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Advanced Imaging Management (AIM)

Washington State leads efforts to use evidence-based medicine as a foundation for health policy and coverage decisions. The 2009 Legislature created a workgroup charged with identifying evidence based tools to evaluate advanced imaging procedures paid for by state agencies.

Background

Several national studies and reports document a dramatic increase in the use of advanced imaging procedures, such as CT, PET and MRI. The growth in the use of scans has increased costs for government and other payers, but there is no evidence that it has improved health care or reduced death rates.

Common concerns include:

• Unnecessary duplication of imaging
• Inappropriate use of tests for specfic diagnosis
• Inferior equipment
• Experimental or investigational use
• Use by untrained practitioners
• Self-referral
• Defensive medicine practices

Timeline of Key Dates

The Legislation establishing the workgroup also set the following deadlines:

• July 1, 2009: Workgroup shall identify evidence-based best practice tools for advanced imaging for state agency use.
• September 1, 2009: State agencies shall implement.
• July 1, 2010: Workgroup shall explore feasibility of applying to all payors and report.

Meeting Schedules and Information

Key Documents

Workplan (37 KB)
Charter (82 KB)
State Agency Utilization-AIPriority (71.7 KB)
Guideline Checklist (40 KB)
HCA Staff AIM Guideline Review Report Final (98.7 KB)
Guideline Review Appendix (1.3 MB)
HCA Staff AIM Decision Support Summary Final (71.2 KB)
AIM Workgroup Recommendations (22.1 KB)
AIM Report Cover Letter (627.5 KB)
AIM Final Report (122.1 KB)