The mission of the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute® is to establish foundational evidence for health policy and radiology practice that promotes the effective and efficient use of health care resources and improves patient care.
August 22, 2022
Employment of NPPs by radiology practices has grown considerably in recent years, particularly in larger and urban practices.
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
July 1, 2022
Neuroimaging continues to increase in the Medicare population. However, disparities exist across demographic groups. Read the study for full details.
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)
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)
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)
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)
April 21, 2022
Consumer price listings may ultimately give consumers less of what they really want — high quality care. While transparent pricing is theoretically ideal for allowing patients to make informed decisions, the complexity of healthcare in the U.S. makes a truly transparent system a challenge and there are numerous caveats. Read the JACR Bulletin Column
The number and roles of US nonphysician practitioners (NPPs) have expanded considerably, but little is known about their use by radiology practices. The authors assessed characteristics and trends of radiology practices employing Medicare-recognized NPPs. Full Article
Stefan Santavicca, MS, Danny R. Hughes, PhD, Andrew B. Rosenkrantz, MD, MPA, Eric Rubin, MD, Richard Duszak Jr., MD. 2022. "Radiology Practices Employing Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants: Characteristics and Trends From 2017 Through 2019," Journal of American College of Radiology (JACR)
We aimed to assess early COVID-19 pandemic-associated changes in brain MRI examination frequency and acuity of imaging findings acuity. Full Article
Taejin L. Min, MD, Liyan Xu, MS,Jinho D.Choi, PhD, Ranliang Hu, MD, Jason W.Allen, MD,PhD, Christopher Reeves, MD, Derek Hsu,MD, Richard Duszak Jr.,MD, Jeffrey Switchenko, PhD, Gelareh Sadigh, MD. 2021. "COVID-19 Pandemic-Associated Changes in the Acuity of Brain MRI Findings: A Secondary Analysis of Reports Using Natural Language Processing," Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology