For high-risk women, breast magnetic resonance (MR) is the preferred supplemental imaging option, but spatial access differences may exacerbate disparities in breast care. The primary aim of this study was to examine the relative distance to breast imaging facilities with MR compared to facilities offering mammography or ultrasound. Access to advanced imaging modalities is critical for breast cancer outcomes, so better understanding how more local facilities could be harnessed to provide these services is necessary. This study examined for each modality the association of socioeconomic status (as measured by the ADI) and urbanicity with distance to breast imaging facilities to quantify their relationship with distance-related screening access to breast imaging. Full Article
Eric W. Christensen, PhD, Robert B. Rosenblatt, BS, Anika G Patel, Elizabeth Y. Rula, PhD, Ruth C. Carlos, MD, MS, Anand K. Narayan, MD, PhD, Bhavika K. Patel, MD. 2024. "Differential Access to Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging Compared with Mammography and Ultrasound," American Journal of Preventive Medicine
July 31, 2024
The dynamics of a workforce shortage, volume growth, NPPS and paused implementation of clinical decisions support via PAMA legislation are threatening patient access. In this issue of Research Rounds, our Executive Director, Elizabeth Rula, PhD, covers the evidence unfolding from our work from the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute® (HPI), where we are studying the Read More
The aim of this study was to examine radiology’s and other specialties’ market shares for diagnostic imaging interpretation for Medicare fee-for-service claims by modality, body region, and place of service. Full Article
Eric W. Christensen, PhD, Elizabeth Y. Rula, PhD, Jeffrey H. Newhouse, MD. 2024. "Share of Diagnostic Imaging Interpretation: Radiology and Other Specialties," Journal of the American College of Radiology (JACR)
A range of economic and health policy incentives are leading to ongoing consolidation among payers, hospitals, and physician practices. The objective of this study is to evaluate consolidation among radiologists' affiliated practices through 2023, analyze the impact of consolidation on such practices' specialty mix and size, and assess radiologists' new affiliations after prior practices cease. Full Article
Eric W. Christensen, PhD, YoonKyung Chung, PhD, Elizabeth Y. Rula, PhD, Jay R. Parikh, MD. 2024. "Changes in the Radiology Practice Landscape and Indicators of Practice Consolidation From 2014 to 2023," American Journal of Roentgenology
To report osteoporosis screening utilization rates among Asian American (AsA) populations in the USA. The study found lower than expected DXA screening rates for AsA patients. A better understanding of the barriers and facilitators to AsA osteoporosis screening is needed to improve patient care. Full Article
Soterios Gyftopoulos, Casey E. Pelzl, Madalena Da Silva Cardoso, Juliana Xie, Simona C. Kwon & Connie Y. Chang. 2024. "Bone Density Screening Rates Among Medicare Beneficiaries: An Analysis with a focus on Asian Americans," Skeletal Radiology
The 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. The researchers found that radiologists in multispecialty practices score higher, but rarely report any radiology-relevant MIPS quality measures, and instead report measures relevant to other specialties. The findings were published in the American Journal of Roentgenology. Full Article
YoonKyung Chung, PhD, Lauren P. Nicola, MD, Chi-Mei Liu, PhD, and Elizabeth Y. Rula, PhD. 2024. "Radiologists’ 2021 Quality Reporting and Performance in Medicare’s Merit-Based Incentive Payment System: Analysis by Practice Type," American Journal of Roentgenology
August 14, 2023
Gender-Based Disparity in Acute Stroke Imaging Utilization and the Impact on Treatment and Outcomes: 2012 to 2021. Read the JACR study for full details.
We aimed to assess the changing share of diagnostic imaging billed by NPPs and how such changes differ by urbanicity within the context of scope-of-practice regulations and legislation. Full Article
Casey E. Pelzl MPH, Elizabeth Y. Rula PhD, Richard Duszak Jr MD, Eric W. Christensen PhD. 2023. "Trends in Diagnostic Imaging by Nonphysician Practitioners and Associations With Urbanicity and Scope-of-Practice Authority," Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology
Lung cancer screening does not require patient cost-sharing for insured people in the U.S. Little is known about whether other factors associated with patient selection into different insurance plans affect screening rates. We examined screening rates for enrollees in commercial, Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS), and Medicare Advantage plans. Considerable variation exists in lung cancer screening between different payers and across patient characteristics. Efforts targeting historically vulnerable populations could present opportunities to increase screening. Full Article
Danny R. Hughes, PhD; Jie Chen, PhD; Alexandra E. Wallace, MS; Shubhsri Rajendra, MS; Stefan Santavicca, MS; Richard Duszak Jr., MD; Elizabeth Y. Rula, PhD; Robert A. Smith, PhD. 2023. "Comparison of Lung Cancer Screening Eligibility and Use between Commercial, Medicare, and Medicare Advantage Enrollees," Journal of American College of Radiology (JACR), 20(4)
Out-of-pocket costs (OOPCs) have been largely eliminated for screening mammography. However, patients still face OOPCs when undergoing subsequent diagnostic tests after the initial screening, which represents a potential barrier to those who require follow-up testing after initial testing. This study examines the association between the degree of patient cost-sharing and the use of diagnostic breast cancer imaging after undergoing a screening mammogram. Full Article
Danny R. Hughes, PhD; William Espinoza, MS; Sarah Fein, MS; Elizabeth Y. Rula, PhD; Geraldine McGinty, MD, MBA. 2023. "Patient Cost-Sharing and Utilization of Breast Cancer Diagnostic Imaging by Patients Undergoing Subsequent Testing After a Screening Mammogram," JAMA Network Open
