Cardiac PET, an imaging test for evaluation of coronary artery disease, is advocated by some nuclear cardiologists for its high imaging quality. As with any more costly technology, it is important to ask: is the additional cost of PET offset by reduced downstream costs or better outcomes? According to the results of a new study published in the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology, the answer is no.

To better understand the potential health and financial benefits of VBID models for consumers, we evaluated the impact of a large employer’s decision to remove employee and dependents’ out-of-pocket costs for primary care physician (PCP) visits.

Reducing low-value services can help make healthcare more affordable over time without compromising the health outcomes of patients. The Choosing Wisely Campaign is a national initiative that seeks to advance a national dialogue on avoiding unnecessary medical tests, treatments, and procedures. HealthCore conducted a claims-based analysis to determine the effectiveness of this campaign on seven of the earliest low-value services.

Interview with Abiy Agiro, PhD, Director, Comparative Effectiveness, Translational Research at HealthCore, Inc.