Patient Perceptions of Reimbursement for Arthroscopic Meniscectomy and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Abstract

Historically, patient perceptions of surgeon reimbursement have been exaggerated compared with actual reimbursement. There is limited information about patient perceptions of physician reimbursement for arthroscopic meniscectomy and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. This study evaluated patient perceptions of physician reimbursement for these procedures and compared perceptions of health care reform between urban and suburban clinics. Surveys were given to 231 consecutive patients, and patients were asked how much they believed a surgeon should be reimbursed for arthroscopic meniscectomy and ACL reconstruction as well as their perception of actual Medicare reimbursement to physicians. Patients were then informed of the actual reimbursement rates and asked additional questions about health care reform. Survey responses were compared in an urban setting vs a suburban setting. On average, patients reported that surgeons should receive $8096 for meniscectomy and $11,794 for ACL reconstruction. Patients estimated that Medicare paid physicians $5442 for meniscectomy and $6667 for ACL reconstruction. In addition, 65% of patients believed that reimbursement for meniscectomy was too low, and 57% of patients believed that reimbursement for ACL reconstruction was too low. Fewer than 2% of patients believed that surgeon salaries should be cut, and 75% believed that orthopedic surgeons should be paid more for subspecialty training. No differences were found in patients' perceptions of reimbursement or health care reform between urban and suburban settings. Patients perceived that the values of meniscectomy and ACL reconstruction were substantially higher than current Medicare reimbursement values and that surgeon salaries should not be cut. [Orthopedics. 2016; 39(5):e904-e910.].