Health Plans Looking to Decrease Imaging Volumes

Faced with double-digit annual increases, health plans are stepping up efforts to slow the proliferation of advanced imaging services, according to a study by the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC).

Along with escalating cost pressures resulting from the rapid growth in imaging utilization, there also are growing concerns about patient safety and quality of care related to rapid increases in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scans, positron emission tomography (PET) scans and nuclear cardiology imaging, says the company.