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Review

Trends in the use of echocardiography, 2007 to 2011

Beth A Virnig  1 , Nathan D Shippee  1 , Brian O'Donnell  2 , Jessica Zeglin  1 , Shriram Parashuram  1
In: Data Points Publication Series [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2011. Data Points #20.
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Review

Trends in the use of echocardiography, 2007 to 2011

Beth A Virnig et al.
Free Books & Documents

Excerpt

Echocardiography is a widely used procedure among the Medicare-enrolled population. Each year approximately 20% of enrollees in the fee-for-service (FFS) system receive at least one cardiac echocardiogram.

The percentage of enrollees who receive echocardiography services varies widely by geography. Use of echocardiography rises with age until age 85, where it plateaus.

Allowed health care charges for echocardiography decreased from 2007 through 2011 while the number of procedures rose slightly and the average number of procedures per beneficiary per year remained stable.

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References

    1. Minino AM, Murphy SL. Data Brief #99. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Jul, 2012. Death in the United States, 2010.
    1. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health. What is echocardiography? [October 25, 2012];2011 Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/echo/
    1. Medine Plus, National Institutes of Health. [October 25, 2012];Echocardiogram. 2011 Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003869.htm.
    1. Pearlman AS, Ryan T, Picard M, Douglas PS. Evolving trends in the use of echocardiography: a study of Medicare beneficiaries. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2007;49(23):2283–91. - PubMed
    1. Levin DC, Rao VM, Maitino AJ, et al. Comparative increases in utilization rates of ultrasound examinations among radiologists, cardiologists, and other physicians from 1993 to 2001. J Am Coll Radiol. 2004;1(8):549–52. - PubMed

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