New study informs mitigation strategies for contrast shortage in CT by identifying promising areas of focus

Reston, VA – The current shortage of iodinated contrast in the United States due to the COVID-19 related production shutdown in China is causing severe disruptions in patient care. A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study outlines the most frequently used computed tomography (CT) services performed on Medicare beneficiaries as focus areas for mitigation strategies for the greatest overall impact.

The study looked at 9.6 million CTs involving iodinated contrast in the Medicare Physician/Supplier Procedure Summary file which represents 100% of Medicare Part B claims in 2019 – the latest pre-pandemic year of data available. The study found that utilization of contrast enhanced CT was highest in the outpatient hospital and emergency department settings. By body region, utilization was highest for the abdomen/pelvis, particularly in outpatient hospitals and emergency departments, followed next by chest CT. For CT angiography, the highest relative utilization relative to standard CT was of the brain followed by head/neck, and in the emergency department and hospital inpatient settings.

According to lead author, Richard Duszak, Jr., MD, Professor and Vice Chair for Health Policy and Practice in the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine and Neiman HPI Affiliate Senior Research Fellow, “the highlighted site of service and body region differences may help guide the creation of the most impactful teams via multi-disciplinary collaboration to balance mitigation with clinical service needs.”

Computed tomography (CT) with contrast is increasingly relied upon for the diagnosis and follow up of a variety of conditions. “The results of this study can help guide current intense efforts nationally and institutionally to identify strategies to minimize or avoid iodinated contrast use by using alternative imaging modalities, contrast agents, or protocols that reduce or minimize waste resulting from individual doses,” says Dr. Duszak. “Such strategies will be most efficient and impactful when focused on the most frequently used services.”

To obtain a copy of the study or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson, contact Nichole Gay at (703) 648-1665 or [email protected].

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About the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute

The Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute is one of the nation’s leading medical imaging socioeconomic research organizations. The Neiman Institute studies the role and value of radiology and radiologists in evolving health care delivery and payment systems and the impact of medical imaging on the cost, quality, safety and efficiency of health care. Visit us at www.neimanhpi.org and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.