Declining Medicare Reimbursement for Total Ankle Arthroplasty: A Comparison of Podiatrists and Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2014 to 2023

Key Points

• This research aims to analyze the changes in Medicare reimbursement rates for total ankle arthroplasty from 2014 to 2023.
• Comparative analysis of reimbursement rates for foot and ankle surgeons over a nine-year period.
• Assessment of trends in payment reductions for podiatrists versus orthopaedic surgeons.
• Medicare reimbursements for total ankle arthroplasty declined markedly between 2014 and 2023.
• The reductions in reimbursement may negatively impact practice sustainability for foot and ankle surgeons.
• Patient access to specialized reconstructive care could be threatened by these declining payments.