Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is an important contributor to musculoskeletal morbidity, but effective strategies to screen for DDH remain controversial. The current utilization of hip ultrasound (US) screening for DDH in the United States is not defined. This study utilized Optum's de-identified Clinformatics® Data Mart, a large commercial and Medicare Advantage claims database. Full Article
Andrew J. Degnan, MD, Jennifer Hemingway, MS, Hansel Otero, Danny R. Hughes, PhD. 2021. "Developmental Hip Dysplasia and Hip Ultrasound Frequency in a Large American Payer Database," Clinical Imaging
March 19, 2021
The aim of this study was to assess neurodiagnostic testing utilization in US emergency department (ED) patients presenting with seizures or epilepsy between 2006 and 2014.
Optimization of neuroimaging practices for headache is considered a national priority; however, nationwide patterns and predictors of neuroimaging use for headache in the US emergency departments (EDs) are unknown. The objective of this study is to analyze temporal neuroimaging utilization trends for adults and children with non-traumatic headache in the US EDs and identify factors predictive of neuroimaging use in this patient population. Full Article
Trofimova Anna, MD, PhD, Richard Duszak Jr, MD, Nadja Kadom, MD, Gelareh Sadigh, MD. 2021. "Increasing and Disparate use of Neuroimaging for Adults and Children with Non‐Traumatic Headaches in the US Emergency Departments: Opportunities for Improvement," Headache
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
Tarek N. Hanna, MD, Eric Friedberg, MD, Ivan M. Dequesada, MD, Laura Chaves, MPP, Robert Pyatt, MD, Richard Duszak, Jr., MD, Danny R. Hughes, PhD. 2021. "Disparities in the Use of Emergency Department Advanced Imaging in Medicare Beneficiaries," American Journal of Roentgenology
January 1, 2021
In the wake of COVID-19, the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute® studied imaging utilization in different settings over the course of 2020. Read the January 2021 ACR Bulletin Research Rounds column.
November 29, 2020
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
November 13, 2020
Using two separate publicly available Medicare datasets, the researchers studied the frequency and characteristics of radiologist-practice separation between 2014 – 2018. View Infographic
Using the Medicare Physician-Supplier Procedure Summary Master File, we evaluated the evolving use of fMRI in
Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries from 2007 through 2017. Annual use rates (per 1,000,000 enrollees) increased from 17.7 to
32.8 through 2014 and have remained static since. Radiologists have remained the dominant specialty group from 2007 to 2017
(86.4% and 88.6% of all services, respectively), and the outpatient setting has remained the dominant place of service (65.4% and
65.4%, respectively). Full Article
Solmaz Asnafi, MD, Richard Duszak Jr, MD, Jennifer M. Hemingway, MS, Danny R. Hughes, PhD, Jason W. Allen, MD, PhD. 2020. "Evolving Use of fMRI in Medicare Beneficiaries," American Journal of Neuroradiology
The aim of this study was to explore state-level relationships between the incidence and payout amounts for medical malpractice claims and Medicare imaging utilization and spending across the United States. Full Article
Alexander Villalobos, MD, Michal Horný, PhD, Danny R. Hughes, PhD, Richard Duszak, MD. 2020. "Associations Over Time Between Paid Medical Malpractice Claims and Imaging Utilization in the United States," Journal of American College of Radiology (JACR)
August 19, 2020
The aim of this study was to explore state-level relationships between the incidence and payout amounts for medical malpractice claims and Medicare imaging utilization and spending across the United States. View Infographic
