Abstract
Background
Controversies currently exist regarding the best way to appropriately quantify complexity
and to benchmark reimbursement for surgeons. This study aims to analyze surgeon reimbursement
in primary and redo-thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy using operative time as a
surrogate for complexity.
Methods
A retrospective analysis using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database
was performed to identify patients who underwent primary and redo-thyroidectomy and
parathyroidectomy. Calculations of median operative time work relative value units
per minute and dollars per minute were compared between primary and redo procedures.
Results
Thyroidectomy cases represented 53.5% (22,521 cases), and the other 46.5% (19,596
cases) were parathyroidectomy cases. The median dollars per minute in primary thyroidectomy
was $4.97 and for redo-thyroidectomy was $8.12 (P < 0.0001). By the same token, dollars per minute were higher in the redo cases with
$15.40 when compared with primary parathyroidectomy cases with $13.14 dollars per
minute (P < 0.0001).
Conclusions
By Current Procedural Terminology codes, surgeons appear to be appropriately reimbursed
for redo-thyroid and parathyroid procedures indexed to first time parathyroidectomy
based on the compensated operative time of these procedures calculated using a nationally
representative sample.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 27, 2021
Accepted:
January 29,
2021
Received in revised form:
December 9,
2020
Received:
October 7,
2020
Footnotes
Declaration of Helsinki statement
This study had institutional review board exemption and was conducted following the principles outlined by the Declaration of Helsinki.
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
