Does the reimbursement of anesthesiologists for intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography promote increased utilization?
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether access to reimbursement increases anesthesiologists' use of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).


METHODS
Survey.


METHODS
United States.


METHODS
Members of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists, local Medicare carriers.


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
In year 2000, local Medicare carrier policies specifically allowed some form of reimbursement to the attending anesthesiologist for intraoperative TEE in 15 states, but barred all forms of reimbursement in 16 states and Puerto Rico. Data regarding utilization and billing were available for 702 members of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists from these jurisdictions who used TEE in their anesthetic practice. Billing patterns were found to vary significantly according to the local Medicare policy in effect (p = 0.004). Use of intraoperative TEE was found to be unrelated, however, to the reimbursement available from Medicare (p = 0.2 to 0.7).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of intraoperative TEE by anesthesiologists does not seem to be related to the availability of reimbursement from Medicare.
Morewood
Gordon H
GH
Departments of Anesthesiology and Biostatistics, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Gallagher
Mary E
ME
Gaughan
John P
JP
D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000191:economics*; D039702:Current Procedural Terminology; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D006278:Medicare / Q000191:economics; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D014481:United States