Bending the Curve: The Recent Marked Slowdown in Growth of Noninvasive Diagnostic Imaging

Abstract

There has been a distinct slowing in the growth of discretionary noninvasive diagnostic imaging in the Medicare fee-for-service population since 2005. The slowdown has been most pronounced in MRI and nuclear medicine. This should allay some of the concerns of policymakers and payers. Both before and after 2005, growth was approximately twice as rapid among nonradiologist physicians as among radiologists.