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Surgeon Characteristics Associated With Average CPT® 31237 Utilization per Medicare Beneficiary
Max J Hyman1, Christopher M Low2, Jayant M Pinto2
1The Center for Health and the Social Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy
|August 11, 2026
Summary
Surgeon characteristics like rhinology fellowship training and Medicare reimbursement rates influence the utilization of endoscopic sinus surgery procedures (CPT 31237). Higher reimbursement and specialized fellowship training correlate with increased procedure use per patient.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Health Services Research
- Medical Economics
Background:
- Surgeon-level variation significantly impacts postoperative debridement frequency after endoscopic sinus surgery.
- Understanding surgeon-specific factors influencing practice patterns is crucial for optimizing patient care and resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify surgeon characteristics associated with the average utilization of Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code 31237 (nasal polyp biopsy/removal via endoscope) per Medicare beneficiary.
- To investigate the relationship between surgeon training, fellowship specialization, and reimbursement levels with CPT 31237 utilization.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cross-sectional study using 2023 Medicare summary data.
- Analysis focused on CPT 31237 utilization across 1016 surgeons.
- Multivariable linear regression was employed to assess associations between surgeon characteristics and utilization rates.
Main Results:
- Rhinology fellowship completion was linked to a modest increase in average CPT 31237 utilization per beneficiary (0.13 increase).
- Higher Medicare reimbursement for CPT 31237 was significantly associated with greater utilization (0.32 increase per $100).
- Residency or general fellowship training did not significantly explain variations in CPT 31237 utilization.
Conclusions:
- Average CPT 31237 utilization per beneficiary appears associated with the type of fellowship training completed, particularly rhinology.
- Reimbursement levels set by Medicare may also influence the frequency of CPT 31237 procedures performed by surgeons.
