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Several variables found associated with Medicare reimbursement for TJA
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Lower patient volume, lower patient satisfaction, a healthier patient population and government ownership of a hospital were associated with greater Medicare reimbursement for total joint arthroplasty, according to results.
Researchers performed a multivariable regression to identify variables that correlated with Medicare reimbursement for total joint arthroplasty (TJA) among 2,750 hospitals. Researchers used the Dartmouth Atlas to group institutions into hospital referral regions and hospital service areas to examine reimbursement variability.
Overall, researchers identified 427,207 total joint arthroplasties with a weighted reimbursement of $14,324.84. Results showed a national coefficient of variation for reimbursement of 0.19. According to results of a regression model, 52.5% of reimbursement variation was accounted for among providers. Competitive factors, patient characteristics and supply were the largest variable groups that accounted for variation. Researchers found reimbursement had a negative correlation with total joint arthroplasty provider volume and patient satisfaction, but a positive correlation with government ownership of a hospital and higher Medicare costs. – by Casey Tingle
Disclosures: Padegimas reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
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