Trends in the Overuse of Ambulatory Health Care Services in the United States

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Abstract
Given the rising costs of health care, policymakers are increasingly interested in identifying the inefficiencies in our health care system.1 In an analysis of the estimated $700 billion that is wasted annually in our health care system, overuse, or the delivery of services for which the risks exceed the benefits, has been identified as a significant component, equaling roughly $280 billion.2 Interest in overuse has started to gain traction, notably by physician leaders. Several national physician groups have tackled the overuse of screening and diagnostic testing, identifying many common scenarios in which services have low value and high cost.3,4 Research has confirmed that overuse is widespread and occurs across multiple specialties.5,6

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