Document Detail


Barium enema and colonoscopy: appropriateness of utilization in a Medicaid population.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  9000352     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: To assess the appropriateness of utilization patterns for the barium enema and colonoscopy in a Medicaid population. METHODS: From 1987 to 1991, a Medicaid managed-care database in Philadelphia revealed claims for a total of 2357 outpatient barium enemas and 896 outpatient colonoscopic examinations. The database was reviewed to determine the primary diagnostic (ICD-9-CM) codes assigned to patients who underwent these procedures. These codes were used as a proxy for indications. Each of the diagnostic codes for barium enema and colonoscopy was then classified either as appropriate, inappropriate, equivocal, or miscoded based on current guidelines in the medical literature. RESULTS: A total of 1962 claims (83%) for barium enema were classified as appropriate, 126 (5%) as inappropriate, 84 (4%) as equivocal, and 185 (8%) as miscoded, whereas 645 claims (72%) for colonoscopy were classified as appropriate, 176 (20%) as inappropriate, 65 (7%) as equivocal, and 10 (1%) as miscoded. Thus, significantly more colonoscopic examinations were rated as inappropriate (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that more stringent criteria need to be used by physicians in ordering diagnostic examinations of the colon, particularly colonoscopy. Further investigation of the appropriateness of these procedures and the development and dissemination of guidelines seems warranted.
Authors:
M S Levine; S Sor; D Yin; C P Langlotz; D Bachwich
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Abdominal imaging     Volume:  22     ISSN:  0942-8925     ISO Abbreviation:  Abdom Imaging     Publication Date:    1997 Jan-Feb
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1997-02-26     Completed Date:  1997-02-26     Revised Date:  2004-11-17    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9303672     Medline TA:  Abdom Imaging     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  41-4     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Barium Sulfate / diagnostic use*
Colonoscopy / utilization*
Enema*
Health Services Misuse
Humans
Medicaid*
Retrospective Studies
United States
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
7727-43-7/Barium Sulfate

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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