Disparities in Cost and Access by Caseload for Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: An Analysis of 18,616 Cases

Abstract

Background: Surgeon caseload has been shown to affect both health and economic outcomes in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Although previous studies have investigated disparities in access to care, little is known about disparities between low- and high-volume surgeons and facilities. Purpose: To identify where disparities may exist regarding access to high-volume surgeons and facilities. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Univariate analysis was performed to analyze differences in the caseload between low- and high-volume surgeons and facilities. Cutoff values were set at 50 cases per year for high-volume surgeons and 125 cases annually for high-volume facilities. Multiple linear regression was then used to develop a cost model incorporating all variables significant under univariate analysis. We collected 18,616 cases with Current Procedural Terminology code 29827 (“arthroscopic rotator cuff repair”) from the 2014 Florida State Ambulatory Surgery and Services Databases. Results: A greater proportion of the caseload for low-volume surgeons and facilities was composed of patients who were of lower socioeconomic status, had government-subsidized insurance, or lived in areas with low-income ZIP codes. Low-volume surgeons and facilities also had higher total charges, higher postoperative admission rates, and lower distal clavicle excision rates (P