Radiology benefit management programs can protect patients from radiation exposure

Making sure patients receive the right diagnostic imaging tests at the right times in high-quality facilities significantly reduces unnecessary radiation exposure, HealthHelp chief medical officer Mark Hiatt, M.D., testified at a public meeting held by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“While manufacturing improvements for diagnostic imaging devices are one important aspect of reducing radiation exposure, other factors that affect appropriate use, quality, and safety must also be addressed”

HealthHelp has worked with health care payers since 1999 to manage advanced diagnostic imaging procedures through a consultative, multipronged approach to radiology benefit management. As part of the FDA's initiative to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure in diagnostic imaging, Dr. Hiatt explained how effective radiology benefit management programs can help protect patients from inappropriate and duplicative testing.

"While manufacturing improvements for diagnostic imaging devices are one important aspect of reducing radiation exposure, other factors that affect appropriate use, quality, and safety must also be addressed," Dr. Hiatt said. "The optimal place to check the appropriateness or necessity of a test is when a physician orders it, more so than at the point of performance."

HealthHelp provides a national model for reducing radiation exposure through programs that

• eliminate unnecessary and improper testing,
• provide physicians with the latest medical evidence,
• set quality standards for imaging and radiology facilities,
• ensure procedures are performed by qualified physicians using high-quality equipment,
• help payers establish quality provider networks, and
• educate patients about the benefits and risks of imaging procedures.

The key to reducing radiation exposure lies in establishing collaborative, common-sense processes that are based on widely accepted medical guidelines, employ peer-to-peer physician consultation, and rely on continuous improvement that incorporates feedback from experts and the latest medical evidence, Dr. Hiatt said.

"Reducing radiation by limiting unnecessary and inappropriate studies can save lives," Dr. Hiatt summarized.