Debunking myths about the costs of medical imaging.

A new analysis of 2010 Medicare claims data shows that spending on medical imaging continues to decline and that Medicare patients are actually receiving fewer imaging procedures-debunking the myth that life-saving diagnostic imaging exams and radiation therapy are increasing health care costs.

The Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance (MITA) conducted the analysis-based on data tabulated by Direct Research LLC-to determine the impact of reimbursement cuts to medical imaging over the last five years on spending and utilization.

Contrary to policymakers’ faulty perceptions of steady growth in imaging, the data show that spending on imaging services for each Medicare beneficiary has dropped 13.2 percent since 2006, when significant imaging-specific reimbursement cuts from the Deficit Reduction Act began to be implemented, and imaging utilization per beneficiary declined by 3 percent in 2010. Meanwhile, spending for non-imaging Medicare services has grown by 20 percent since 2006 and utilization increased 2 percent in 2010. The analysis also found that imaging is now a smaller portion of Medicare spending than it was in 2000.

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