Appropriateness use criteria for transthoracic echocardiography: relationship with radiology benefit managers preauthorization determination and comparison of the new (2010) criteria to the original (2007) criteria.

Background: In response to growth in cardiac imaging, medical societies have published appropriateness use criteria (AUC) and payers have introduced preauthorization mandates, largely through radiology benefits managers (RBM). The correlation of algorithms used to determine preauthorization with the AUC is unknown. In addition, studies applying the 2007 AUC for transthoracic echocardiography revealed that many echocardiograms could not be classified. We sought to examine the impact of the revised 2010 AUC on appropriateness ratings of transthoracic echocardiograms previously classified by the 2007 AUC and the relationship of preauthorization determination to AUC rating.

Methods: We reclassified indications for transthoracic echocardiography as appropriate, inappropriate, uncertain, or unclassifiable using the 2010 AUC in the same 625 patients previously reported using 2007 AUC. We also evaluated the relationship between preauthorization status by 2 RBM precertification algorithms and appropriateness rating by 2007 AUC.

Results: The appropriateness classification of 148 (24%) transthoracic echocardiograms was changed by the updated AUC (P < .001). The number of unclassifiable echocardiograms was markedly reduced from 99 (16%) to 8 (1%), and more echocardiograms were classified as inappropriate (95 [15%] vs 45 [7%]) or uncertain (43 [7%] vs 0 [0%]). Limited correlation between the 2007 AUC rating and RBM preauthorization determinations was noted, with only moderate agreement with RBM no. 1 (90%, κ = 0.480, P < .001) and poor agreement with RBM no. 2 (72%, κ = 0.177, P < .001).

Conclusion: The updated AUC (2010) provide enhanced clinical value compared with 2007 AUC. There is limited agreement between RBM preauthorization determination and 2007 AUC rating.