Trends in Medicare Utilization by Dermatologists, 2012-2015.

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Health Economics
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• Medicare is a significant component of national health expenditures.
• Dermatologists receive a substantial portion of Medicare payments.
• Analyzing Medicare utilization trends is crucial for optimizing patient and physician usage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize trends in Medicare charges and payments by dermatologists.
• To analyze changes in Medicare utilization patterns over a defined period.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of publicly available Medicare data.
• Inclusion of all dermatologists serving Medicare beneficiaries from 2012 to 2015.
• Examination of submitted charges and Medicare payments.

Main Results:

• Dermatologist Medicare utilization and submitted charges increased from 2012 to 2015.
• Medicare payments to dermatologists, services per clinician, and unique beneficiaries remained stable.
• Drug service utilization, charges, and payments significantly increased during the study period.

Conclusions:

• Dermatologist Medicare utilization rose without a proportional increase in services or beneficiaries.
• The proportion of drug services within dermatologist Medicare utilization is growing.
• Understanding these trends is vital for optimizing Medicare payments and ensuring patient access to dermatologic care.