Overuse of Imaging Stories in NY Times and Washington Post from Lewin Analysis for CMS

June 27, 2011

Since 2008, The Lewin Group has been supporting the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in the development of imaging efficiency measures. Recent articles in The New York Times (“Medicare Claims Show Overuse for CT Scanning” by Walt Bogdanich and Jo Craven Mcginty, June 17, 2011) and The Washington Post/Kaiser Health News (“Many hospitals overuse double CT scans, data show” by Julie Appleby and Jordan Rau,: June 18, 2011) are based on analyses performed by The Lewin Group for CMS.  The overall goal of the project is to assist CMS in developing a limited set of imaging efficiency measures, based on clinical evidence that will serve to promote cost-efficient and high quality patient care. 

“As illustrated by the articles, the data provide hospitals with important information that can assist them with improving quality of care and patient safety.   The initiative also is serving as a public health educational effort regarding the potential benefits and risks associated with imaging services.  The articles in The New York Times and The Washington Post / Kaiser Health News are examples of how the information can be used to raise public awareness and improve the quality of care,” says Dr. Charlie Bruetman, Senior Vice President at The Lewin Group and the lead for this project. “We will continue to support CMS in developing evidence based measures that make sense for doctors and patients.”