Publications & Research

Diagnostic Imaging Costs: Are They Driving Up the Costs of Hospital Care?

Authors:
Molly T. Beinfeld, MPH and G. Scott Gazelle, MD, MPH, PhD

Publication:
Radiology, June 2005

Summary:
Purpose: To retrospectively determine how changes in utilization of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and other imaging technologies between 1996 and 2002 influenced costs of inpatient hospital care at one large academic medical center.  Conclusion: Despite substantial increases in utilization of inpatient CT, MR imaging, and other imaging technologies, diagnostic imaging costs increased at approximately same rate as did total costs for inpatients with several diagnoses.  CT and MR imaging do not appear to be driving the cost increases seen between 1996 and 2002.

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