Declining trends in Medicare physician reimbursements for shoulder surgery from 2002 to 2018

Analysis of 10-year trends in Medicare Physician Fee Schedule payments in surgery

BACKGROUND

Medicare expenditures have steadily increased over the decades, and yet Medicare Physician Fee Schedule payments for individual services have declined. We examine trends in Medicare Physician Fee Schedule payments for office visits, inpatient visits, and surgical procedures.

METHODS

The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Look-Up Tool was queried for payment data for office visits, inpatient visits, and surgical procedures between 2013 and 2023. All data were adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index. Trends in payments were calculated for 5 common procedures in each surgical specialty. Trends in aggregate national health expenditures were compared to Medicare Physician Fee Schedule payments for physician services from 2013 to 2021.

RESULTS

The Consumer Price Index increased by 29.3% from 2013 to 2023. Inflation-adjusted per-visit Medicare Physician Fee Schedule payments decreased by 12.2% for outpatient office visits, 19.1% for inpatient visits, and 22.8% for surgical procedures from 2013 to 2023. This varied by surgical specialty: vascular (-25.8%), endocrine (-22.0%), general surgery (-27.0%), thoracic (-19.2%), surgical oncology (-22.1%), breast (-22.4%), urology (-2.2%), neurosurgery (-22.8%), obstetrics/gynecology (-19.9%), and orthopedics (-24.7%). Adjusted for inflation, national health expenditures increased by 33.9% for physician services from 2013 to 2021. In comparison, Medicare Physician Fee Schedule payments over the same time period 2013 to 2021 increased by 1.3% for outpatient office visits but decreased by 10.6% for inpatient visits and 9.8% for surgical procedures.

CONCLUSION

Controlling rising national health expenditures is important and necessary, but 10 years of declining Medicare Physician Fee Schedule payments on a per-procedure basis in surgery would suggest that this strategy alone may not achieve those goals and could ultimately threaten access to quality surgical care. Surgeons must advocate for permanent payment reforms.

Operative management of rotator cuff tears: identifying disparities in access on a national level

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to identify nationwide disparities in the rates of operative management of rotator cuff tears based on race, ethnicity, insurance type, and socioeconomic status.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with a full or partial rotator cuff tear from 2006 to 2014 were identified in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's National Inpatient Sample database using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnosis codes. Bivariate analysis using chi-square tests and adjusted, multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate differences in the rates of operative vs. nonoperative management for rotator cuff tears.

RESULTS

This study included 46,167 patients. When compared with white patients, adjusted analysis showed that minority race and ethnicity were associated with lower rates of operative management for Black (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.29-0.33; P < .001), Hispanic (AOR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.45-0.52; P < .001), Asian or Pacific Islander (AOR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.61-0.84; P < .001), and Native American patients (AOR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.50-0.86; P = .002). In comparison to privately insured patients, our analysis also found that self-payers (AOR: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.07-0.10; P < .001), Medicare beneficiaries (AOR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.72-0.81; P < .001), and Medicaid beneficiaries (AOR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.30-0.36; P < .001) had lower odds of receiving surgical intervention. Additionally, relative to those in the bottom income quartile, patients in all other quartiles experienced nominally higher rates of operative repair; these differences were statistically significant for the second quartile (AOR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.03-1.16; P = .004).

CONCLUSION

There are significant nationwide disparities in the likelihood of receiving operative management for rotator cuff tear patients of differing race/ethnicity, payer status, and socioeconomic status. Further investigation is needed to fully understand and address causes of these discrepancies to optimize care pathways.

Comparison of trends of inpatient charges among primary and revision shoulder arthroplasty over a decade: a regional database study

Background

This study examined trends in inpatient charges for primary anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA) and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA), hemiarthroplasty (HA), and revision total shoulder arthroplasty (revTSA) over the past decade.

Methods

The New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System was queried for patients undergoing primary aTSA, rTSA, HA, and revTSA from 2010 to 2020 using International Classification of Diseases procedure codes. The primary outcome measured was total charges per encounter. Secondary outcomes included accommodation and ancillary charges, charges covered by insurance, and facility volume. Ancillary charges were defined as fees for diagnostic and therapeutic services and accommodation charges were defined as fees associated with room and board. Subgroup analysis was performed to assess differences between high- and low-volume centers.

Results

During the study period, 46,044 shoulder arthroplasty cases were performed: 18,653 aTSA, 4002 HA, 19,253 rTSA, and 4136 revTSA. An exponential increase in rTSA (2428%) and considerable decrease in HA (83.9%) volumes were observed during this period. Total charges were the highest for rTSA and revTSA and the lowest for aTSA. Subgroup analysis of revTSA by indication revealed that total charges were the highest for periprosthetic fractures. For aTSA, rTSA, and HA, high-volume centers achieved significantly lower total charges compared to low-volume centers. Over the study period, total inpatient charges increased by 57.2%, 38.4%, 102.4%, and 68.4% for aTSA, rTSA, HA, and revTSA, outpacing the inflation rate of 18.7%.

Conclusion

Total inpatient charges for all arthroplasty types increased dramatically from 2010 to 2020, outpacing inflation rates, but high-volume centers demonstrated greater success at mitigating charge increases compared to low-volume centers.

Trends in Distal Radius Fixation Reimbursement, Charge, and Utilization in the Medicare Population

Background  Distal radius fractures (DRF) are the second most common fragility fracture experienced by the elderly, and surgical management constitutes an appreciable sum of Medicare expenditure for upper extremity surgery. Using Medicare data from 2012 to 2017, our primary aim was to describe temporal changes in surgical treatment, physician payment, and patient charges for DRF fixation. Methods  We examined surgical volumes and retrospective patient charge (services billed by surgeon) and surgeon payment (professional fee) data from 2012 to 2017 for four DRF surgeries: closed reduction percutaneous pinning (CRPP), open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) of extra-articular fractures, ORIF of intra-articular (IA) (2-fragment) fractures, and ORIF of IA (> 3 fragments) fractures. The reimbursement ratio was defined and calculated as the ratio of charges to payment. Rates were adjusted for inflation using the annual consumer-price index. Results  For these four surgeries from 2012 to 2017, total patient charges grew by 64% from $117 to 193 million, while surgeon payment grew by 42% from $30 to 42 million. CRPP cases fell by 47%, while ORIF increased by 17, 14, and 45% for extra-articular, IA (2-fragment), and IA (> 3 fragments) surgeries, respectively. After adjusting for inflation, payment to physicians increased by more than or equal to 16% for all procedures except for CRPP, which fell by 2%. Charges during this same period increased from 13 to 38%. Reimbursement ratios declined from -9.2% to -13% for each procedure. Conclusion  From 2012 to 2017, while charges have outpaced surgeon payment, payment has outpaced inflation for all forms of distal radius ORIF, aside from CRPP. There has been a continued sharp decline of CRPP. Level of Evidence is III, economic.

Charting Trends in Medicare Reimbursement for Lower Extremity Imaging

Background

Medicare reimbursement is rapidly declining in many specialties. An in-depth analysis of Medicare reimbursement for routinely performed diagnostic imaging procedures in the United States is warranted.

Purpose/Hypothesis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate Medicare reimbursement trends for the 20 most common lower extremity imaging procedures performed between 2005 and 2020, including radiographs, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We hypothesized that Medicare reimbursement for imaging procedures would decline substantially over the studied period.

Study Design

Cohort study.

Methods

The Physician Fee Schedule Look-up Tool from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services was analyzed for reimbursement rates and relative value units associated with the top 20 most utilized Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes in lower extremity imaging from 2005 to 2020. Reimbursement rates were adjusted for inflation and listed in 2020 US dollars using the US Consumer Price Index. To compare year-to-year changes, the percentage change per year and compound annual growth rate were calculated. A 2-tailed t test was used to compare the unadjusted and adjusted percentage change over the 15-year period.

Results

After adjusting for inflation, mean reimbursement for all procedures decreased by 32.41% (P = .013). The mean adjusted percentage change per year was -2.82%, and the mean compound annual growth rate was -1.03%. Compensation for the professional and technical components for all CPT codes decreased by 33.02% and 85.78%, respectively. Mean compensation for the professional component decreased by 36.46% for radiography, 37.02% for CT, and 24.73% for MRI. Mean compensation for the technical component decreased by 7.76% for radiography, 127.66% for CT, and 207.88% for MRI. Mean total relative value units decreased by 38.7%. The commonly billed imaging procedure CPT 73720 (MRI lower extremity, other than joint, with and without contrast) had the greatest adjusted decrease of 69.89%.

Conclusion

Medicare reimbursement for the most billed lower extremity imaging studies decreased by 32.41% between 2005 and 2020. The greatest decreases were noted in the technical component. Of the modalities, MRI had the largest decrease, followed by CT and then radiography.

Trends in Medicare Reimbursement for Adult Cardiothoracic Surgery Procedures: 2007 to 2020

Background. Cardiovascular disease has been the leading cause of death in the US for decades. Over half a million cardiothoracic surgery procedures are performed per year, with an increasingly aging population and rising healthcare costs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate trends in Medicare reimbursement rates from 2007 to 2020 for various cardiothoracic surgery procedures. Methods. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Physician Fee Schedule Look-Up Tool was queried for common procedural terminology codes for 119 common cardiothoracic surgery procedures to obtain reimbursement data by year. Procedures were organized into cardiac, CABG, and thoracic subgroups. All monetary data were adjusted for inflation to 2020 US dollars. Adjusted data were analyzed to calculate compound annual growth rates (CAGR), average annual change, and total percent change for each procedure. Results. After adjusting for inflation, the reimbursement rates for cardiothoracic surgery procedures decreased by 10.20% on average. Reimbursement rates for cardiac, CABG, and thoracic surgical procedures decreased by 8.74%, 14.46%, and 10.94%, respectively. The mean annual change overall was −$14.47, and the CAGR was 0.82%. CABG procedures had the greatest decrease in CAGR (−1.11%), annual change (−$30.30), and total percent change (−14.46%). Conclusions. Medicare reimbursements for cardiothoracic surgery procedures steadily decreased from 2007 to 2020, with CABG procedures experiencing the highest percentage of decline. Dissemination of these findings is crucial to raising awareness for healthcare administrators, surgeons, insurance companies, and policymakers to ensure the accessibility of these procedures for high-quality cardiothoracic surgery care in the United States.

Physician Professional Fees Are Declining and Inpatient and Outpatient Facility Fees Are Increasing for Orthopaedic Procedures in the United States

PURPOSE

To examine the trends in physician professional fees and inpatient and outpatient facility fees in orthopaedic surgery in the United States.

METHODS

Physician professional fees and inpatient and outpatient facility fees were tracked from 2008 to 2021 for the most common orthopaedic procedures in each orthopaedic subspecialty. Using common procedure codes for physician and outpatient procedures and Medicare severity diagnosis related group codes for inpatient procedures, the Medicare Physician Fee Schedules were used to obtain the national payment amounts for physician professional fees and inpatient and outpatient facility fees. Trends in fees were tracked over time after adjustment for inflation.

RESULTS

From 2008 to 2021, physician professional fees decreased by an average of 20%, whereas inpatient facility fees increased by 15%, and outpatient facility fees increased by 72%. The orthopaedic subspecialty with the largest decrease in physician professional fees was oncology, with an average decrease of 23.5%, followed by general orthopaedics (23.1%), and sports medicine (22.8%). The largest increase in outpatient facility fees was seen in the subspecialties of general orthopaedics (149.8%), spine (130.1%), and trauma (123.0%).

CONCLUSIONS

Over the past 13 years, physician professional fees for the most common orthopaedic procedures have declined while inpatient and outpatient facility fees have increased. Understanding these changes is important to the practice of orthopaedic surgery in the United States.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV, economic.

Inflation-Adjusted Medicare Reimbursement for Hip Arthroscopy Fell by 21.1% on Average Between 2011 and 2022

Purpose

To examine Medicare reimbursement for hip arthroscopy from 2011 to 2022.

Methods

The seven most common procedures performed with hip arthroscopy by a single surgeon were gathered. The Physician Fee Schedule Look-Up Tool was utilized to access financial data of the associated Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. The reimbursement data for each CPT were gathered from the Physician Fee Schedule Look-Up Tool. With the consumer price index database and inflation calculator, reimbursement values were adjusted for inflation to 2022 U.S. dollars.

Results

Following an adjustment for inflation, it was found that reimbursement rate for hip arthroscopy procedures on average was 21.1% lower between 2011 and 2022. The average reimbursement per CPT code for the included codes was $899.21 in 2022 compared to inflation adjusted $1,141.45 in 2011, a difference of $242.24.

Conclusions

From 2011 to 2022, the average inflation-adjusted Medicare reimbursement has steadily declined for the most common hip arthroscopy procedures. As Medicare is one of the largest insurance payers, these results have substantial financial and clinical implications for orthopaedic surgeons, policy makers, and patients.

Level of Evidence

Level IV, economic analysis.

Identifying modifiable and nonmodifiable cost drivers of ambulatory rotator cuff repair: a machine learning analysis

INTRODUCTION

Implementing novel tools that identify contributors to the cost of orthopedic procedures can help hospitals maximize efficiency, minimize waste, improve surgical decision-making, and practice value-based care. The purpose of this study was to develop and internally validate a machine learning algorithm to identify key drivers of total charges after ambulatory arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and compare its performance with a state-of-the-art statistical learning model.

METHODS

A retrospective review of the New York State Ambulatory Surgery and Services Database was performed to identify patients who underwent elective outpatient rotator cuff repair (RCR) from 2015 to 2016. Initial models were constructed using patient characteristics (age, gender, insurance status, patient income, Elixhauser Comorbidity Index) as well as intraoperative variables (concomitant procedures and services, operative time). These were subsequently entered into 5 separate machine learning algorithms and a generalized additive model using natural splines. Global variable importance and partial dependence curves were constructed to identify the greatest contributors to cost.

RESULTS

A total of 33,976 patients undergoing ambulatory RCR were included. Median total charges after ambulatory RCR were $16,017 (interquartile range: $11,009-$22,510). The ensemble model outperformed the generalized additive model and demonstrated the best performance on internal validation (root mean squared error: $7112, 95% confidence interval: 7036-7188; logarithmic root mean squared error: 0.354, 95% confidence interval: 0.336-0.373, R²: 0.53), and identified major drivers of total charges after RCR as increasing operating room time, patient income level, number of anchors used, use of local infiltration anesthesia/peripheral nerve blocks, non-White race/ethnicity, and concurrent distal clavicle excision. The model was integrated into a web-based open-access application capable of providing individual predictions and explanations on a case-by-case basis.

CONCLUSION

This study developed an ensemble supervised machine learning algorithm that outperformed a sophisticated statistical learning model in predicting total charges after ambulatory RCR. Important contributors to total charges included operating room time, duration of care, number of anchors used, type of anesthesia, concomitant distal clavicle excision, community characteristics, and patient demographic factors. Generation of a patient-specific payment schedule based on the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality risk of mortality highlighted the financial risk assumed by physicians in flat episodic reimbursement schedules given variable patient comorbidities and the importance of an accurate prediction algorithm to appropriately reward high-value care at low costs.

Medicare Payment for Orthopaedic Oncology Procedures Over the Past 20 Years

Background:

Medicare payment has been examined in a variety of medical and surgical specialties. This study examines Medicare payment in the subspecialty of orthopaedic oncology.

Methods:

The Physician Fee Schedule Look-up Tool was used to obtain payment information from 2000 to 2020 for procedures related to orthopaedic oncology billed to Medicare.

Results:

For the 38 included orthopaedic oncology procedures, inflation-adjusted Medicare payment decreased an average of 13.6% overall from 2000 to 2020. After adjusting for inflation, the payment for procedures related to spine and pelvis increased by 7.6%, procedures relating to limb salvage increased by 14.6%, procedures associated with the surgical management of complications decreased by 26.9%, and procedures relating to metastatic disease management decreased by 34.8%.

Conclusion:

Medicare payment has declined by 13.6% from 2000 to 2020. This variation in Medicare payment represents a difference in valuation of these procedures by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and could be used to direct healthcare policy.

National and geographic trends in Medicare reimbursement rates for orthopedic shoulder and upper extremity surgery from 2000 to 2020

BACKGROUND

There is a paucity of information regarding financial trends in orthopedic upper extremity surgery. If progress is to be made in advancing agreeable reimbursement models, a more comprehensive understanding of these trends is needed. The purpose of this study was to assess national and geographic trends in Medicare reimbursement rates for shoulder and elbow surgical procedures over the past 2 decades.

METHODS

The 10 most billed Common Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for both orthopedic shoulder surgery and elbow/upper arm surgery were determined. Medicare reimbursement data for these CPT codes were compiled between 2000 and 2020 and adjusted for inflation. The percentage change for each procedure and the average change in reimbursement each year were analyzed. Data from 2000, 2010, and 2020 were organized by state. The total percent change in physician fee and the percent change per year were tabulated for each CPT code using inflation-adjusted data and averaged by state.

RESULTS

From 2000 to 2020, when corrected for inflation, shoulder and elbow procedures decreased on average by 29.3% and 24.5%, respectively. Shoulder procedures experienced a greater numerical yet statistically insignificant decline in mean reimbursement percent decrease (P = .16), average percent decrease per year (P = .11), a more negative compound annual growth rate (P = .14), and a greater R-squared value as compared with elbow and upper arm procedures. For shoulder procedures, the average percent difference in inflation-adjusted Medicare reimbursement rates from 2000 to 2020 varied from -22.6% in Alaska to -34.1% in Michigan; division data varied from -27.8% in the Mountain Division to -31.2% in the East North Central Division; and region data varied from -28.3% in the West to -30.5% in the Northeast. For elbow and upper arm procedures, the average percent difference in inflation-adjusted Medicare reimbursement rates from 2000 to 2020 varied from -17.6% in Alaska to -29.8% in Michigan; division data varied from -23.0% in the Mountain Division to -26.7% in the East North Central Division; and region data varied from -23.5% in the West to -25.7% in the Northeast.

DISCUSSION

Inflation-adjusted Medicare reimbursement in upper extremity surgery has decreased markedly between 2000 and 2020. The degree of decrease varies geographically. If access to quality and sustainable surgical orthopedic care is to persist in the United States, increased awareness of these trends is important. The trends identified in this study can serve to customize regional health care policymaking.

Cost comparison and complication profiles of superior capsular reconstruction, lower trapezius transfer, and reverse shoulder arthroplasty for irreparable rotator cuff tears

BACKGROUND

Irreparable rotator cuff tears (IRCTs) pose treatment challenges both clinically and financially. As cost-effectiveness initiatives are prioritized, value-based health care delivery models are becoming increasingly common. The purpose of this study was to perform a comprehensive analysis of the cost, complications, and readmission rates of 3 common surgical treatment options for IRCTs: superior capsular reconstruction (SCR), arthroscopically assisted lower trapezius tendon transfer (LTTT), and reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA).

METHODS

Between 2018 and 2020, 155 patients who underwent shoulder surgery at a single institution for IRCT with minimal to no arthritis were identified. Procedures performed included 20 SCRs, 47 LTTTs, and 88 RSAs. A cost analysis was designed to include a period of 60 days preoperatively, the index surgical hospitalization, and 90 days postoperatively, including costs of any readmission or reoperation.

RESULTS

Mean standardized costs were as follows: preoperative evaluation SCR $507, LTTT $507, and RSA $730; index surgical hospitalization SCR $19,675, LTTT $15,722, and RSA $16,077; and postoperative care SCR $655, LTTT $686, and RSA $404. Significant differences were observed in the index surgical costs (P < .001), with SCR incurring an additional average cost of $3953 and $3598 compared with LTTT and RSA, respectively. The 90-day complication, reoperation, and readmission rates were 0%, 0%, and 0% in the SCR group; 2.1%, 0%, and 0% in the LTTT group; and 3.4%, 0%, and 1.1% in the RSA group, respectively. With the numbers available, differences among the 3 surgical procedures with respect to complication (P = .223), reoperation (P = .999), and readmission rates (P = .568) did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

The mean standardized costs for the treatment of 3 common IRCT procedures inclusive of 60-day workup and 90-day postoperative recovery were $16,915, $17,210, and $20,837 for LTTT, RSA (average added cost $295), and SCR (average added cost $3922), respectively. This information may provide surgeons and institutions with cost-related information that will become increasingly relevant with the expansion of value-based surgical reimbursements.

Inflation-Adjusted Medicare Reimbursement Has Decreased for Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Procedures: Analysis From 2000 to 2020

Background:

Decreases in Medicare reimbursement have been noted among many medical specialties. An in-depth analysis of the subspecialty of orthopaedic sports medicine is needed to determine changes in Medicare reimbursement in this field.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

The purpose was to elucidate the trends in inflation-adjusted Medicare reimbursement for orthopaedic sports medicine procedures between 2000 and 2020. It was hypothesized that Medicare reimbursement decreased substantially during the study period.

Study Design:

Economic decision and analysis; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

The Physician Fee Schedule Look-up Tool was used to extract Medicare reimbursement information between 2000 and 2020 for 67 procedures related to orthopaedic sports medicine. These values were adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) was calculated to measure the annual rate of change, and descriptive analyses were performed using the Student t test.

Results:

Between 2000 and 2020, inflation-adjusted Medicare reimbursement for the 67 included procedures decreased by an average of 33% (CAGR = –2.2%; R 2 = 0.78). Reimbursement decreased for procedures related to the shoulder and elbow by 34% (CAGR = –2.3%; R 2 = 0.80), for hip-related procedures by 23% (CAGR = –1.4%; R 2 = 0.77), for knee-related procedures by 31% (CAGR = –2.0%; R 2 = 0.81), and for procedures relating to the foot and ankle by 38% (CAGR = –2.5%; R 2 = 0.79).

Conclusion:

Study findings indicated that inflation-adjusted Medicare reimbursement decreased substantially between 2000 and 2020 for orthopaedic sports medicine procedures, ranging from a 23% decrease for hip-related procedures to a 38% decrease for foot and ankle–related procedures. The results of this study could be used to provide further context for health care policy decisions and help ensure sustainable financial environments for orthopaedic sports medicine surgeon.

Orthopaedic Group Practice Size Is Increasing

PURPOSE

To analyze recent trends in orthopaedic surgery consolidation and quantify these changes temporally and geographically from 2012 to 2020.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of orthopaedic surgeon practice size in the United States using 2012 and 2020 data obtained from the Physician Compare database.

RESULTS

Although we observed an increase from 21,216 unique orthopaedic surgeons in 2012 to 21,553 in 2020 (1.6% increase), the number of practices experienced a large decrease from 7,299 practices in 2012 to 5,829 in 2020 (20.1% decrease). The proportion of orthopaedic surgeons working in solo practices decreased from 13.2% (2,790) in 2012 to 7.4% (1,595) in 2020, and the proportion of orthopaedic surgeons working in groups sized 2 to 24 decreased from 35.3% (7,482) in 2012 to 22.2% (4,775) in 2020. In contrast, groups sized 25 to 99 have grown from 20.7% (4,387) of all orthopaedic surgeons to 23.4% (5,048) in 2020. Groups sized 100 to 499 have increased from 16.9% (3,593) in 2012 to 24.1% (5,190) in 2020, whereas groups sized 500 or greater have grown from 14% (2,964) in 2012 to 22.9% (4,945) in 2020. The number of unique group practices showed a significant decrease in the number of solo groups, which comprised 43.8% (3,200) of the total number of individual practices in 2012, decreasing to 32% (1,886) in 2020. All other groups increased in number and proportionally from 2012 to 2020.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that over the period from 2012 to 2020, there has been a substantial trend of orthopaedic surgeons shifting to increasing practice sizes, potentially indicating that more orthopaedic surgeons are working for large health care organizations rather than small independent practices.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The impact of these changes should be examined to determine large-scale effects on patient care, payment models, access, and outcomes, along with physician compensation, lifestyle, and satisfaction.

Editorial Commentary: Medicare Cost-Containment Programs Reduce Reimbursement, Complicate Care, and Increase Administrative Costs: Alarm Bells Are Ringing and Physicians Must Get Involved

Medicare cost-containment efforts have uniformly led to a reduction in physician reimbursement offset by increasing administrative burdens and costs and complicating delivery of care. Surgeons who face decreasing compensation for Medicare patients may be forced to limit the number of these patients for whom they care. Decreasing physician reimbursement from Medicare typically translates into a similar reduction by private payers. Administrators who come at a cost have yet to show proven value. All of this translates into limiting our ability to care for patients. We are facing a critical moment for potential change prompted by a global health crisis, a new administration, a new legislature, and an increased appreciation for health care delivery among the American public. As physicians, we need to be active participants in changing the system, placing a greater priority on delivering optimal care at optimal cost. We should use this moment when the American public is focused on the need for health care to reprioritize Medicare funding and physician reimbursement while urging reductions of government spending on bureaucracy. This requires actively lobbying lawmakers and speaking collectively.