The No Surprises Act (NSA) is the first federal law to address surprise medical billing and became effective as of January 2022. This law prohibits balance billing to patients who receive unexpected out-of-network care and limits patient payments to their in-network cost-sharing (coinsurance, copay, or deductible). Many neuroradiologists and neurointerventionalists are involved in care that may be subject to the NSA, such as stroke or trauma work-ups from the emergency department, and, thus, should be aware of the implications. Full Article
T.H. Nguyen, R.E. Heller, K. Keysor, J.M. Milburn, E.Y. Rula, R. Spangler, and J.A. Hirsch. 2022. "The No Surprises Act: What Neuroradiologists Should Know," American Journal of Neuroradiology
The objective of this study was to investigate whether the state share of ED visits for which an NPP was the clinician of record is associated with imaging studies ordered, given that state NPP share is associated with
state-level NPP scopes of practice. Full Article
Eric W. Christensen, PhD; Chi-Mei Liu, PhD; Richard Duszak Jr, MD; Joshua A. Hirsch, MD; Timothy L. Swan, MD; Elizabeth Y. Rula, PhD. 2022. "Association of State Share of Nonphysician Practitioners With Diagnostic Imaging Ordering Among Emergency Department Visits for Medicare Beneficiaries," JAMA Network Open
The researchers objective was to examine the association of treatment and neuroimaging with ischemic stroke total hospital cost growth for the Medicare fee-for-service population. Full Article
Eric W. Christensen, PhD , Casey E. Pelzl, MPH, Jennifer Hemingway, MS, Jason J. Wang, PhD, Maria X. Sanmartin, PhD, Jason J. Naidich, MD, MBA, Elizabeth Y. Rula, PhD, Pina C. Sanelli, MD, MPH. 2022. "Drivers of Ischemic Stroke Hospital Cost Trends Among Older Adults in the United States," Journal of American College of Radiology (JACR)
November 7, 2022
The increased use of neuroimaging and innovations in ischemic stroke (IS) treatment have improved outcomes, but the impact on median hospital costs is not well understood. The JACR retrospective study was conducted using Medicare claims data for 75,525 consecutive index IS hospitalizations for patients aged ≥65 years from 2012 to 2019. Read the study for full details.
October 6, 2022
Mean overall patient OOP costs for imaging examinations increased significantly and substantially over the last two decades. Lack of insurance, younger age, history of cancer, and other comorbidities were associated with higher OOP costs. As diagnostic imaging utilization increases, patient financial hardship considerations merit further attention. Read the study for full details.
With radiology practices increasingly employing nonphysician practitioners (NPPs), the study researchers aimed to characterize specific NPP clinical roles. As radiology practices employ more NPPs, radiologist-employed NPPs’ aggregate services have increased for E&M, invasive procedures, and imaging interpretation. Full Article
Stefan Santavicca, MS , Danny R. Hughes, PhD, Andrew B. Rosenkrantz, MD, MPA, Eric Rubin, MD, Richard Duszak Jr., MD. 2022. "Professional Services Rendered by Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants Employed by Radiology Practices: Characteristics and Trends From 2017 Through 2019," Journal of American College of Radiology (JACR)
August 22, 2022
Employment of NPPs by radiology practices has grown considerably in recent years, particularly in larger and urban practices.
Twenty-five years of annual Medicare Physician/Supplier Procedure Summary (PSPS) Master File data were used to assess trends in normalized volume and claim denial rates for brain CT. Alongside growth in utilization of brain CT services, denial rates, fell from 1999-2005 and with relatively leveled growth and less denial rate volatility thereafter. More recent trends in denial rates may be related to policy interventions initially aimed at cost and volume reduction. Full Article
Robert J.French, Jr. MD, Joshua Hirsch, MD, Jennifer Hemingway, MS, Danny R. Hughes, PhD, Reginald Lerebours, MA, Sheng Luo, PhD, Brian C. Allen, MD, Richard Duszak, Jr. MD, David A. Rosman MD, MBA. 2022. "Association and Trends in Medicare Denials and Utilization for Brain CT: Indirect Impacts by Targeted Policy Intervention?," Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology
July 1, 2022
Neuroimaging continues to increase in the Medicare population. However, disparities exist across demographic groups. Read the study for full details.
The aim of this study was to quantify the initial decline and subsequent rebound in breast cancer screening metrics throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Full Article
Lars J. Grimm, MD, MHS, Cindy Lee, MD, Robert D. Rosenberg, MD, Judy Burleson, MHSA, Michael Simanowith, MD, Tom Fruscello, Jr., MBA, Casey E. Pelzl, MPH, Sarah M. Friedewald, MD, Linda Moy, MD, Margarita L. Zuley, MD. 2022. "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Breast Imaging: An Analysis of the National Mammography Database," Journal of American College of Radiology (JACR)
