Forecasting Imaging Use Under Health-care Reform

Provided by Regents Health Resources

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Regents Health Resources was formed in 1996 to assist hospitals and physicians in the development and management of their medical-imaging and oncology services. The consultancy has served more than 500 clients nationwide with a diverse range of services, from strategic planning and operational assessments to joint-venture planning, valuations, and imaging-center sales and acquisitions.


 

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Table 1. Estimated State-by-state Impact on Imaging Use¹ Introduction: A key element of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is extending coverage to uninsured individuals, which raises a number of questions in the imaging marketplace. What is the predicted impact on utilization in 2015, when an estimated 31 million formerly uninsured people will join the ranks of the insured? With continued downward pressure on reimbursement for the technical component of outpatient imaging, will there be enough capacity and resources to accommodate the new patients? This edition of Imaging Market File provides an estimated state-by-state impact of health reform on imaging use, which adds up to 13.6% growth nationally (Table 1). Methodology: To calculate the impact of reform on imaging utilization, current utilization rates were normalized by removing the Medicare population (over age 65) to arrive at a utilization rate that would represent the population under 65 years old. Those rates were then corrected for uncompensated care for the uninsured already being delivered in emergency departments and elsewhere (estimated as 25% of their care). To counterbalance utilization management—which has already had a chilling effect on imaging growth (see the February/March Imaging Market File) and is likely to increase—the impact of the aging of the population was not factored into the equation, so these projections could be conservative. Thomson Reuters and National Imaging Network have provided proprietary data on 2010 procedure counts, and proprietary utilization forecasts have been made by Regents Health Resources, Inc. Five greatest-growth states: The states with the greatest predicted postreform growth rates are Texas, New Mexico, Georgia, Nevada, and California (Table 2). Tight certificate-of-need regulations in Georgia and stringent construction requirements from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development in California raise questions about whether those states have the capacity to address the needs of the new patients—and if not, whether capacity can be increased quickly enough to absorb the predicted volumes. image
Table 2. States With the Highest Projected Imaging Growth

 

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Table 3. States With the Lowest Projected Imaging Growth Five lowest-growth states: As might be expected, in states (such as Vermont and Massachusetts) that have focused on providing unique or specialized programs to minimize the number of uninsured residents, the overall impact of health-care reform on utilization is predicted to be significantly lower than the national average of 13.6% growth (Table 3). While the number of uninsured people is a factor in moderating projected imaging growth, clinical decision support for medical imaging might also be a factor. Minnesota, which has implemented clinical decision support for outpatient imaging statewide, is among the low-growth states. Growth by modality: Texas and Massachusetts, the states expected to experience the largest and smallest postreform bumps in imaging volumes, share one characteristic: MRI volume is predicted to grow more than CT volume (Table 4). This trend was already established in previous years as MRI became more ubiquitous and user friendly (and less expensive). Concern about exposure to ionizing radiation might also be a factor. Differences between uninsured populations:Populations that are, on average, younger or less economically advantaged are reflected in the regional percentages of uninsured people (Figures 1 and 2). The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates the total uninsured US population at just over 49 million.¹ Notes and caveats: Predicted utilization rates rely on the supposition that the 2014 mandate for individual insurance coverage will remain intact. Under the PPACA, individuals meeting specific criteria may fall outside the individual- insurance mandate. This provision could affect the utilization forecast in states with high undocumented-resident populations. Additional data details are available by zip code, modality, and age group. image
Table 4. Growth by Modality in Texas and Massachusetts [click image to enlarge]

 

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Figure 1. The regions with the greatest predicted postreform increases in imaging utilization (AHRA regions West South Central, South Atlantic, and Pacific) correspond to those with the highest percentage of young and disadvantaged people, including illegal-immigrant populations.¹

 

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Figure 2. Uninsured US population (by region). 1. Kaiser Family Foundation. Health coverage & uninsured. http://www.statehealthfacts.org/ comparecat.jsp?cat=3&rgn=6&rgn=1. Accessed April 20, 2012.

 

Read or download the other Imaging Market Files. Accomodating Imaging Volume Under Health-care Reformread or download pdf CT and MRI: Regional Variations in Utilization and Reimbursementread or download pdfHospital-based Versus Freestanding Outpatient Imaging Servicesread or download pdf Cost Comparison: Hospital-based Versus Freestanding Outpatient Imaging Services
read or download pdf Radiology-group Financial Performanceread or download pdf Outpatient Imaging Utilization Trendsread or download pdf
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