Use of Health Information Exchange and Repeat Imaging Costs.

TitleUse of Health Information Exchange and Repeat Imaging Costs.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsJung H-Y, Vest JR, Unruh MA, Kern LM, Kaushal R
Corporate AuthorsHITEC Investigators
JournalJ Am Coll Radiol
Volume12
Issue12 Pt B
Pagination1364-70
Date Published2015 Dec
ISSN1558-349X
KeywordsAdolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cohort Studies, Cost Savings, Diagnostic Imaging, Female, Health Information Exchange, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, New York, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, United States, Utilization Review, Young Adult
Abstract

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to quantify the association between health information exchange (HIE) use and cost savings attributable to repeat imaging.

METHODS: Imaging procedures associated with HIE were compared with concurrent controls on the basis of propensity score matching over the period from 2009 to 2010 in a longitudinal cohort study. The study sample (n = 12,620) included patients ages 18 years and older enrolled in the two largest commercial health plans in a 13-county region of western New York State served by the Rochester Regional Health Information Organization. The primary outcome was a continuous measure of costs associated with repeat imaging. The determinant of interest, HIE use, was defined as system access after the initial imaging procedure and before repeat imaging.

RESULTS: HIE use was associated with an overall estimated annual savings of $32,460 in avoided repeat imaging, or $2.57 per patient. Basic imaging (radiography, ultrasound, and mammography) accounted for 85% of the estimated avoided cases of repeat imaging. Advanced imaging (CT and MRI) accounted for 13% of avoided procedures but constituted half of the estimated savings (50%).

CONCLUSIONS: HIE systems may reduce costs associated with repeat imaging. Although inexpensive imaging procedures constituted the largest proportion of avoided repeat imaging in our study, most of the estimated cost savings were due to small reductions in repeated advanced imaging procedures. HIE systems will need to be leveraged in ways that facilitate greater reductions in advanced imaging to achieve appreciable cost savings.

DOI10.1016/j.jacr.2015.09.010
Alternate JournalJ Am Coll Radiol
PubMed ID26614881
PubMed Central IDPMC4722040
Grant ListT32 AG023482 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
Category: 
Faculty Publication