Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 27, 2025
Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion in the Ovine Model
Published on: October 5, 2009
Utilization and Reimbursement Trends Based on Certificate of Need in Single-level Cervical Discectomy
Chason Ziino1, Abiram Bala, Ivan Cheng
1From the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA (Ziino and Bala), and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford University, Redwood City, CA (Cheng).
Objective:
To compare utilization and reimbursement for cervical discectomy in certificate of need (CON) and non-CON states.
Summary Of Background Data:
Cervical discectomy is a commonly performed procedure, but little is known about utilization and reimbursement patterns in the CON setting.
Introduction:
Cervical discectomy is increasingly used and remains effective. Increasing healthcare costs have led to decreased reimbursement and a push toward outpatient procedures. CON programs were established to ensure that expansion of medical facilities were within acceptable use; however, the literature on their impact in spine surgery is limited. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of CON status on both reimbursement and utilization in cervical decompression in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Methods:
We analyzed a private payer and Medicare database from 2007 to 2015. All single-level cervical discectomies were selected then split into CON and non-CON states. Each group was then further split into inpatient and outpatient. Utilization and reimbursement were analyzed using the compound annual growth rate (CAGR), with reimbursement adjusted by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index.
Results:
We identified 1,580 single level cervical decompressions in our study period: 888 were done in the inpatient setting, whereas 692 were done in the outpatient setting. Adjusted reimbursement only increased in the non-CON outpatient setting, with a CAGR of 2.0%. All other settings had decreased reimbursement. Utilization increased across all four settings, with the highest growth seen in the CON outpatient setting, with a CAGR of 12.7%. The highest average reimbursement was in the non-CON outpatient setting at $4,237.
Discussion:
Cervical discectomy is seeing increased utilization most rapidly in the outpatient setting, although reimbursement is declining with the exception of procedures done in the non-CON outpatient setting. Surgeons should be aware of these trends in the changing healthcare economic climate.
Study Design:
A retrospective database review.
