Latest news from Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute on News en-us Copyright 2025 News 115 31 / /images/newswise-logo-rss.gif /articles/osteoporosis-screening-with-opportunistic-ct-could-double-screening-rates-and-avoid-up-to-2-5-billion-in-medical-costs/?sc=rsin /articles/osteoporosis-screening-with-opportunistic-ct-could-double-screening-rates-and-avoid-up-to-2-5-billion-in-medical-costs/?sc=rsin Mon, 03 Mar 2025 19:40:08 EST A new multi-institute study demonstrates the potential prevention and economic benefits from the opportunistic use of CT (OCT), defined as screening performed using CT images that were collected for a different purpose. The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology, showed that using CT imaging that includes the upper lumbar spine in its field of view to screen for osteoporosis could increase the screening rate in the Medicare fee-for-service population by 113% without requiring any additional imaging. The work was a collaboration among researchers from the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute, New York University Langone Health, and Massachusetts General Hospital. Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute /articles/radiologists-in-smaller-and-induvial-practices-face-disadvantages-in-mips-scoring-highlighting-need-for-reform/?sc=rsin /articles/radiologists-in-smaller-and-induvial-practices-face-disadvantages-in-mips-scoring-highlighting-need-for-reform/?sc=rsin Wed, 26 Feb 2025 09:00:00 EST New Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute research found significant differences in performance across radiologists in the CMS Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). The researchers examined a broad range of radiologist and practice characteristics and identified the set of factors that predicted whether a radiologist would score exceptionally, and thus receive the highest payment bonus, or would fail to meet this bar. The study, published today in the Journal of the American College of Radiology, found that the strongest predictor of a radiologist's lower performance was reporting as an individual clinician, rather than as part of a group of physicians or an Advanced Payment Model (APM) entity. Individual radiologists were 7.4 times more likely to fail to achieve "exceptional" status than group reporting radiologists, indicating potential disadvantage in the MIPS program. Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute /articles/treatment-patterns-for-uterine-fibroids-differ-by-insurance-type/?sc=rsin /articles/treatment-patterns-for-uterine-fibroids-differ-by-insurance-type/?sc=rsin Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:10:06 EST A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found that among women receiving treatment for uterine fibroids, those with Medicaid were more likely to receive uterine artery embolization (UAE) than those with commercial insurance. The research, published today in the Journal of the American College of Radiology examined the propensity for women to receive either surgical treatment (hysterectomy or myomectomy) or the less invasive UAE procedure for uterine fibroids. This study was based on 579,153 women receiving one of these three treatments and examined how treatment patterns differed by insurance type--commercial or Medicaid. Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute /articles/new-studies-shed-light-on-the-future-radiologist-workforce-shortage-by-projecting-future-radiologist-supply-and-demand-for-imaging/?sc=rsin /articles/new-studies-shed-light-on-the-future-radiologist-workforce-shortage-by-projecting-future-radiologist-supply-and-demand-for-imaging/?sc=rsin Wed, 12 Feb 2025 09:00:00 EST The Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute released two companion studies, published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology, examining the future radiologist workforce and imaging utilization trends through 2055. Both studies emphasize the importance of addressing the shortage through increased residency positions, addressing attrition, and implementing strategies to reduce unnecessary imaging and enhance efficiency, potentially through artificial intelligence. The Institute's research aims to inform policymakers about sustainable solutions to maintain access to quality imaging care. Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute /articles/the-neiman-imaging-comorbidity-index-proves-effective-for-risk-adjustment-across-medicare-medicaid-and-privately-insured-populations/?sc=rsin /articles/the-neiman-imaging-comorbidity-index-proves-effective-for-risk-adjustment-across-medicare-medicaid-and-privately-insured-populations/?sc=rsin Fri, 20 Dec 2024 16:55:00 EST Previously in 2024, researchers at the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute published a novel risk-adjustment score--the Neiman Imaging Comorbidity Index (NICI)--predictive of patients' advanced imaging use. Now, these researchers have published more extensive validation of the NICI to test its utility in datasets other than the claims dataset from which it was developed. Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute /articles/medicaid-patients-in-states-with-relatively-higher-medicaid-reimbursement-are-more-likely-to-receive-imaging/?sc=rsin /articles/medicaid-patients-in-states-with-relatively-higher-medicaid-reimbursement-are-more-likely-to-receive-imaging/?sc=rsin Wed, 18 Dec 2024 09:00:00 EST A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found that Medicaid patients residing in states with higher Medicaid reimbursement were more likely to receive medical imaging. However, for those who underwent imaging, the number of imaging exams they received did not vary with reimbursement. This study, published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology, was based on nearly 49 million Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) beneficiaries 0-64 years of age in 2019. Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute /articles/new-study-shows-mobile-mammography-reach-is-highest-in-underserved-groups-with-low-breast-cancer-screening-adherence/?sc=rsin /articles/new-study-shows-mobile-mammography-reach-is-highest-in-underserved-groups-with-low-breast-cancer-screening-adherence/?sc=rsin Fri, 13 Dec 2024 18:20:40 EST A recent study by the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute demonstrates that mobile mammography is generally used by women otherwise unlikely to be screened, and thus is complementary to facility-based mammography rather than a substitute for it. Hence, mobile mammography could feasibly increase breast cancer screening rates, especially in traditionally underserved communities. This study, published in Clinical Breast Cancer, was based on 2.6 million women with Medicare fee-for-service insurance during the 2004-2021 period. Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute /articles/npp-imaging-interpretation-share-more-than-doubled-between-2013-and-2022/?sc=rsin /articles/npp-imaging-interpretation-share-more-than-doubled-between-2013-and-2022/?sc=rsin Wed, 20 Nov 2024 09:00:00 EST A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found non-physician practitioners' (NPPs) share of imaging interpretation in office-based practices increased 117%, from 2.52% of Medicare imaging studies in 2013 to 5.47% in 2022. Interpretations by NPPs are performed by a small minority (5.55%) of NPPs with considerable variation by imaging modality and state. Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute /articles/radiologists-are-participating-in-less-resident-training-as-workloads-increase-new-study-shows/?sc=rsin /articles/radiologists-are-participating-in-less-resident-training-as-workloads-increase-new-study-shows/?sc=rsin Tue, 22 Oct 2024 09:00:00 EST According to new research from the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute, radiologists who teach residents are spending significantly less time each year in that teaching role. The study, published today in the Journal of The American College of Radiology, tracked the workload of 35,595 radiologists in Medicare Part B claims data from 2008 to 2020. As a percentage of total clinical workload measured in relative value units, work that involved resident training dropped from 35.3% in 2008 to 26.3% in 2019. In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S., the teaching share of work dropped further to 24.5%. Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute /articles/neurointerventionalists-can-rarely-recover-payment-for-out-of-network-mechanical-thrombectomy-under-the-no-suprises-act/?sc=rsin /articles/neurointerventionalists-can-rarely-recover-payment-for-out-of-network-mechanical-thrombectomy-under-the-no-suprises-act/?sc=rsin Wed, 02 Oct 2024 17:05:32 EST A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found that neurointerventionalists, who often deliver lifesaving and disability-sparing treatments for emergency stroke cases, have essentially no financially viable access to payment recovery through the No Surprises Act (NSA) for professional mechanical thrombectomy (MT) out-of-network (OON) claims. Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute /articles/heat-vulnerability-linked-to-worse-stroke-severity-offering-a-new-metric-for-stroke-risk-amidst-climate-change/?sc=rsin /articles/heat-vulnerability-linked-to-worse-stroke-severity-offering-a-new-metric-for-stroke-risk-amidst-climate-change/?sc=rsin Tue, 20 Aug 2024 17:05:22 EST A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute (HPI) study found that living in a neighborhood with higher vulnerability to environmental heat predicted worse stroke severity. Investigators from HPI's PRIME research center at Northwell Health, the largest health system in New York state, evaluated all acute ischemic stroke admissions to Northwell's comprehensive stroke center over a decade. Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute /articles/women-travel-nearly-3-times-as-far-for-supplemental-mr-or-us-breast-cancer-screening-than-for-mammography-limiting-access-for-those-at-higher-risk/?sc=rsin /articles/women-travel-nearly-3-times-as-far-for-supplemental-mr-or-us-breast-cancer-screening-than-for-mammography-limiting-access-for-those-at-higher-risk/?sc=rsin Mon, 12 Aug 2024 08:00:00 EST A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found the geographic distance to facilities providing breast MR or ultrasound was more than 2.7 times further than the distance to a mammography center. Given new breast density guidelines, now approximately one in two women (those who have dense breast tissue) are recommended to have supplemental breast cancer screening by breast MR or ultrasound due to their relatively higher breast cancer risk. The research, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, measured distance to the nearest facility offering mammography, breast MR and/or breast ultrasound for 29,629 ZIP codes. The researchers compared distance between imaging types to reveal the relative extent of this barrier to access and to inform approaches to mitigate disparities. Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute /articles/proposed-radiation-oncology-bundled-payments-produce-medicare-savings-with-goal-of-stabilizing-reimbursement/?sc=rsin /articles/proposed-radiation-oncology-bundled-payments-produce-medicare-savings-with-goal-of-stabilizing-reimbursement/?sc=rsin Thu, 11 Jul 2024 13:05:22 EST A new study by researchers from Mayo Clinic and the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute demonstrates the impact on reimbursement of a value-based payment model, the Radiation Oncology Case Rate (ROCR). A bipartisan bill introduced to Congress this May includes ROCR to protect access, reduce disparities and improve outcomes in cancer treatment. Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute /articles/imaging-market-share-analysis-shows-28-of-image-interpretation-performed-by-non-radiologists/?sc=rsin /articles/imaging-market-share-analysis-shows-28-of-image-interpretation-performed-by-non-radiologists/?sc=rsin Fri, 28 Jun 2024 10:00:00 EST A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found that radiologists interpreted 72.1% of all imaging studies for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries in 2022, with the remaining 27.9% performed by other types of clinicians. Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute /articles/the-harvey-l-neiman-health-policy-institute-launches-cancer-equity-compass/?sc=rsin /articles/the-harvey-l-neiman-health-policy-institute-launches-cancer-equity-compass/?sc=rsin Thu, 20 Jun 2024 10:00:00 EST The Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute announces the public launch of a new online tool that reveals the overlap between cancer disparities and social determinants of health (SDOH) using advanced heat maps of U.S. counties. The Cancer Equity Compass can identify high-opportunity targets for policies and programs to achieve equitable health outcomes in underserved populations. Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute /articles/consolidation-patterns-of-practices-with-radiologists-through-2023/?sc=rsin /articles/consolidation-patterns-of-practices-with-radiologists-through-2023/?sc=rsin Wed, 05 Jun 2024 10:00:00 EST A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found that from 2014 to 2023 the number of medical practices with affiliated radiologists decreased 14.7% even though the number of radiologists increased 17.3%. As such, the average number of radiologists per practice increased from 9.7 to 17.9 over the study. Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute /articles/continued-medicare-reimbursement-declines-could-threaten-access-to-physicians/?sc=rsin /articles/continued-medicare-reimbursement-declines-could-threaten-access-to-physicians/?sc=rsin Fri, 26 Apr 2024 09:50:48 EST A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found that physician reimbursement per Medicare patient decreased 2.3% between 2005 and 2021 when accounting for inflation, despite a concurrent increase of 45.5% in physician services to each patient. These reimbursement trends varied widely by physician specialty (-57.6% for cardiac surgery to +189.1% for pain management). Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute /articles/low-dxa-screening-rates-among-asian-american-medicare-beneficiaries/?sc=rsin /articles/low-dxa-screening-rates-among-asian-american-medicare-beneficiaries/?sc=rsin Wed, 10 Apr 2024 16:05:43 EST A new study by researchers at NYU Langone Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute found lower rates of osteoporosis screening among Asian American (15%) and other non-white Medicare beneficiaries (11-15%) in the U.S. when compared with the screening rate among white beneficiaries (18%). Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute /articles/radiologists-at-major-disadvantage-in-mips-when-working-in-radiology-focused-practices-according-to-new-study/?sc=rsin /articles/radiologists-at-major-disadvantage-in-mips-when-working-in-radiology-focused-practices-according-to-new-study/?sc=rsin Wed, 03 Apr 2024 10:00:00 EST The latest Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute (HPI) 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. Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute /articles/new-study-finds-a-67-increase-in-neurovascular-imaging-use-for-headache-and-dizziness-in-the-emergency-department/?sc=rsin /articles/new-study-finds-a-67-increase-in-neurovascular-imaging-use-for-headache-and-dizziness-in-the-emergency-department/?sc=rsin Thu, 28 Mar 2024 12:45:42 EST New research demonstrates that the use of CT angiography (CTA) for patients with headache or dizziness increased dramatically over 5 years in the emergency department (ED) of a large medical center. Simultaneously the rate of positive findings on those same exams decreased.  Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute