Researchers examined the change in the number of lab tests ordered when test fees were shown to physicians at the time of ordering. Physicians who ordered lab tests through the computerized provider order entry system at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore were shown fees based on the Medicare allowable fee for certain tests from November 2009 to May 2010.
The ordering rate for tests with displayed fees decreased 8.59 percent from 3.72 tests per patient-day during a six-month baseline period to 3.4 tests in the intervention period, according to the study. The ordering rate for tests that did not have fees displayed increased 5.64 percent from 1.15 to 1.22 tests per patient-day.
The authors suggested showing physicians lab test fees may decrease the number of tests ordered inappropriately.
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