Percutaneous ablation of renal tumors versus surgical ablation and partial nephrectomy: Medicare trends and reimbursement cost comparison from 2010 to 2018.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze trends in Medicare volume and reimbursement for percutaneous and surgical ablation as well as laparoscopic and open partial nephrectomy for treatment of small renal tumors from 2010 to 2018. Claims from the Medicare Part B Physician/Supplier Procedure Summary from 2010 to 2018 were extracted using CPT codes for percutaneous and surgical renal ablation and surgical and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. Facility reimbursement and relative value units (RVUs) were obtained using the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services physician fee schedule look-up tool. Volume of percutaneous ablation increased from 2539 to 4571 procedures (80.0%). Specifically, percutaneous cryoablation became the dominant technique, increasing from 1434 to 2981 procedures (107.9%). Overall, volume of partial nephrectomy also increased by 40.4%, driven by an increase in laparoscopic partial nephrectomy from 3227 to 7770 procedures (140.8%) with a decrease in open partial nephrectomy from 3489 to 1661 (- 52.4%). Volume of surgical ablations also decreased 72.7% from 1260 to 344 procedures. In 2018, reimbursement was $358.56 for percutaneous radiofrequency ablation, $481.32 for percutaneous cryoablation, $1216.43 for surgical radiofrequency ablation, $1269.35 for surgical cryoablation, $1381.67 for open partial nephrectomy, and $1552.66 for laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. There has been a trend toward minimally invasive techniques for treatment of small renal tumors among Medicare patients. Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy has become the dominant treatment. In the setting of evidence showing comparable outcomes with surgery as well as lower costs to insurers, the volume of percutaneous ablation has also markedly increased.