Procedure volume for a range of advanced imaging services has grown at a slower rate in the wake of the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005 than before the law was passed, and has even declined for some modalities, according to a study released on October 14 by the Access to Medical Imaging Coalition (AMIC) of Washington, DC.
The report, conducted by Moran Company, found that from 2007 to 2008, use of CT, MR, PET, and nuclear medicine grew at a 1.1% rate, compared with 1.9% from 2006 to 2007. MRI use decreased by -0.3% between 2007 and 2008, while the growth rate for CT was halved from 4.2% for 2006 and 2007 to 2.6% between 2007 and 2008.
Procedure volume even dropped for less expensive imaging tests. Volume for dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) dropped 0.4% from 2007 to 2008, twice the decline from 2006 to 2007. Screening mammography volume went from 0.15% growth in 2006 to 2007 to a -0.20% decline from 2007 to 2008.
The report bolsters the idea that imaging doesn't need further cuts, according to Tim Trysla, AMIC's executive director.
"MedPAC is ignoring imaging spending and use trends from 2006 to 2008 after the DRA went into effect," he said in a statement. "Policymakers must take into account the impact of the DRA and make public policy decisions based on up-to-date spending and use data."
Related Reading
Senate committee passes healthcare bill, October 13, 2009
More taxes for health companies in U.S. Senate bill, October 8, 2009
Senate healthcare bill unscathed after first week, September 29, 2009
Self-referral foes fail to add amendment to healthcare reform bill, September 24, 2009
Self-referral amendment doesn't make the cut in House reform bill, August 3, 2009
Copyright © 2009 AuntMinnie.com
