Though higher office visit reimbursement was correlated with increasing screening rates, reimbursement rates for the tests themselves did not have as clear of an association with patient screening rates.
The study examined data on colonoscopy, fecal occult blood tests, mammography and Pap tests. In states that reimbursed more for office visits, there was a 7 percent increase in odds for patients to under colonoscopy, 9 percent increase in odds for FIT and a 2 percent increase in odds for a Pap test or mammogram.
The researchers posited that increased office visit reimbursement may increase patient access to the supply of providers ordering the tests, according to the report.
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