A new study by researchers at NYU Langone Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute found lower rates of osteoporosis screening among Asian American (15%) and other non-white Medicare beneficiaries (11-15%) in the U.S. when compared with the screening rate among white beneficiaries (18%).
The latest Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute (HPI) study shows that radiologists in radiology-only practices score significantly lower in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) in 2021.
New research demonstrates that the use of CT angiography (CTA) for patients with headache or dizziness increased dramatically over 5 years in the emergency department (ED) of a large medical center. Simultaneously the rate of positive findings on those same exams decreased.
Medical imaging has previously been identified as a potential driver of U.S. healthcare spending growth. A study by the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute evaluated the degree to which imaging has contributed to aggregate medical cost growth.
Seventy-six percent of interventional radiologists (IRs) identified using a new research method were mislabeled as diagnostic radiologists in Medicare data, according to the latest study from the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute (HPI), supported by the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR).
A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study developed a first-of-its-kind comorbidity index predictive of utilization of advanced imaging.
A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found that, by 2021, only 1.1% of radiologists’ commercial claims were out of network (OON), down from 12.6% in 2007. As such, by 2021, radiologists practiced almost exclusively in-network. This Journal of the American College of Radiology study was based on 80 million commercial radiology claims (2007-2021) for individuals covered by a large commercial payer.
A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found that clinicians who dispute insurer payments under the No Surprises Act (NSA) will typically pay fees in excess of recovered payments. Across affected medical specialties, only one-half to two-thirds of out of network (OON) claims would result in any net return if submitted through the NSA’s Independent Dispute Resolution Process (IDR) process, demonstrating this is not a financially viable option to resolve payment disputes. This American Journal of Roentgenology study was based on 1.5 million commercial OON claims (2017-2021) for individuals covered by a large commercial payer and focused on specialties most affected by the NSA: anesthesiology, emergency medicine, hospitalist, intensivist, laboratory, neonatology, pathology, and radiology.
A Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute (HPI) and American College of Radiology® (ACR®) Data Science Institute (DSI) study projects that new U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved artificial intelligence (AI) medical imaging products will increase five-fold by 2035.
The Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute has announced the release of Neiman Almanac 2.0. The Neiman Almanac is an online public resource that provides imaging-focused Medicare data back to 2004, including national and state trends in spending and utilization.
A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found that 33% to 46% of imaging studies interpreted by radiologists do not have any related imaging studies in the year following the index imaging event.
This study found that radiologist reimbursement for imaging provided to Medicare patients has decreased substantially over 16 years when accounting for inflation.
A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found that Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries who reside in communities with annual per capita income of $100,000 or more are 5.7 times more likely to receive CT colonography (CTC) than their counterparts residing in communities with per capita income of less than $25,000. This American Journal of Roentgenology study was based on a nationally representative sample of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries who received 785,103 colorectal cancer screening tests between 2011 and 2020.
A new study by the Harvey L Neiman Health Policy Institute found that rates of diagnostic imaging interpretation by non-physician providers (NPP) are on the rise from 2.6% to 3.3% of all imaging studies. The study, published in Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology, found that the rate of NPP-billed imaging increased 27% from 2016-2020.
A new study from the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute found that only 1.8% of eligible Americans with commercial insurance received lung cancer screening. Rates were higher but still extremely low for Original Medicare (3.4%) and Medicare Advantage (4.6%). The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology, determined 2017 screening rates for patients who were eligible for lung cancer screening by low-dose computed tomography (LDCT), as determined United States Preventive Services Task Force guidelines.
Out-of-pocket costs for screening mammography have been mostly eliminated for women over 40 years old, but not for any needed follow-up procedures or testing if a screening mammogram is abnormal. A study by the Neiman Health Policy institute published in JAMA Network Open found that higher out-of-pocket costs is associated with lower utilization of subsequent diagnostic imaging.
A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found that for American Indian/Native American women, living in above-average-income communities was not associated with higher mammography use compared to American Indian/Native American women living in below-average-income communities.
A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found that when non-physician practitioners (NPPs) perform a higher share of patient evaluation and management (E&M) visits, computed tomography (CT) imaging is more likely to use iodinated contrast media.
A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found when patients are treated in the Emergency Department by non-physician practitioners (physicians assistants and nurse practitioners), there were 5.3% more imaging studies performed than if patients were seen only by physicians. This JAMA Network Open study was based on a nationally representative sample of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries with 16,922,274 ED visits between 2005 and 2020.
A study by the Neiman Health Policy Institute found that the costs of an Ischemic Stroke episode increased 4.9% from 2012 to 2019. However, the main driver of those costs was changes in treatments, such as endovascular thrombectomy and intravenous thrombolysis; increases in various types of neuroimaging were not key cost drivers. Over the study period, the share of episodes with treatment increased 155% from 7.3% to 18.5%. There were increases of 80% and 476% in the number of episodes with IVT-only or EVT.
The Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute® (HPI) announced that its grants program is now accepting applications. Grants will fund research on current policy priorities in radiology that provide evidence to inform health policy and radiology practice that promotes the effective and efficient use of healthcare resources, with the goal of improving patient care.
A study by the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute conducted a detailed review of clinical services billed to Medicare by non-physician providers (NPPs) employed by radiology practices. The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology, was based on Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services databases of doctors and clinicians who participated in Medicare.
Two research teams have each been awarded $75,000 in grant funds from the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute. The new Neiman Institute grant program provides funding for research aimed to inform health policy toward improving patient care and ensuring the proper use of healthcare resources.
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 services performed on Medicare beneficiaries as focus areas for mitigation strategies for the greatest overall impact.
A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found that a significant upward trend in CTA, CTP, and MRI utilization, and a simultaneous downtrend in MRA use was observed for ischemic stroke cases while disparities existed in neuroimaging utilization across all demographic groups.
A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found that between 2017 and 2019 the number of non-physician providers (NPPs, which includes nurse practitioners and physician assistants) employed by radiology-only practices increased 18%. This increase was associated with more NPPs employed per practice as well as an 11% increase in the number of practices employing them. This Journal of the American College of Radiology study was based on Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services databases of doctors and clinicians who participated in Medicare.
A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found that as of September/October 2021, only 50% of hospitals that offered lumbar spine MRI were compliant with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) mandate to publish their prices online.
A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study of nearly 800,000 men found that between 2011 and 2017 black patients were 24% less likely than white patients to have a prostate MRI after receiving an elevated (prostate-specific antigen) PSA score. For patients with an elevated PSA, use of prostate MRI prior to prostate biopsy has increased substantially in recent years as MRI can improve identification of clinically significant prostate cancer and obviate the need for biopsy, thus decreasing overdiagnosis of these cases. This JAMA Network Open study was based on 794,809 men, age 40 or older, with a PSA test using claims data from the Optum Clinformatics Data Mart Database. Of these men, 51,500 had an PSA score >4ng/mL. The study found that patients with Medicare compared to commercial insurance were less likely to have a prostate MRI as were patients with HMO insurance plans compared to other plan types.
The Neiman Health Policy Institute is accepting applications for its new grants and fellowship programs to fund novel research to inform health policy and radiology practice. Grant topics include payment models, AI/emerging technology, and practice advancements to improve efficiency, outcomes, or equity. For full details, please see the Grants & Fellowship page.
A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found that patients paid 12% of the costs of secondary imaging interpretation out-of-pocket. Such secondary interpretations are increasingly performed for complex patients, but patients’ liabilities and paid out-of-pocket costs were not previously known. This Journal of the American College of Radiology (JACR) study was based on 7,740 secondary interpretations for adult patients performed in a large metropolitan health system over a 2-year period.
A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study, published in Radiology, reviewed the implications of unexpected out-of-network balance billing—commonly called surprise billing—on reimbursement for hospital-based specialties such as radiology. The analysis concluded that even physicians who never engaged in such billing practices may still be impacted by the No Surprises Act, which is due to take effect in 2022.
According to a new study, by the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute and the American College of Radiology’s National Mammography Database Committee, the most influential radiologist characteristics impacting mammography interpretive performance were geography, breast sub-specialization, performance of diagnostic mammography, and performance of diagnostic ultrasound.
This new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found that radiologist participation in Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) increased over three-fold from 10.4% to 34.9% between 2013 and 2018. The study is published online in the Journal of American College of Radiology.
A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found a 50% increase in screening computed tomography colonography (CTC) rates after the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) announcement of the updated recommendation on colorectal cancer screening in 2016. This American Journal of Preventive Medicine study evaluated the association among the updated recommendation, patient cost sharing, and the uptake of colorectal cancer screening through CTC in the privately insured population.
This new American Journal of Neurology (AJNR) study found that radiologists performed 54% of lumbar puncture procedures (LPs) in 2017, representing significant growth over the 14 year longitudinal study. This study evaluated trends in performance of LPs by various medical specialties from 2003 to 2017 and raises the question of whether the shift of LPs from other specialties to radiology is justified. The results were also featured at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, 2021.
A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study showed that nearly 20% of radiologists separated from a practice in a single year, indicating that radiology is impacted by broader workforce trends toward job hopping. This Journal of American College of Radiology (JACR) study tracked recent trends and characteristics of radiologist-practice separation across the United States.
A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found that functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) steadily increased from 2007-2014 but has now been static due to potential expansion barriers. This diagnostic imaging method is critical in determining brain functions as well as for assessing the potential risks of surgery or other invasive treatments of the brain. This American Journal of Neuroradiology (AJNR) study is the first of its kind to assess the nationwide adoption of fMRI.
Researchers supported by the Neiman Health Policy Institute (NPHI) find that higher numbers of paid malpractice claims are associated with a subsequent increase in advanced imaging utilization. The Journal of American College of Radiology study examined the quantity and cost of malpractice claims and Medicare imaging utilization at the state and national level.
A new study from Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute finds that over ¾ of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients face financial toxicity that often results in non-adherence to follow up care. This Multiple Sclerosis Journal study is the first of its kind to evaluate financial toxicity in MS patients and whether financial hardship is linked to patients foregoing the therapy and imaging follow-up prescribed in their treatment plan.
Imaging today plays essential roles in the management of almost all non-cutaneous cancers, influencing diagnosis, assessment of prognosis, treatment selection, and therapeutic monitoring. Achieving consistently high-quality oncologic imaging (OI) interpretations poses an increasing challenge in light of the growing complexity of such imaging and of oncologic care. This new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study, published on in the Journal of the American College of Radiology (JACR), characterizes national trends in oncologic imaging utilization.
As medical resources shifted away from elective and non-urgent procedures toward emergent and critical care of COVID-19 patients, departments were forced to reconfigure their personnel and resources. In particular, many Radiology practices rescheduled non-urgent and routine imaging according to recommendations from the American College of Radiology (ACR). This new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study, published online in the Journal of American College of Radiology (JACR), evaluates the change in the inpatient imaging volumes and composition mix during the COVID-19 pandemic within a large healthcare system.
The COVID-19 pandemic has quickly spread across all 50 United States. Associated recommendations that healthcare facilities defer non-urgent visits, tests, and procedures led many imaging facilities to temporarily curtail most of their non-urgent services. This new Neiman Institute study characterizes the recent declines in non-invasive imaging volumes at community practices.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic many radiology departments have experienced a rapid decline in imaging case volumes. This new study, funded by the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute and published online in Journal of the American College of Radiology (JACR), evaluates the impact of the pandemic on imaging case volumes using real-world data from a large healthcare institution.
General radiologists serve an essential role in the national radiologist workforce by offering broad radiological skills that help their practices meet a variety of geographic and after-hour coverage needs. Importantly, generalists have a particular role in ensuring patient access to radiological services for small and rural radiology groups. While subspecialty radiologists practice patterns have been well studied, relatively little is known about practice patterns of general radiologists. This new study, published in Academic Radiology, characterizes the practice patterns of general radiologists, who represent the majority of practicing radiologists in the US.
Concerns regarding increasing utilization of non-vascular extremity ultrasound (US) imaging led to the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Editorial Panel to separate a singular billing code into distinct comprehensive and focused examination codes with differential reimbursement. This new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study, published online in Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology, explores the association of the billing code separation on nonvascular extremity US utilization, with attention to specialty-specific variation.
A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study quantifies and characterizes recent trends in the generalist vs. subspecialist composition of the national radiologist workforce.
CMS has implemented a quality payment incentive program, referred to as the Quality Payment Program, which rewards value and outcomes for clinicians participating in Medicare in one of two ways: Merit-based incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs).
A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study assesses temporal and patient-level differences in paracentesis and thoracentesis procedures performed on Medicare beneficiaries by radiologists and non-radiologists with respect to overall procedure volume, day of week, and patient complexity. The study is published online in Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology.
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