The number of non-physician providers (NPP) submitting radiology service claims saw an increase from 2017 to 2019.
According to a study by the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute, the number of radiology practice employed NPPs submitting Medicare claims increased from 523 in 2017 to 608 in 2019, a 16.3% relative increase. NPP total work relative value units increased to a slightly greater extent (17.3%) and varied significantly across categories of services, the study said.
When the researchers assessed claims submitted by NPPs by clinical category, 98.7% of NPP services were involved clinical evaluation and management, invasive image-guided procedures, and imaging interpretation, the study said. Among these, invasive procedures accounted for the highest proportion of total NPP work relative value units.
Evaluation and management services accounted for the second highest number of NPP work relative value units and exhibited a 40% increase from 2017 to 2019: from 80 to 111 thousand, respectively. This made up a growing proportion of NPP work effort.
Regarding the potential impact of the observed growth in NPPs billing for radiology services, senior study author Richard Duszak Jr, MD, said, "Our aggregate claims-based analysis does not allow us to study comparative outcomes of services rendered by NPPs nor opine on whether the observed trends are either good or bad for the specialty or its patients. Such questions will require further study and analysis."
The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology, was based on CMS' databases of doctors and clinicians who participated in Medicare.
Amanda Norris is the Director of Content for HealthLeaders.