Evolving trends in the use of echocardiography : A study of medicare beneficiaries

• Published in: Journal of the American College of Cardiology Vol. 49; no. 23; pp. 2283 - 2291
• Main Authors: PEARLMAN, Alan S, RYAN, Thomas, PICARD, Michael H, DOUGLAS, Pamela S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Science 12.06.2007; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular system; Echocardiography - economics; Echocardiography - trends; Echocardiography - utilization; Heart Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Heart Diseases - epidemiology; Hospitals; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Medical sciences; Medicare; Medicare Part B - economics; Medicare Part B - trends; Physicians; Prevalence; Statistical data; Ultrasonic investigative techniques; United States - epidemiology; Sonography; Health insurance; Echocardiography; Poverty; Use; Trend; Circulatory system; Cardiology; Phlebology; Social aspect
• ISSN: 0735-1097; 1558-3597; 1558-3597
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2007.02.048

We studied the use of echocardiography among Medicare beneficiaries between 1999 and 2004 to determine the rate of growth in these services and evaluate the drivers of growth. Concerned about increasing health care costs, federal and private payers have highlighted growth in diagnostic imaging studies and begun to develop approaches to curb this growth. Medicare Part B Physician/Supplier Procedure Summary Master File and enrollment data from 1999 to 2004 were reviewed. Total Medicare carrier-paid spending for echocardiography services was determined from procedure volumes and allowed charges. The 5% standard analytic file of physician claims was used to evaluate geographic variations in use and to document the specialties of physicians who request and those who interpret echocardiograms. Between 1999 and 2004, echocardiography services grew at a rate similar to that for all medical services subject to Medicare's sustainable growth rate (SGR) calculation. Increasing provision of echocardiograms in physicians' offices contributed to increased spending under the SGR. Accounting for this shift, actual annualized per capita growth in echocardiography was 7.7%. Variations in the prevalence of heart disease contributed to geographic variations in use. Although cardiologists were the most common providers of echocardiographic services, primary care physicians ordered the majority of these diagnostic procedures. Growth in the use of echocardiography is in keeping with the general growth in medical services. Nonetheless, physicians who order echocardiograms and those who provide them must work together to ensure that in the future these diagnostic services are used appropriately and not excessively.