Insurance companies and doctors worry about excessive use of medical scans

"Insurance companies are taking a harder look at advanced medical scans like CT scans, citing spiraling costs and safety concerns. And some doctors agree there's emerging evidence that these scans are being over-prescribed." (Source: "Insurers Try To Limit High-Tech Scans," Associated Press, March 24, 2008.) As a result, health insurance companies are "requiring more pre-authorizations before patients can receive these scans, and setting other restrictions including mandating that the imaging equipment and medical staff operating it be credentialed in advance." The article adds that doctors are also concerned that patients are receiving too much radiation for scans that are not needed or are done merely as a defense against possible future lawsuits.