Assessment of Photodynamic Therapy Services Performed Among Medicare Beneficiaries from 2018 to 2019

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a useful treatment modality for premalignant skin lesions. We sought to describe PDT utilization on a national level in the Medicare population post-CPT code revision in 2018 to better understand trends in volume and distribution as well as what factors may influence service performance.

We used the 2018-2019 Medicare Physician and Other Supplier Public Use File to assess PDT services performed during this period.

We found that there was an increasing trend of PDT utilization in the Medicare population. While there was less PDT performed without direct involvement of a healthcare professional, an increasing number of PDT services requiring debridement were performed for severe lesions. Although the majority of PDT volume was attributable to dermatologists, non-physician clinicians assumed greater involvement in PDT services. Dermatologists practicing in academic and non-metropolitan settings were less likely to be directly involved with PDT delivery.

There is a considerable volume of PDT performed among Medicare beneficiaries, with several utilization trends that may be explained by geographic location and practice setting, among other factors. These findings provide insight to PDT service distribution on a national level and highlight practice patterns that may influence PDT delivery.