2015
In 2015, DR (13659) had the highest number of US providers followed by
ENDO (1344), OTO (266) and GS (206) (Figure 1). This accounted for head
and neck ultrasound (HCPCS 76536) charge submissions on medicare
beneficiaries of 505,568, 124,502, 13,490, and 9,298, respectively
(Figure 2). The average numbers of ultrasounds were DR 37.01 ± 0.36,
ENDO 92.64 ± 3.05, OTO 50.71 ± 4.20, and GS 45.12 ± 3.12
(p<0.001). ENDO performed more average US than the other
subspecialties (vs OTO p<0.01, vs GS p<0.01, vs DR
p<0.01). OTO performed more average US than DR
(p<0.01) (Figure 3). There was no difference in average US
performed between OTO and GS and for GS versus DR.
Among surgeons in 2015, OTOs performed more diagnostic HNUS than GSs
(13490 vs 9298) (Figure 4), and the percentage of OTOs performing US
compared to their specialty peers (266/9320, 2.9%) was 3.5 times higher
than GSs (206/25185, 0.82%) (Figure 5).
Charges Submitted
An overall difference existed on ANOVA (p<0.001). There was no
difference between GS and ENDO ($242.34 ± 8.21 vs $243.84 ± 2.98). OTO
($270.35 ± 10.81) was more than the other three (p<0.01).
ENDO and GS were more than DR ($160.36 ± 0.10) (p<0.01)
Reimbursements
Overall ANOVA shows differences existed (p<0.001). ENDO
($79.39 ± 0.61) and OTO ($77.06 ± 1.25) collected the same average,
and also remained higher than both of the other specialties, GS ($65.73
± 1.96, ps<0.01). All three point of care specialties
collected more than DR ($36.55 ± 0.24), ps<0.01)
Superusers
Superuser breakdown included: OTO (27/266, 10.2%) GS (22/206, 10.7%),
ENDO (403/1344, 30.0%), DR (628/13659, 4.6%) (one way ANOVA
p<0.001). Following Tukey HSD, ENDO again had more superusers
(vs OTO p<0.01, vs GS, p<0.01 vs DR
p<0.01). OTO and GS had more than DR (p<0.01 and
p<0.01). There was no difference in superusers between OTO and
GS (Figure 6).