): 1037 - 1041.

Changing Abdominal Imaging Utilization Patterns: Perspectives from Medicare Beneficiaries Over Two Decades

This study assess changing utilization patterns of abdominal imaging in the Medicare fee-for-service population over the past two decades. Full Article

Moreno, C.C., Hemingway, J., Johnson, A.C., Hughes, D.R., Mittal, P.K., and Duszak Jr., R. 2016. "Changing Abdominal Imaging Utilization Patterns: Perspectives from Medicare Beneficiaries Over Two Decades," Journal of American College of Radiology, 13(8): 894 - 903.

Secondary Interpretation of Computed Tomography Examinations: Frequency and Payment in the Medicare Fee-for-Service Population

This study evaluated historic trends in submitted claims and payments for secondary interpretation services in the Medicare fee-for-service population. Secondary interpretation of diagnostic imaging examinations (providing a second formal interpretation for imaging performed at another institution) may reduce repeat imaging after transfer of care. Full Article

Lu, M., Hallett, T.R., Hemingway, J., Hughes, D.R., Hoffmann, U., and Duszak, R. 2016. "Secondary Interpretation of Computed Tomography Examinations: Frequency and Payment in the Medicare Fee-for-Service Population," Journal of the American College of Radiology, 13(9): 1096 - 1101.

How Do Publicly Reported Medicare Quality Metrics for Radiologists Compare With Those of Other Specialty Groups?

This study characterizes and compares the performance of radiologists in Medicare’s new Physician Compare Initiative with that of other provider groups. Full Article

Rosenkrantz, A.B., Hughes, D.R., and Duszak Jr, R. 2016. "How Do Publicly Reported Medicare Quality Metrics for Radiologists Compare With Those of Other Specialty Groups?," Journal of the American College of Radiology, 13(3): 243 - 248.

Medicare Policy Initiatives and the Relative Utilization of “Double-Scan” CT

This study examines trends in the relative utilization of double-scan CT before and after 2006 legislation mandating relevant Medicare reporting initiatives. Full Article

Flug, J.A., Hemingway, J., Hughes, D.R., Silva, E., and Duszak Jr, R. 2016. "Medicare Policy Initiatives and the Relative Utilization of “Double-Scan” CT," Journal of the American College of Radiology, 13(2): 137 - 143.

Same Day Sinus and Brain CT Imaging in the Medicare Population: Are Practice Patterns Changing in Association with Medicare Policy Initiatives?

This study investigates patient-level claims data in the Medicare population focusing on where same-day sinus and brain CT imaging is performed and how the frequency of same-day studies changed with time before and during OP-14 measure program implementation. Full Article

Kroll, H., Duszak Jr, R., Hemingway, J., Hughes, D.R. and Wintermark, M. 2016. "Same Day Sinus and Brain CT Imaging in the Medicare Population: Are Practice Patterns Changing in Association with Medicare Policy Initiatives?," American Journal of Neuroradiology, 37(6): 1000 - 1004.

The Impact of Hospital Characteristics on the Availability of Radiology Services at Critical Access Hospitals

Although all critical access hospitals (CAHs) provide basic medical and radiographic imaging services, it remains unclear how CAHs provide additional imaging services given relatively low patient volumes and high resource costs. The aim of this study was to examine whether CAHs with more resources or access to resources through affiliation with larger systems are more likely to offer other imaging services in their communities. Full Article

Khaliq, A.A., Deyo, D., and Duszak Jr, R. 2015. "The Impact of Hospital Characteristics on the Availability of Radiology Services at Critical Access Hospitals," Journal of the American College of Radiology, 12(12): 1351 - 1356.

Identifying Patients With Undiagnosed Chronic Conditions: An Examination of Patient Costs Before Chronic Disease Diagnosis

This study assesses if identifying chronic conditions at earlier stages could produce dramatic savings to the health care system. This study sought to determine whether patients with chronic conditions experienced higher medical costs and imaging costs than patients with nonchronic conditions before the onset of chronic disease. Full Article

Deyo, D., Hemingway, J., and Hughes, D.R. 2015. "Identifying Patients With Undiagnosed Chronic Conditions: An Examination of Patient Costs Before Chronic Disease Diagnosis," Journal of the American College of Radiology, 12(12): 1388 - 1394.

Reassessing Medicare Trends in Diagnostic CT Colonography After Achieving CPT Code Category I Status

This study compares national trends in utilization and coverage of diagnostic (non-screening) computed tomography colonography (CTC) in the Medicare population before and after achieving Current Procedural Terminology® (CPT) Category I code status in 2010. Full Article

Cox, K., Duszak Jr., R., Hemingway, J., Hughes, D.R., and Nandwana, S.B. 2016. "Reassessing Medicare Trends in Diagnostic CT Colonography After Achieving CPT Code Category I Status," Abdominal Radiology, 41(7): 1357 - 1362.

Medicare Utilization of Vascular Ultrasound From 1998 to 2013: Continued Growth in Both Radiologist and Nonradiologist Imaging

This study assesses national trends in the utilization of vascular ultrasound (VUS) and changing relative specialty roles in examination interpretation. Full Article

Prabhakar, A.M., Misono, A.S., Hemingway, J., Hughes, D.R., and D.R., and Duszak Jr, R. 2015. "Medicare Utilization of Vascular Ultrasound From 1998 to 2013: Continued Growth in Both Radiologist and Nonradiologist Imaging," Journal of the American College of Radiology, 13(3): 255 - 264.