A CBS News report suggested that 35% of diagnostic scans are unnecessary and that the U.S. could  save $35 billion per year by cutting out those exams. The video and online article reported the diagnostic imaging costs the U.S. $100 billion per year.

“It’s too easy, too fast, too good. So it’s much easier to order the test than it is to observe the patient, to monitor the patient, and avoid doing the CT scan,” radiologist Steve Birnbaum, MD, told CBS. One major focus of the article reported how Birmbaums daugher had nine CT scans done during her one-week hospital stay after a car accident, before he interceded out of concerns for unnecessary radiation exposure  and exams. The overutilization theme corroborated by Yale School of Medicine radiology professor Howard Forman, MD, MBA.

“We’re definitely doing too many procedures,” Forman told CBS. “Every time we work in the ER or in the in-patient setting, after the fact, it becomes very obvious that certain studies either could’ve been avoided, delayed or not done at all.”

The story was reported by medical correspondent Jon LaPook, who is board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology, discussed the usual imaging issues of radiation exposure, patient demand for high technology exams, and cost. A string of comments from readers raised other common factors inclusind self-referral and tort reform/defensive medicine.

The article also points out proposals to reduce further imaging reimbursement, which historically has only fueled utilization as physicians responded to cuts by increasing their procedure volume.

While the CBS report seems reasonably balance and reported, radiology can’t possibly benefit from people grasping onto the notion that there is $35 billion in potential savings in medical imaging.