Community hospital charges for orthognathic surgery

Hospital charges for orthognathic surgery with rigid fixation were evaluated for 80 patients from a community surgical practice. Although the surgeon can control to some degree the length of stay and charges for room and board, ancillary services, laboratory, radiology, and medicine by altering practice patterns, these charges together are less than 24% of the hospital bill. Seventy-six percent of the total hospital charges are generated in the operating room (i.e., operating room, anesthesia, recovery, and respiratory apparatus). Surgeons have minimal control over these changes. Further negotiations with private and government third parties about reimbursement for orthognathic surgical procedures require a cooperative effort between the hospital and the surgeons.