Skip to archived articles

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.

Utilization

Image Sharing Technologies and Reduction of Imaging Utilization: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

This study aimed to summarize the impact of image sharing technologies on patient imaging utilization. Full Article

Vest, JR., Hye-Young, J., Ostrovsky, A., Das, L.T., and McGinty, G.B.. 2015. "Image Sharing Technologies and Reduction of Imaging Utilization: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis," Journal of the American College of Radiology, 12(12): 1371 - 1379.

Changing Utilization Patterns of Cervical Spine Imaging in the Emergency Department: Perspectives From Two Decades of National Medicare Claims

The aim of this study was to assess the changing use of emergency department (ED) cervical spine imaging in the Medicare population. Full Article

Gabriel G., Harkey, P., Hemingway, J., Hughes, D.R., and Duszak Jr, R. 2016. "Changing Utilization Patterns of Cervical Spine Imaging in the Emergency Department: Perspectives From Two Decades of National Medicare Claims," Journal of the American College of Radiology, 13(6): 644 - 648.

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.

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.

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.

State Variation in Medical Imaging: Despite Great Variation, the Medicare Spending Decline Continues

The purpose of this study was to assess state-level trends in per beneficiary Medicare spending on medical imaging. Full Article

Rosenkrantz, A.B., Hughes, D.R., and Duszak Jr, R.. 2015. "State Variation in Medical Imaging: Despite Great Variation, the Medicare Spending Decline Continues," American Journal of Roentgenology, 205(4): 817 - 821.