Jennifer Hemingway

Expanding Roles of Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants As Providers of Nonvascular Invasive Radiology Procedures

PURPOSE To evaluate national trends in nonvascular invasive radiology procedures performed by advanced practice providers (APPs), focusing specifically on nurse practitioners and physician assistants. METHODS Nonvascular invasive radiology procedures commonly performed by APPs at our 2 largest hospitals were used to identify procedure groups for national trends analysis. We mapped categories of services annually to then-current Current Procedural Terminology codes from 1994 to 2012 and identified national Medicare Part B beneficiary paid claims frequency using Physician Supplier Procedure Summary Master Files. Trends were studied for APPs, radiologists, and all providers nationally for 7 categories of service: paracentesis, thoracentesis, fine-needle aspiration (FNA), superficial lymph node biopsy, abdominal biopsy, thoracic biopsy, and abdominal drainage. RESULTS Of 1,352 nonvascular invasive procedures performed by APPs at our facilities over a 1-year period through August 2013, a total of 1,161 (85.9%) fell into the 7 defined categories. Between 1994 and 2012, national Medicare claims by APPs increased dramatically for all of these categories: paracentesis from 0 to 17,967; thoracentesis from 119 to 4,141 (+3,379%); FNA from 0 to 3,921; superficial lymph node biopsy from 0 to 251; abdominal biopsy from 1 to 1,819 (+1,818%); thoracic biopsy from 0 to 552; and abdominal drainage from 37 to 410 (+1,008%). Overall, volumes increased for both radiologists and all providers, with the total fraction of national services performed by APPs increasing from 0% to 10.7% for paracentesis, 0.1% to 5.7% for thoracentesis, 0% to 2.1% for FNA, 0% to 1.4% for superficial lymph node biopsy, 0% to 1.7% for abdominal biopsy, 0% to 1.0% for thoracic biopsy, and 0.1% to 1.2% for abdominal drainage. CONCLUSIONS Although APPs perform a relatively small portion of commonly performed nonvascular invasive radiology procedures nationally, paid Medicare claims for those services have increased dramatically over nearly 2 decades, and at a faster pace than that for all providers as a whole. Given the multiple hurdles involved in obtaining Medicare reimbursement, that growth indicates increasing acceptance of APPs as procedure service providers at the institutional credentialing, state licensure, and payer policy levels.

Medicare Utilization of CT Angiography from 2001 through 2014: Continued Growth by Radiologists

PURPOSE To examine changes in utilization of computed tomography (CT) angiography nationally and changing relative specialty roles in examination interpretation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Service-specific claims data for region-specific CT angiography examinations were identified using Medicare Physician Supplier Procedure Summary Master Files from 2001 through 2014. Longitudinal national utilization rates were calculated using annual Medicare enrollment data for 2001-2013. Procedure volumes by specialty group and site of service were analyzed. RESULTS Total annual claims for CT angiography for Medicare fee for service beneficiaries increased from 64,846 to 1,709,088 (compound annual growth rate [CAGR] 29%) between 2001 and 2014. Per 1,000 beneficiaries, overall CT angiography utilization increased annually from 2.1 in 2001 to 47.6 in 2013. Overall interpretation market share increased 4% (91%-95%) for radiology. Cardiology increased from 1% in 2001 to 6% in 2007 but decreased annually to 2% in 2014. Vascular surgery market share remained < 1% throughout the study period. Growth of CT angiography in the emergency department (ED) outpaced all other sites of service, increasing from 11% to 28% (CAGR 38%). The chest was the dominant body region imaged with CT angiography, increasing from 36,984 to 914,086 (CAGR 28%). CONCLUSIONS Utilization of CT angiography in the Medicare population increased markedly for 2001-2014, particularly in the ED, with radiologists remaining dominant providers. The chest is the most common body region imaged with CT angiography.

Medicare Utilization of Vascular Ultrasound From 1998 to 2013: Continued Growth in Both Radiologist and Nonradiologist Imaging.

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to assess national trends in the utilization of vascular ultrasound (VUS) and changing relative specialty roles in examination interpretation. METHODS Service-specific claims data for VUS studies were identified using Medicare Physician Supplier Procedure Summary Master Files for the period from 1998 to 2013. Longitudinal national utilization rates were calculated using annual Medicare enrollment data for 1998 to 2012. Procedure volumes by specialty group and site of service were analyzed. RESULTS Total annual claims for VUS studies for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries increased from 4,422,360 to 8,599,677 (+94.5%) between 1998 and 2013. Per 1,000 beneficiaries, overall utilization rose from 145.93 in 1998 to 264.26 in 2012 (+81.1%). However, this peaked in 2009 at 270.43 and has been slowly declining each year since. Overall market share decreased from 43% to 41% for radiology and increased from 10% to 16% and from 9% to 17% for vascular surgery and cardiology, respectively. Compound adjusted growth rate increases were 4.2% for radiology, 7.8% for vascular surgery, and 8.7% for cardiology. CONCLUSIONS Utilization of VUS in the Medicare population increased from 1998 through 2009 but has been declining ever since. Although radiology has maintained the dominant market share over time, relative growth by cardiology and vascular surgery has outpaced that by radiology.

Changing Musculoskeletal Extremity Imaging Utilization From 1994 Through 2013: A Medicare Beneficiary Perspective

OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to assess temporal changes in the utilization of musculoskeletal extremity imaging in Medicare beneficiaries over a recent 20-year period (1994-2013). MATERIALS AND METHODS Medicare Physician Supplier Procedure Summary Master Files from 1994 through 2013 were used to study changing utilization and utilization rates of the four most common musculoskeletal imaging modalities: radiography, MRI, CT, and ultrasound. RESULTS Utilization rates (per 1000 beneficiaries) for all four musculoskeletal extremity imaging modalities increased over time: 43% (from 441.7 to 633.6) for radiography, 615% (5.4-38.6) for MRI, 758% (1.2-10.3) for CT, and 500% (1.8-10.8) for ultrasound. Radiologists were the most common billing specialty group for all modalities throughout the 20-year period, maintaining dominant market shares for MRI and CT (84% and 96% in 2013). In recent years, the second most common billing group was orthopedic surgery for radiography, MRI, and CT and podiatry for ultrasound. The physician office was the most common site of service for radiography, MRI, and ultrasound, whereas the hospital outpatient and inpatient settings were the most common sites for CT. CONCLUSION In the Medicare population, the most common musculoskeletal extremity imaging modalities increased substantially in utilization over the 2-decade period from 1994 through 2013. Throughout that time, radiology remained the most common billing specialty, and the physician office and hospital outpatient settings remained the most common sites of service. These insights may have implications for radiology practice leaders in making decisions regarding capital infrastructure, workforce, and training investments to ensure the provision of optimal imaging services for extremity musculoskeletal care.

Evolving Use of Prebiopsy Prostate Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Medicare Population

Purpose: We assessed the changing use of prebiopsy prostate magnetic resonance imaging in Medicare beneficiaries. Materials and Methods: Men who underwent prostate biopsy were identified in 5% Medicare RIFs (Research Identifiable Files) from October 2010 through September 2015. We evaluated the rate of prebiopsy prostate magnetic resonance imaging, defined as any pelvic MRI 6 months or less before biopsy with a prostate indication diagnosis code. Temporal changes were determined as well as variation by geography and among populations. Results: In male Medicare beneficiaries the prebiopsy magnetic resonance imaging use rate increased from 0.1% in 2010 to 0.7% in 2011, to 1.2% in 2012, to 2.9% in 2013, to 4.7% in 2014 and to 10.3% in 2015. In 2015 the prebiopsy prostate magnetic resonance imaging rate varied significantly by patient age, including 5.7% for greater than 80 years vs 8.4% to 9.3% for other age ranges (p = 0.040) as well as by race, including 5.8% in African American vs 10.1% in Caucasian men (p = 0.009) and geographic region, including 6.3% in the Midwest to 12.5% in the Northeast (p <0.001). The rate was highest in Wyoming at 25.0%, New York at 23.7% and Minnesota at 20.5% but it was less than 1% in 10 states. Conclusions: Historical Medicare claims provide novel insights into the dramatically increasing adoption of magnetic resonance imaging prior to prostate biopsy. Following earlier minimal use the performance increased sharply beginning in 2013, exceeding 10% in 2015. However, substantial racial and geographic variation exists in adoption. Continued educational, research and policy efforts are warranted to optimize the role of prebiopsy magnetic resonance imaging and minimize sociodemographic and geographic disparities.

Facet injection trends in the Medicare population and the impact of bundling codes

BACKGROUND CONTEXT Interventional spine procedures have seen a steady increase in utilization over the last 10 to 20 years. In 2010, the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for facet injections were bundled with image guidance (fluoroscopic or computed tomography) and limited billing to a maximum of three levels. This was done in part because of increased utilization and to ensure that procedures were done appropriately with image guidance. PURPOSE The study aimed to evaluate if the CPT code changes correlated with a decreased utilization of facet injections. STUDY DESIGN This is a retrospective time series study. PATIENT SAMPLE The sample was composed of 100% Medicare Part B claims submitted for facet joint injections from 2000 to 2012, as documented in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Physician Supplier Procedure Summary (PSPS) master files. OUTCOME MEASURES Procedure numbers and trends were the outcome measures. METHODS The trends of facet injections were analyzed from 2000 to 2012 using the CMS PSPS master files. The total number of lumbosacral and cervical-thoracic facet injections was noted. Changes over those years were calculated with specific attention to 2010, when CPT were bundled with image guidance and injections were limited to no more than three levels. Also, to account for the growth in the Medicare population, a calculation was done of injections per 100,000 Medicare enrollees. No funding was used for this study. RESULTS Facet injection utilization increased from 2000 to 2012, with an average growth rate of 11% per year for lumbosacral facet injections and 15% for cervical-thoracic facet injections (per 100,000 Medicare enrollees). The largest growth occurred from 2000 to 2006 (25% growth per year for lumbosacral and 32% for cervical-thoracic injections per 100,000 Medicare enrollees) and this leveled off from 2007 to 2012 (-3% growth per year for lumbosacral and -2% for cervical-thoracic injections per 100,000 Medicare enrollees). The biggest drop in these procedures was in 2010, when there was a drop of 14% for lumbosacral facet injections and 15% drop for cervical-thoracic facet injections (per 100,000 Medicare beneficiaries). CONCLUSIONS Facet injection utilization notably increased from 2000 to 2006 but began to level off from 2007 to 2012. The most notable drop was in 2010, which correlated with the release of new CPT codes that bundled image guidance and limited procedures to three levels or less.

Enteral Access Procedures: An 18-Year Analysis of Changing Patterns of Utilization in the Medicare Population

PURPOSE To evaluate national trends in enteral access and maintenance procedures for Medicare beneficiaries with regard to utilization rates, specialty group roles, and sites of service. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using Medicare Physician Supplier Procedure Summary Master Files for the period 1994-2012, claims for gastrostomy and gastrojejunostomy access and maintenance procedures were identified. Longitudinal utilization rates were calculated using annual enrollment data. Procedure volumes by site of service and medical specialty were analyzed. RESULTS Between 1994 and 2012, de novo enteral access procedure utilization decreased from 61.6 to 42.3 per 10,000 Medicare Part B beneficiaries (-31%). Gastroenterologists and surgeons performed > 80% of procedures (unchanged over study period) with 97% in the hospital setting. Over time, relative use of an endoscopic approach (62% in 1994; 82% in 2012) increased as percutaneous (21% to 12%) and open surgical (17% to 5%) procedures declined. Existing enteral access maintenance services increased 29% (from 20.1 to 25.9 per 10,000 beneficiaries). Radiologists (from 13% to 31%) surpassed gastroenterologists (from 36% to 21%) as dominant providers of maintenance procedures. Emergency physicians (from 8% to 23%) and nonphysician providers (from 0% to 6%) have seen rapid growth as maintenance services providers as these services have transitioned increasingly to the emergency department setting (from 18% to 32%). CONCLUSIONS Among Medicare beneficiaries, de novo enteral access procedures have declined in the last 2 decades as existing access maintenance services have increased. The latter are increasingly performed by radiologists, emergency physicians, and nonphysician providers.

Identifying Patients With Undiagnosed Chronic Conditions: An Examination of Patient Costs Before Chronic Disease Diagnosis

PURPOSE Identifying chronic conditions at earlier stages could produce dramatic savings to the health care system. This study sought to determine whether patients with chronic conditions experienced higher medical costs and imaging costs than patients with nonchronic conditions before the onset of chronic disease. METHODS This retrospective study linked 2004-2012 Medicare Chronic Conditions Warehouse data to Medicare fee-for-service claims data, to examine whether elderly patients that have chronic conditions experienced higher overall medical costs, imaging costs, and imaging share of costs before their diagnosis, compared with patients who have nonchronic conditions, during the same period. Students t tests were conducted comparing the mean annual costs and imaging share for patients with chronic conditions and patients with nonchronic conditions, for the six years before their diagnosis and two years afterward. RESULTS Imaging costs for patients with chronic conditions were 9 times higher (P < .001) for 6 years before they were diagnosed with a chronic condition; overall medical costs were 18 times (P < .001) higher than those for patients with nonchronic conditions. A significant (P < .001) but small difference was found between the mean imaging share for patients with, versus without, a chronic condition, up until two years before diagnosis, at which point overall medical costs, imaging costs, and imaging share dramatically increased. CONCLUSIONS Overall medical costs and imaging costs for patients with chronic conditions are significantly and substantially higher than those for patients with nonchronic conditions for many years before they are diagnosed with chronic conditions. Tracking health care expenditures may identify patients with chronic conditions sooner, potentially producing large savings within the health care system.

The Expanding Role of Advanced Practice Providers in Urologic Procedural Care

OBJECTIVE To understand the role of Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) in urologic procedural care and its change over time. As the population ages and the urologic workforce struggles to meet patient access demands, the role of APPs in the provision of all aspects of urologic care is increasing. However, little is currently known about their role in procedural care. MATERIALS AND METHODS Commonly performed urologic procedures were linked to Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes from 1994 to 2012. National Medicare Part B beneficiary claims frequency was identified using Physician Supplier Procedure Summary Master Files. Trends were studied for APPs, urologists, and all other providers nationally across numerous procedures spanning complexity, acuity, and technical skill set requirements. RESULTS Between 1994 and 2012, annual Medicare claims for urologic procedures by APPs increased dramatically. Cystoscopy increased from 24 to 1820 (+7483%), transrectal prostate biopsy from 17 to 834 (+4806%), complex Foley catheter placement from 471 to 2929 (+522%), urodynamics testing from 41 to 9358 (+22,727%), and renal ultrasound from 18 to 4500 (+24,900%) CONCLUSION: We found dramatic growth in the provision of urologic procedural care by APPs over the past 2 decades. These data reinforce the known expansion of the APP role in urology and support the timeliness of ongoing collaborative multidisciplinary educational efforts to address unmet needs in education, training, and guideline formation to maximize access to urologic procedural services.

Changing Medicare Utilization of Minimally Invasive Procedures for the Treatment of Chronic Venous Insufficiency

PURPOSE To examine changes in the utilization of procedures related to treatment of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) in the Medicare population. MATERIALS AND METHODS Service-specific claims data for phlebectomy, sclerotherapy, and radiofrequency (RF) and laser ablation were identified by using Medicare Physician Supplier Procedure Summary master files from 2005 through 2014. Longitudinal national utilization rates were calculated by using annual Medicare enrollment data from 2005 through 2013. Procedure volumes by specialty group and site of service were analyzed. RESULTS Total annual claims for these procedures in the Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries increased from 95,206 to 332,244 (Compound Annual Growth Rate [CAGR], 15%) between 2005 and 2014. Per 1,000 beneficiaries, overall utilization increased annually from 2.8 in 2005 to 9.4 in 2013. Most procedures were performed in the private office setting (92% in 2014). In 2014, radiologists had a 10% relative market share, compared with vascular surgeons, other surgeons, and cardiologists, who had 26%, 25%, and 14% market shares, respectively. Cardiologists had the fastest relative growth, with a CAGR of 51% compared with 23% for radiology, 12% for vascular surgery, and 13% for other surgery. Total venous RF ablation services grew with a CAGR of 31%, with radiology and cardiology growing most rapidly (40% and 79%, respectively). Total venous laser ablation services grew with a CAGR of 22%, with radiology growing 15% and cardiology growing most rapidly at 44%. CONCLUSIONS Utilization of CVI procedures in the Medicare population increased markedly from 2005 through 2014. The overwhelming majority are performed in the private office setting by nonradiologists.