Association Between Physician Billing and Cardiac Stress Testing Patterns Following Coronary Revascularization.

The article investigates the relation of physician billing with nuclear stress and stress echocardiography testing after coronary revascularization. Results reveal that the overall cumulative incidence of nuclear or echocardiography stress testing within 30 days of the index cardiac-related outpatient visit following revascularization was 12.2%. The cumulative incidence of nuclear stress testing was 12.6%, 8.8%, and 5.0% among physicians who billed for technical and professional fees, professional fees only, or neither, respectively. The findings indicate that nuclear stress testing and stress echocardiography testing after revascularization were more common among patients treated by doctors who billed for technical fees, professional fees, or both.