Assessment of overuse of medical tests and treatments at US hospitals using Medicare claims.
Overtreatment and overuse of healthcare services have been identified as potential sources of patient harm. Using Medicare fee-for-services claims, this study sought to describe hospital characteristics associated with 12 low-value services. Results showed the highest levels of overuse were associated with nonteaching and for-profit hospitals, particularly in the American South. The authors suggest interventions to decrease overuse and overtreatment could be targeted based on hospital characteristics and region.