Coalition Imaging Study Misleading and Fails to Address Explosive CT, MR, PET Utilization Growth
April 4, 2005
Contact: Shawn Farley
(703) 648-8936
E-mail: shawnf@acr.org
RESTON, Va – A recent analysis of Medicare imaging data, paid for by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and members of its coalition, does not explain the exponential growth of in-office MRI, CT, and PET utilization, particularly among nonradiologists; manipulates data by incorporating irrelevant factors; and does not adequately address more than a decade of data showing economically motivated inappropriate utilization of medical imaging by lesser or unqualified providers.
The ACC-funded review of current Medicare data reaches conclusions based on an inflated baseline by incorporating the broadest definition of imaging modalities and including Part B services irrelevant to this issue such as DME, clinical labs, etc. in its analysis.
This unconvincing report adds no new information to the discussion regarding inappropriate utilization of medical imaging procedures. The ACR will have additional comment shortly.
To arrange an interview with Dr Borgstede or another ACR officer, please contact ACR Public Relations Manager Shawn Farley at (703) 648-8936 or shawnf@acr.org.
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The ACR is a national professional organization serving more than 32,000 diagnostic radiologists, radiation oncologists, interventional radiologists, nuclear medicine physicians, and medical physicists, with programs focusing on the practice of radiology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.