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A new commentary from the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute challenges a recent claim that declining imaging use has allowed the United States to meet imaging demand without increasing the number of radiologists. The institute argues that the claim—made in a 2026 JAMA Health Forum article—relies on outdated utilization data and overlooks a growing body of evidence showing increasing imaging volume and complexity, rising radiologist workload and worsening capacity constraints.

The first author of the JAMA article was David Cutler, Ph.D., a Harvard economist and dean and former White House economic adviser.

"In health care policy, influential observations can quickly become accepted wisdom, making it critically important to ensure they are grounded in the best available evidence," said Elizabeth Rula, Ph.D., executive director of the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute.

"The Neiman Institute and its collaborators have published much of the recent research on imaging utilization, workforce trends, reimbursement and patient access. Collectively, that evidence paints a very different picture from one of declining demand and adequate workforce capacity."

The commentary notes the JAMA article relied heavily on a study examining imaging utilization from 2003 through 2016. While that study documented a slowdown in imaging growth during part of that period, it did not examine recent utilization patterns or radiologist workload. It also coincided with Medicare coding changes that affected how imaging services were counted.

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