Declining Medicare reimbursement in abdominal transplantation from 2000 to 2021

Background: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is a major payer for abdominal transplant services. Reimbursement reductions could have a major impact on the transplant surgical workforce and hospitals. Yet government reimbursement trends in abdominal transplantation have not been fully characterized. Methods: We performed an economic analysis to characterize changes in inflation-adjusted trends in Medicare surgical reimbursement for abdominal transplant procedures. Using the Medicare Fee Schedule Look-Up Tool, we performed a procedure codeebased surgical reimbursement rate analysis. Reimbursement rates were adjusted for inflation to calculate overall changes in reimbursement, overall yearover-year, 5-year year-over-year, and compound annual growth rate from 2000 to 2021. Results: We observed declines in adjusted reimbursement of common abdominal transplant procedures, including liver (-32.4%), kidney with and without nephrectomy (-24.2% and -24.1%, respectively), and pancreas transplant (-15.2%) (all, P < .05). Overall, the yearly average change for liver, kidney with and without nephrectomy, and pancreas transplant were -1.54%, -1.15%, -1.15%, and -0.72%. Five-year annual change averaged -2.69%, -2.35%, -2.64%, and -2.43%, respectively. The overall average compound annual growth rate was -1.27%. Conclusion: This analysis depicts a worrisome reimbursement pattern for abdominal transplant procedures. Transplant surgeons, centers, and professional organizations should note these trends to advocate sustainable reimbursement policy and to preserve continued access to transplant services. (c) 2023 Published by Elsevier Inc.

Automated summary

This study analyzes the economic implications of reimbursement reductions for abdominal transplant procedures. The findings show a worrisome decline in reimbursement rates for liver, kidney, and pancreas transplants. The annual and five-year average changes in reimbursement rates are negative for all procedures, indicating a downward trend in reimbursement. The overall compound annual growth rate is also negative, suggesting a consistent decrease in reimbursement over time.