Medicare Rule May Discourage Brain CTs in ED

Anger over a coming rule that would limit brain scans in emergency department patients echoed through many sessions of the American College of Emergency Physicians scientific assembly in San Francisco this week.

Return to Article

Make a Comment

3 comments on "Medicare Rule May Discourage Brain CTs in ED"

Scott Stroming (10/22/2011 at 6:01 PM)

I would be happy to order fewer tests if the feds make it illegal to sue me

Steven Meyerson, MD (10/21/2011 at 12:49 AM)

There is solid evidence that brain CTs are of no value for patients with syncope who lack neurological signs or symptoms yet nearly all of them have a CT ordered. This applies to other neuro diagnostics ordered for syncope as well. This should be a target for eliminating unnecessary and harmful testing. It's not rationing. It's applying medical knowledge to overcome fear of being sued for not ordering a test - even if it has been proven to be useless.

W. C. Dandridge, Jr. M. D. MBA, FACS (10/20/2011 at 5:02 PM)

Well it's starting. Rationing of health care.