Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System Research Articles

Recognizing the Sex Disparity in Surgeons Performing Total Knee Arthroplasty

There is an unambiguous sex disparity in the field of orthopaedic surgery, with women making up only 7.4% of practicing orthopaedic surgeons in 2022. This study seeks to evaluate the sex distribution among orthopaedic surgeons engaged in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) between 2013 and 2020, as well as the procedural volume attributed to each provider. We retrospectively queried the Medicare dataset to quantify all physicians reporting orthopaedic surgery as their specialty and performing primary TKA from 2013 to 2020. Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes for primary TKA procedures were used to extract associated utilization and billing provider information. Trend analyses were performed with 2-sided correlated Mann-Kendall tests to evaluate trends in the number of surgeons by sex and the women-to-men surgeon ratio. During the study period, 6,198 to 7,189 surgeons billed for primary TKA. Of this number, an average of 2% were women. The mean number of procedures billed for by men was 39.02/year (SD: 34.54), and by women was 28.76/year (SD: 20.62) (P < 0.001). There was no significant trend in the number of men or women surgeons who billed for primary TKA during the study period. Trend analysis of the women-to-men ratio demonstrated an increasing trend of statistical significance (P = 0.0187). There was a significant upward trend in the women-to-men ratio of surgeons who billed for primary TKA. However, there remains a colossal gender gap, as women only made up 2.4% of surgeons who billed for the procedure. The current study raises awareness of the notable discrepancy in the average number of TKAs performed by women as compared to men. The orthopaedic community should aim to determine ways to increase the number of women arthroplasty surgeons along with the opportunities that women have to perform TKAs.

Reporting the Evaluation and Management Visit Complexity Code

This article reviews the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes for office or other outpatient evaluation and management (E/M) visit complexity, including Code G2211 to describe office or other outpatient E/M visit complexity Code G2211 as an add-on code reported in addition to office and other outpatient E/M services The Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS) establishment of G2211 to recognize visit complexity in nonprocedural primary or subspecialty care

Medicare Reimbursement Rate Trends in Hospice and Palliative Care Medicine from 2013 to 2022

The patterns of declining Medicare reimbursement rates over time have been documented in various disciplines of healthcare, but little research has been done on geographic trends in Medicare reimbursement in the areas of hospice and palliative medicine. This article aims to explore these patterns as they relate to the field of hospice and palliative medicine. The purpose of hospice and palliative medicine is to reduce the mental and physical burden of serious illness by prioritizing quality of life throughout the disease course and mitigating factors that may contribute to patient and family suffering. With approximately 17% of the United States population over the age of 65 and that percentage projected to grow, the need for hospice and palliative medicine is expected to increase. This study considers 44 of the most common hospice and palliative medicine Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes and analyzes their national and statewide Medicare reimbursement trends from 2013 to 2022. Across this time period, these HCPCS procedure codes demonstrated a national average inflation-adjusted total percent change of –18.44% and a national average inflation-adjusted yearly percent change of –2.24%. Of the 44 HCPCS codes analyzed, the top 12 accounted for roughly 95% of the total revenue and saw a total average inflation-adjusted percent change of –20.0% over the time period studied.

Trends in magnetic resonance and computed tomography angiography utilization among Medicare beneficiaries between 2013 and 2020

PurposeTo evaluate relative and absolute utilization trends and practice patterns in the United States for MRA and CTA. MethodsUsing Medicare Part B physician payment databases (2013−2020), MRA and CTA interpreting physicians and exams were identified using the unique MRA and CTA Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes. The number of exams, physicians, demographics, use of contrast, and payments were summarized annually and analyzed to evaluate trends before and during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. ResultsFrom 2013 to 2019, the annual number of MRA exams performed decreased by 17.9 %, while the number of CTA exams increased by 90.3 %. The number of physicians interpreting MRA decreased in both hospital (−17.2 %) and outpatient (−7.5 %) environments. The number of physicians interpreting CTA increased in both hospital (+29.4 %) and outpatient (+54.3 %) environments. During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, MRA utilization decreased across all imaging environments by 25.0 % whereas CTA only decreased by 5.5 %. Intracranial MRA studies were most often performed without contrast, while contrast use for neck MRA was performed at similar rates as non-contrast exams. ConclusionThe overall utilization of MRA and the number of interpreting physicians are decreasing. On the other hand, CTA use and its number of interpreting physicians are increasing. During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, use of both MRA and CTA decreased, but the utilization of MRA decreased at five times the rate of CTA.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Utilization in Older Adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 2013-2019.

Rationale: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is very effective in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for improving exercise tolerance and functional capacity, alleviating dyspnea, and improving respiratory quality of life. Access to and use of PR remain poor. Objectives: To assess the trends in PR use and factors associated with PR use in adults with COPD. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the use of PR in adults with COPD using a 20% Medicare beneficiary population from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2019. Adults with COPD were identified by 1) two or more outpatient visits >30 days apart within 1 year with an encounter diagnosis of COPD or 2) hospitalization with COPD as the primary diagnosis or a primary diagnosis of acute respiratory failure with a secondary discharge diagnosis of COPD. PR use in each calendar year was identified using Current Procedural Terminology and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes. Factors associated with PR use were tested in bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models. Results: There was a gradual but modest increase in the percentage of patients with COPD using PR; the proportion increased from 2.5% in 2013 to 4.0% in 2019. Overall, the percentage of patients using PR remained low. Factors associated with higher odds of using PR included younger age (66-74 yr), White race, higher socioeconomic status, lower comorbidity score, residence in a metropolitan urban area, and sole or comanagement by a pulmonologist. Conclusions: The use of PR by Medicare beneficiaries with COPD has not changed meaningfully in the past decade and remains low.

Association between timed up-and-go test and subsequent pneumonia: A cohort study.

Sarcopenia is a risk factor for pneumonia in the elderly, and the timed up-and-go test (TUG) can be used as a screening tool for sarcopenia in this population. This study aimed to evaluate the association between TUG test results and future pneumonia or ventilator care. From the National Health Insurance Service-Senior Cohort database, we identified 19,804 people without neurological diseases who underwent the TUG test in the National Screening Program for Transitional Ages at the age of 66 years during 2007-2008. Gait abnormality was defined as taking 10 s or longer to perform the TUG test. Pneumonia occurrence was defined using the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10) code for pneumonia (J12-J18, J69), and ventilator care was defined by procedure codes (M5830, M5850, M5867, M5858, M5860, M5859) according to the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding system codes from 2007 to 2015. The mean follow-up period was 7.4 years (standard error, SE 0.02). The incidence rates of pneumonia in the normal and slow TUG groups were 38 and 39.5/1000 person-years, respectively. The slow TUG group did not show a higher risk of pneumonia (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.042; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.988-1.107]). Regarding ventilator care, the incidence was 4.7 and 5.2 cases per 1,000 person-years in the normal and slow TUG groups, respectively. Slow TUG groups also did not show an increased risk of ventilator occurrence (aHR, 1.136, [95% CI = 0.947-1.363]). The TUG test result was not associated with future pneumonia or ventilator care and may not be useful for predicting pneumonia in community-dwelling elderly individuals. Further studies are needed to identify additional functional tools for sarcopenia associated with future pneumonia occurrences.

Disparity in Medicare Reimbursement Between Female and Male Vitreoretinal Surgeons

Purpose: To quantify the Medicare reimbursement disparity between female and male vitreoretinal surgeons. Methods: Reimbursement reports were obtained from the US Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services from 2013 through 2020, which detail all Medicare Part B services. A vitreoretinal surgeon was defined as any provider with at least 10 charges of a Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System code related to vitrectomy or retinal detachment repair. Providers were grouped by sex, and the average total reimbursement rate and additional secondary statistics to quantify the reimbursement disparity were identified. Results: On average, female vitreoretinal surgeons were reimbursed 65% that of their male counterparts in 2020, $1.66 million to $2.56 million. The percentage of the average male vitreoretinal specialist’s total reimbursement that the average female vitreoretinal specialist received decreased 8.8% from 2013 to 2020, from 73.8% to 65.0%. Conclusions: The reimbursement that the average female vitreoretinal surgeon receives from Medicare is only two thirds that of the average male vitreoretinal surgeon. In addition, there was no identifiable improvement in this disparity over the study period. Further efforts must be taken to establish concerted efforts to improve the reimbursement disparity and to identify the systematic inequities that led to its presence in the first place.

Trends in Spinal Orthosis Utilization Among Patients Insured through Medicare Part B

Study Design. Retrospective population-based database analysis from the Physician/Supplier Procedure Summary Medicare/Medicaid Dataset. Objective. To provide a comprehensive analysis of trends in spinal orthosis utilization over a 12-year period. Summary of Background Data. Widespread prescription of spinal orthosis persists, despite evidence suggesting equivocal efficacy in many spinal conditions. The utilization of spinal orthosis on a national level, including prescribing specialty data, has not been previously analyzed. Methods. Healthcare common procedure coding system (HCPCS) codes for cervical (CO), thoracic-lumbar-sacral (TLSO), lumbar (LO), lumbar-sacral (LSO), and cervical-thoracic-lumbar-sacral (CTLSO) orthosis were used to determine spinal orthosis utilization from 2010 to 2021. Provider specialty codes were utilized to compare trends between select specialties. Additionally, a neurosurgical CO analysis, based on subclassifications of cervical bracing, was performed. Linear trendlines were implemented to elucidate and present trends by slope (β). Results. Among 332,241 claims, decreases in CO (β=−0.3387), TLSO (β=−0.0942), LO (β=−0.3485), and LSO (β=−0.1545) per 100,000 Medicare Part B enrollees and CTLSO (β=−0.052) per 1,000,000 Medicare Part B enrollees were observed. Decreases among neurosurgery (β=−7.9208), family medicine (β=−1.0097), emergency medicine (β=−2.1958), internal medicine (β=−1.1151), interventional pain management (β=−5.0945), and chiropractic medicine (β=−49.012), and increases among orthopedic surgery (β=5.5891), pain management (β=30.416), physical medicine and rehabilitation (β=4.6524), general practice (β=79.111), and osteopathic manipulative medicine (β=45.303) in total spinal orthosis use per 100,000 specialty claims were observed. Analysis on subclassifications of cervical orthosis among neurosurgeons revealed decreases in flexible (β=−1.7641), semi-rigid (β=−0.6157), and collar bracing (β=−2.7603), and an increase in multi-post collar bracing (β=2.2032) per 100 neurosurgical cervical orthosis claims. Conclusions. While utilization of spinal orthosis decreased between 2010-2021, increased utilization was observed among a subset of specialties. Identifying these specialties allows for focused research and educational efforts to minimize unnecessary durable medical equipment use for effective healthcare spending.

Characterizing Trends in Chronic Superficial Venous Disease Treatment among Medicare Beneficiaries from 2010 to 2018

This study describes trends in surgical versus endovascular interventions for treatment of chronic superficial venous disease (SVD) in the Medicare population. Medicare Part B data from 2010 to 2018 were obtained. Claims for SVD treatment were identified using Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes. Total percentage change in utilization rates and market share was determined for each provider group. Utilization of SVD treatments increased by 58%, mostly owing to growing utilization of endovascular treatments. There was a 66% decrease in surgical treatments. The utilization of ablation and sclerotherapy plateaued in 2016 and decreased in 2017–2018 with the advent of mechanochemical ablation, endovenous microfoam, and cyanoacrylate adhesive, respectively. Analysis showed that endovascular utilization increased across most specialties, with the largest growth seen in cardiology by 427%. Radiologists showed utilization growth of 125%, encompassing 11% of the market share. Endovascular treatment for SVD remains predominant, with increased utilization and concomitant decrease in surgical methods.

Assessing out-of-pocket cost differences in treatment for Medicare-eligible patients with favorable prognosis early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma.

15 Background: In the treatment of favorable Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL), Level 1 evidence comparing combined modality therapy (CMT) with chemotherapy alone has persistently demonstrated that obviating radiation therapy (RT) worsens recurrence rates despite no significant overall survival difference. As there remains limited evidence on the granularity of the impact of insurance on HL treatment, this project disaggregates costs by insurance plans to enhance the transparency of out-of-pocket (OOP) cost estimations in Medicaid and/or Medicare-eligible (age 65+) patients. Methods: National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines were queried to assess the appropriate therapy for HL. Following initial adriamycin/bleomycin/vinblastine/dacarbazine (ABVD) chemotherapy x 2 cycles with Deauville 1-2 response on PET scan, CMT was defined as involved site RT (20 Gy / 10 fractions), while chemotherapy alone was defined as an additional ABVD x 2. Current Procedural Terminology and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes identified treatments. OOP expenditures, deductibles, and copay/coinsurance were computed for Medicaid, Original Medicare, and Medigap Plan G plans via medicare.gov, medicaid.oh.gov, and cms.gov. Price estimates (from actual prices per insurance plan rather than claims data predictions) assume an Ohio hospital location (zip code = 44106) for all treatments. Total costs were calculated based on all treatments plus a 5-year follow-up (not adjusted for inflation). Treatment charges for chemotherapy alone include initial medical oncology office visit, cost of ABVD x 4, and infusion costs for 4 cycles. Additional treatment charges for CMT include initial radiation oncology consultation, treatment planning, dosimetry calculations, treatment device, simulation and verification, RT delivery, on-treatment visits, medical physics consultation, and annual TSH labs. Results: With Original Medicare plans, patients are faced with an OOP cost of 20% for Medicare Part B claims with no cost cap for approved procedures after the deductible. As such, patients are faced with a total 6-year charge of $1,928.95 for chemotherapy alone, and $2,385.28 for CMT. Under Medigap Plan G, patients encounter an OOP charge of $1,151.14 for chemotherapy alone and $1,176.34 for CMT. Medicaid beneficiaries (assuming all treatments are approved by Medicaid) face no OOP expenses for both treatment plans, as all expenses are covered without limit. Conclusions: By comparing OOP costs between Medicare and Medicaid plans, this model improves cost transparency in the treatment of favorable early-stage HL. Our findings indicate that omitting RT in favor of chemotherapy alone yields a cost savings of 2-24% at a 5-year follow-up. Further studies are required to assess whether these savings compensate for the inferior outcomes achieved by omitting RT in this patient population.

Categorization of a Universal Coding System to Distinguish Use of Durable Medical Equipment and Supplies in Pediatric Patients

Although durable medical equipment and supplies (DMES) are commonly used to optimize the health and function in pediatric patients, little is known about the prevalence of use and spending on DMES. To categorize the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) for distinguishing DMES types, and to measure the prevalence and related spending of DMES in pediatric patients using Medicaid. This study is a cross-sectional analysis of the 2018 Merative Medicaid Database and included 4 569 473 pediatric patients aged 0 to 21 years enrolled in Medicaid in 12 US states from January 1 to December 31, 2018. Data were analyzed from February 2019 to April 2023. DMES exposure was identified with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services HCPCS codes. Three pediatricians categorized HCPCS DMES codes submitted by vendors for reimbursement of dispensed DMES into DMES types and end-organ systems; 15 expert reviewers refined the categorization (2576 DMES codes, 164 DMES types, 14 organ systems). The main outcome was DMES prevalence & Medicaid spending. The χ2 test was used to compare DMES prevalence and Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to compare per-member-per-year (PMPY) spending by complex chronic conditions (CCC). Of the 4 569 473 patients in the study cohort, 49.3% were female and 56.1% were aged 5 to 15 years. Patients used 133 of 164 (81.1%) DMES types. The DMES prevalence was 17.1% (95% CI, 17.0%-17.2%) ranging from 10.1% (95% CI, 10.0%-10.2%) in patients with no chronic condition to 60.9% (95% CI, 60.8%-61.0%) for patients with 2 or more CCCs. The PMPY DMES spending was $593, ranging from $349 for no chronic condition to $4253 for 2 or more CCCs. Lens (7.9%), vision frames (6.2%), and orthotics for orthopedic injury (0.8%) were the most common DME in patients with no chronic condition. Enteral tube / feeding supplies (19.8%), diapers (19.2%), lower extremity orthotics (12.3%), wheelchair (9.6%), oxygen (9.0%), and urinary catheter equipment (4.2%) were among the most common DMES in children with 2 or more CCCs. In this cross-sectional study, HCPCS distinguished a variety of DME types and use across pediatric populations. Further investigation should assess the utility of the HCPCS DMES categorization with efforts to optimize the quality and safety of DMES use.

Head and Neck Ultrasound Utilization Rates: 2012 to 2019.

We measured utilization of clinician-performed head and neck ultrasound among otolaryngologists, endocrinologists, and general surgeons, using Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data. Retrospective analysis of Medicare billing database. University. For each year, the files were filtered to include 4 provider types: Diagnostic Radiology (DR), Endocrinology (ENDO), General Surgery (GS), and Otolaryngology (OTO). Billable procedures are listed by Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System code and a filter was applied to include 76536 Ultrasound, soft tissues of the head and neck. In 2019, OTOs submitted charges for 2.1% of all head and neck diagnostic ultrasounds (76536) performed on Medicare beneficiaries. For each year 2012 to 2019, DRs submitted the most charges, followed by ENDOs, and then OTO and GS. Charges for all groups increased in a proportional manner across the 8-year period. 14.5% of OTOs submitted more than 100 charges apiece during 2019, that is, "super users."The percentage of super users within each specialty increased from 2012 to 2019. Overall, the data support an ever-increasing use of head and neck ultrasound (HNUS) among all provider types. Even with increased use among OTOs, this specialty only accounted for a small percentage of head & neck diagnostic ultrasounds performed on Medicare beneficiaries in 2019. Changes in volume of nonradiology point-of-care HNUS was not associated with changes in DR volume. A greater proportion of OTOs than DRs are "super users" among the ultrasound users within their specialty, performing more than 100 exams/year. V.

Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Practice Patterns Across Medicare Providers: An Opportunity for Growth in Radiation Oncology

Given the recent explosion of research and development of novel targeted agents with improved specificity for delivery, we examined the providers administering radiopharmaceutical therapy (RPT) through analysis of U.S. Medicare payments. We further evaluated differences by specialties with respect to total distinct patients, total services billed, and average Medicare payment and submitted charge. This retrospective study queried the Provider Utilization & Payment Data prepared by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for 2020. The Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes used for analysis comprised: Radioactive material therapy into vein; Infusion/instillation of radioelement solution; Radioactive material therapy into artery; and Lu 177 dotatate therapeutic. Provider specialties for which there existed at least 5 entries were included. Outcome measurements included provider gender, practice region, total distinct patients, total services billed, average submitted charge, and average standardized Medicare payment. Descriptive and nonparametric statistics (Kruskal-Wallis Test, Dunn's test) were calculated by specialty. A total of 171 providers were identified who billed for the above HCPCS codes within Diagnostic Radiology (DR) (n = 68, 39.8%), Nuclear Medicine (NM) (n = 59, 34.5%), Radiation Oncology (RO) (n = 24, 14.0%), and Interventional Radiology (IR) (n = 20, 11.7%). Geographically, 42.7% of providers were in the South, 23.4% in the West, 18.1% in the Midwest, and 15.8% in the Northeast. By gender, 21.1% identified as female, 78.9% as male. Descriptive statistics are summarized in Table 1. Total distinct patients was not significantly different across specialty (p = 0.872). Total services billed was significantly different for RO compared to IR (p<0.001), DR (p<0.001), and NM (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in average Medicare payment between RO and IR (p = 0.405), and between NM and DR (p = 0.063), though there was a significant difference in average submitted charge between NM and DR (p = 0.008). The results of this study highlight the opportunity for growth in radiation oncologists' utilization of RPT. Given the upcoming demand, it is pivotal to recognize the critical role radiation oncologists play in careful oncologic decision making, appropriate dosing and delivery of therapies by clinical scenario, and considerable follow up necessitated in patients receiving these novel therapies.

Insurance Plan Coverage Modeling of the Marginal Costs from One Week vs. Three Week Radiation Therapy in Standard-Of-Care Treatment of Post-Lumpectomy Early-Stage Breast Cancer Across Medicaid and Medicare Plans

For early-stage breast cancer (BC), the choice of radiation therapy (RT) duration (1- versus 3-weeks) is highly debated. Cost and financial toxicity are major concerns that BC patients face. Nonetheless, there remain limited discussions providing granular details of the role of insurance in the aggregate cost of 1 week versus 3 weeks of RT for patients. This project addresses this gap by disaggregating costs by insurance plan to increase transparency of out-of-pocket (OOP) cost estimates in RT. Surgical, medical, and radiation oncology treatment procedures were determined through the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines; codes were identified using Current Procedural Terminology and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System. OOP treatment costs, deductibles, and copay/coinsurance were calculated in accordance with insurance type, including Medicaid, Original Medicare, and Medigap Plan G. The medicare.gov, medicaid.oh.gov, and the physician fee schedule from cms.gov were used to determine pricing. Price estimates reflect actual costs per insurance plan rather than costs estimated from claims data. All procedures were considered to be performed in an Ohio hospital setting. One-week RT was defined as 5 fractions without boost, and 3-week RT was defined as 15 fractions without boost. Treatment charges for RT included initial radiation oncology office consultation and subsequent radiation oncology clinical treatment planning notes, complex 3D treatment plan, dosimetry calculations, complex treatment device design and construction, complex treatment planning simulation, simple verification treatment simulation, complex RT delivery, port verification films, on-treatment visits with radiation oncology, and continuing medical physics consultation. Original Medicare beneficiaries face an OOP cost of 20% for every Medicare Part B charge with no cost cap for all approved procedures after the deductible is met, resulting in a marginal OOP treatment charge of $649.24 for 1 week and $1006.20 for 3 weeks of RT. Assuming the deductible is met post-lumpectomy, Medigap Plan G beneficiaries are faced with no additional charges for both lengths of radiation treatment. Similarly, for Medicaid beneficiaries (assuming all treatments approved by Medicaid), all expenses are covered without limit, resulting in no OOP expense. Considerations of 1 week and 3 weeks of RT for post-lumpectomy early-stage BC are often dependent on cancer characteristic and patient preferences. This model (based on actual cost estimates per insurance plan rather than claims data) compares OOP costs across Medicaid and Medicare plans, which more holistically informs patients in their decision for choice of treatment.

Cost Analysis of MR-Guided vs. CT-Guided Radiation Therapy for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Stereotactic magnetic resonance guided on-table adaptive radiotherapy (SMART) is an increasingly utilized radiotherapy (RT) treatment for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC), providing improved local control and overall survival with reduced toxicity. Computed tomography (CT) guided RT options include stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and hypofractionated RT with volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Currently there are no financial comparisons for MR vs CT-guided RT for LAPC. We completed a cost analysis comparing the physician and hospital charges associated with RT options for LAPC. To compare RT costs, we identified Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes utilized for 5-fraction SMART with adaptation (50 Gy, biological effective dose (BED) 100 Gy), 5-fraction CT-guided SBRT (33 Gy, BED 55 Gy), and 15-fraction CT-guided hypofractionated VMAT (67.5 Gy, BED 98 Gy) in a hospital-based practice setting. Physician and hospital Medicare prices associated with these codes together summarize the overall cost. We determined physician fees using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Physician Fee Schedule Search to search the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) for "professional" costs included within "facility" costs. We determined hospital fees using the Outpatient Prospective Payment System addendum. To standardize costs, we searched for national payment amounts for the 2022 calendar year. Total cost of SMART with adaptation was 136% higher than the cost of CT-SBRT and 149% higher than the cost of hypofractionated RT. Physician fees for SMART were 173% higher and 157% higher than the fees for CT-SBRT and hypofractionated RT, respectively. Hospital fees for SMART were 129% higher and 147% higher than the fees for CT-SBRT and hypofractionated RT, respectively. The total cost of CT-SBRT was only 5% higher than cost of hypofractionated RT. The physician fees for hypofractionated RT were 6% higher than those for CT-SBRT, while the outpatient fees for CT SBRT were 7% higher than those for hypofractionated RT. With recent data demonstrating favorable efficacy and toxicity rates for SMART, practices may increasingly consider investing in this treatment modality. This is the first cost analysis comparing SMART to CT-guided SBRT and hypofractionated RT in LAPC. We demonstrate higher costs of SMART compared to CT-guided RT, attributable primarily to higher number of dosimetry calculations for this modality and for adapted fractions. We also demonstrate comparable costs of lower BED CT-guided SBRT and higher BED hypofractionated RT. Further investigation is needed to assess whether the survival benefit of SMART translates to favorable cost per quality adjusted life year.

Pneumoconiosis incidence and prevalence among US Medicare beneficiaries, 1999-2019.

Pneumoconiosis is a group of occupational lung diseases caused by dust and fiber exposure. This study analyzes Medicare claims to estimate the burden of pneumoconiosis among fee-for-service (FFS; Medicare Parts A and B) Medicare beneficiaries during 1999-2019 in the United States. Claim and enrollment information from 81 million continuously enrolled FFS Medicare beneficiaries were analyzed. Beneficiaries with any pneumoconiosis and cause-specific pneumoconiosis (e.g., asbestosis, silicosis) were identified using three case definitions (broad, intermediate, and narrow) with varying diagnostic criteria based on claim International Classification of Diseases, Clinical Modification (ICD-CM) diagnosis codes and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes. Results are presented as ranges of values for the three case definitions. The 21-year prevalence range for any pneumoconiosis was 345,383-677,361 (412-833 per 100,000 beneficiaries) using the three case definitions. The highest prevalence was among those ≥75 years of age, males, Whites, and North American Natives. Most claims (70.0%-72.5%) included an ICD-CM diagnosis code for asbestosis. The broad pneumoconiosis prevalence rate increased significantly (p < 0.001) during 2002-2009 by 3%-10% annually and declined significantly by 3%-5% annually starting in 2009. The average annual broad incidence rate declined significantly by 7% annually during 2009-2019. Despite the decline in rate for any pneumoconiosis among Medicare beneficiaries, which is primarily attributed to a decline in asbestosis, pneumoconiosis is prevalent among FFS Medicare beneficiaries.

Beyond Survival: Adverse Events and Care Delivery Outcomes after Early Liver Cancer Treatment in a Nationally Representative Cohort

PurposeTo compare secondary outcomes after ablation (AB), surgical resection (SR), and liver transplant (LT) for small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), including resource utilization and adverse event (AE) rates. Materials and MethodsUsing Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER)–Medicare, HCCs <5 cm that were treated with AB, SR, or LT in 2009–2016 (n = 1,067) were identified using Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes through Medicare claims. Index procedure length of stay, need for intensive care unit (ICU) level care, readmission rates, and AE rates at 30 and 90 days were compared using chi-square tests or Fisher exact tests. Examined AEs included hemorrhage, abscess formation, biliary injury, pneumonia, sepsis, liver disease–related AEs, liver failure, and anesthesia-related AEs, identified by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth/10th Revision, codes. ResultsThe median length of stay for initial treatment was 1 day, 6 days, and 7 days for AB, SR, and LT, respectively (P < .001). During initial hospital stay, 5.0%, 40.8%, and 63.4% of AB, SR, and LT cohorts, respectively, received ICU-level care (P < .001). By 30 and 90 days, there were significant differences among the AB, SR, and LT cohorts in the rate of postprocedural hemorrhage, abscess formation, biliary injury, pneumonia, sepsis, liver disease–related AEs, and anesthesia-related AEs (P < .05). By 90 days, the readmission rates after AB, SR, and LT were 18.6%, 28.2%, and 40.6% (P < .001), respectively. ConclusionsAB results in significantly less healthcare utilization during the initial 90 days after procedure compared with that after SR and LT due to shorter length of stay, lower intensity care, fewer readmissions, and fewer AEs.

Botulinum Toxin Utilization, Treatment Patterns, and Healthcare Costs Among Patients with Spasticity or Cervical Dystonia in the US.

Spasticity and cervical dystonia (CD) are movement disorders with considerable direct and indirect healthcare cost implications. Although several studies have discussed their clinical impact, few have calculated the economic burden of these disorders. This study aimed to understand treatment/injection patterns of botulinum toxins type A (BoNT-As) and the characteristics, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), and costs among patients with spasticity or CD. Retrospective analyses were conducted using administrative healthcare claims from the IQVIA PharMetrics® Plus database, from October 1, 2015 to December 31, 2019. Eligible patients were selected based on Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes for BoNT-A (index date) and ICD-10 diagnosis codes for spasticity or CD with 6months of continuous enrollment pre-index and 12months post-index. Patients were stratified into adult spasticity, pediatric spasticity, and CD cohorts, and were evaluated for injection patterns, HCRU, and costs in the post-index period. Overall, 2452 adults with spasticity, 1364 pediatric patients with spasticity, and 1529 adults with CD were included. Total mean all-cause healthcare costs were US$42,562 (adult spasticity), $54,167 (pediatric spasticity), and $25,318 (CD). Differences were observed in the cost of BoNT-A injection visits between toxins, with abobotulinumtoxinA (aboBoNT-A) having the lowest injection cost across all indications. AboBoNT-A had the lowest injection visit costs across indications. These results are suggestive of real-world resource utilization patterns and costs, and, while helpful in informing insurers' BoNT-A management strategies, further research into cost differences is warranted.

Postmarket Surveillance for Effective Regulation of Digital Mental Health Treatments.

Postmarket Surveillance for Effective Regulation of Digital Mental Health Treatments.

#5810 SELECTED CARDIOVASCULAR (CV)/NON-CV EVENT RATES IN NON-DIALYSIS-DEPENDENT PATIENTS TREATED WITH ESAS IN US MEDICARE (2017–2019), BY CKD STAGE

Abstract Background and Aims The safety and efficacy of daprodustat in non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients have been reported in the ASCEND-ND trial [1]. However, CKD stage may affect both the need for anemia treatment as well as outcomes, including potential safety events for anemia treatment. This study describes cardiovascular (CV) and non-CV event rates by CKD stage among patients treated with erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs) in the US Medicare population. Method Using Medicare data for all fee-for-service enrollees, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients who had diagnosis of CKD stages 3, 4, or 5 and a first use of ESA in 2017–2019. CKD stage was identified by ICD-10 codes; ESA use was derived using Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes. The date of first ESA use was the index date and CKD stage was defined as the most recent diagnosis on or before index date. We further required patients to have at least 12 continuous months of Medicare Parts A and B coverage (also used as a washout period to identify new ESA users) prior to, and be aged ≥66 years on, the index date. Patients with a history of kidney transplant or who had cancer during the year prior, and those who had a hospitalization for heart failure (HF), myocardial infarction (MI), or stroke in the 4 weeks before, the index date were excluded. Patients were followed from index date to the earliest date of death, loss of Medicare coverage, kidney transplantation or dialysis, or December 31, 2019. Both CV (all-cause death, HF, MI, stroke, thromboembolic events [TEEs], MACE [death, stroke, MI], and MACE+HF) and non-CV (cancer, gastric erosions, ocular events, seizures, and serious infections) events were ascertained, derived from Medical claims using ICD-10 diagnosis, HCPCS, and Current Procedural Terminology codes in the follow-up period. HF, MI, stroke, and serious infection were defined as inpatient events. First event rates were calculated separately by CKD stage, expressed as number of events per 100 patient-years during the follow-up period. Results This study cohort included 50,206 patients; 22,332 had stage 3, 19,177 stage 4, and 8,697 stage 5 CKD at the index date. Median follow-up time was 11.5 months for patients with CKD stage 3, 8.9 months for patients with stage 4, and 3.7 months for patients with stage 5 CKD. Patients with higher (worse) CKD stages were slightly younger (mean ages for stages 3, 4, and 5 were 79.7, 79.1, and 76.8 years); with increasingly more males (42.9%, 45.1%, and 48.5%), increasingly more individuals of non-Hispanic Black race (14.2%, 15.7%, and 19.6%), with lower income (indicated by Medicare/Medicaid dual enrolment and Medicare Part D low-income subsidy), and lower proportion of comorbidities. Rates were higher for most CV events in patients with higher (worse) CKD stages (Table): death rates were 19.5, 22.1, and 28.1 per 100 patient-years for stages 3, 4, and 5, respectively; MI rates were 2.2, 2.9, and 3.2; HF rates were 12.5, 17.2, and 19.0; MACE rates were 22.0, 25.4, and 31.8; and MACE+HF rates were 31.0, 38.7 and 47.8, respectively. Rates of stroke were similar across CKD stages; but no pattern for TEE. For non-CV events, higher (worse) CKD stage had higher rates of first ocular events (17.2, 23.3, and 27.1) and seizures (2.3, 2.7, and 3.4), but lower rates of cancer (21.8, 14.2, and 10.2) and, within this, hematological malignancies (10.4, 4.11 and 2.3). Conclusion Medicare-covered ESA-treated patients with higher CKD stage had higher rates for most events assessed, while malignancy rates were lower. These findings may provide important context when assessing US event rates in non-dialysis-dependent CKD patients. Further investigation could clarify some of the differences between stages, such as rates of malignancy. Rates were reported as crude (unadjusted) and so should be interpreted with caution. Limiting the analysis to ESA-treated patients may have resulted in different event rates than would be expected to occur in the general CKD population. Funding: GSK (study 217316).