Discrepancies in Assigned vs. Observed Operative Times: Consequences for RVU-Based Reimbursement in Plastic Surgery

Discrepancies between assigned and actual operative durations may distort time-based valuation of surgical procedures. This study evaluated the impact of operative time source on wRVU per minute and reimbursement per minute across commonly reimbursed reconstructive plastic surgery operations.

Using 2023 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) data, we compared actual operative times for 11 commonly reimbursed plastic surgery procedures to CMS-assigned times from the Physician Fee Schedule. Each CPT (15830, 19316, 19318, 19325, 19340, 19342, 19357, 19364, 19370, 19371, 19380) was linked to its CMS-assigned wRVU. wRVU per minute and reimbursement per minute were calculated using both NSQIP-observed and CMS-assigned operative times. Statistical analyses included Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, Spearman correlations, and multivariable linear regression.

Among 6,537 single-CPT cases, CMS underestimated operative time in 5 of 11 procedures. The largest discrepancies were observed in immediate implant insertion (+93.5 min), free flap breast reconstruction (+60.5 min), and breast augmentation (+18.5 min), resulting in reduced wRVU/min and $/min. Time discrepancy correlated strongly with reduced wRVU/min (ρ=-0.84). NSQIP-modeled reimbursement showed 2,637 single-CPT cases (40.3%) as underpaid, totaling $751,149.18. Among 15,570 multi-CPT cases, 5,099 (32.7%) were under-reimbursed, with a cumulative modeled underpayment of $2,002,956.29.

CMS operative times frequently underestimated the duration of plastic surgery procedures. Time discrepancies were associated with substantial reductions in wRVU/min and $/min, particularly for complex or implant-based operations. These findings suggest that current CMS time assignments do not adequately capture operative complexity and may contribute to systematic underpayment in reconstructive surgery.