You Can Have Your Cake and Eat it Too The Positive Impact of EBUS on Health Care

摘要

Rarely do we encounter a new technology that is revolutionary, safe, and cost effective. In this issue of the Journal, Grove et al claim that endo-bronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is such a technology.1 The authors use Medicare reimbursement as a representative of cost to the health care system as these rates are readily available and most commercial insurance carriers reimburse at rates based on some form of the Medicare fee schedule. Note that the authors refer to Medicare reimbursement cost, which is the cost to the Medicare system, and not to the provider. Unfortunately, reimbursement does not necessarily represent the actual cost of providing a service. However, using these numbers as a representative of the relative costs is reasonable for the purpose of their analysis and helps support their point.