Volume To Value: Defining The Value Of Cardiovascular Imaging

The significant technological advances in cardiovascular imaging have resulted in the ability to diagnose and monitor disease noninvasively using echocardiography, cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography angiography (CTA), and cardiac nuclear stress tests. The appropriateness of utilization of these imaging tests has come under scrutiny as the volumes of these tests increase. The rise in noninvasive cardiovascular imaging procedures accounted for 78% of the total increase in cardiovascular services submitted for Medicare reimbursement between 1999-2008.1 The cardiovascular imaging community has worked on methods to reduce overutilization of resources by devising appropriate use criteria (AUC)2 and by supporting the American Board of Internal Medicine Choosing Wisely campaign for echocardiography and stress testing.3