Some Expenditure Estimates for Diagnostic Procedures

• Diagnostic imaging accounts for 8%-10% of health costs, or up to $100 billion yearly.

• MatheMEDics estimates approximately 40%-50% of all diagnostic imaging is accounted for by CT and MRI, most of which is spent on brain, abdominal, and spinal imaging.

• Up to 35% of these CT/MRI imaging costs may be accounted for by CT/MRI of the lumbosacral spine alone!

• MatheMEDics estimates that CT/MRI, GI endoscopy, cardiac imaging/arteriography, account for 60%-70% of all costs for medical diagnosis in this country. When one calculates the aggregate expenditures for unnecessary investigations, the estimates of potential cost savings are staggering.