• Matthew R Donaldson and Brett M Coldiron.
• Mountain West Dermatology, Grand Junction, Colorado 81501, USA. mrdonaldson@hush.com
• J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 2013 May 1; 68 (5): 803-8.

BackgroundDermatologists are experts in skin cancer treatment. Their experience with cutaneous reconstruction may be underrecognized.ObjectiveWe sought to determine the percentage of skin reconstruction claims submitted to Medicare by dermatologists relative to other specialists.MethodsThe Medicare Physician Supplier Procedure Master File from 2004 to 2009 was accessed to determine the proportion of layered closures, grafts, and flaps by specialty.ResultsIn 2009, dermatologic surgeons' (DS) claims accounted for 60.8% of intermediate closures, 75.1% of complex repairs, 55.5% of local tissue rearrangements, and 57.5% of full-thickness skin grafts in the Medicare population. DS billed for the majority of skin reconstructions except simple repairs, split-thickness skin grafts, and interpolation flaps. DS claims represented far more reconstructions of aesthetically important regions of the head and neck-including ears, eyes, nose, and lips-than other fields including plastic surgery and otolaryngology. Over the study period, DS increased the percentage of skin reconstructions in nearly every category relative to other specialists.LimitationsThis analysis is limited to the Medicare population and addresses claim volumes only. Cosmetic outcomes or appropriateness of closure selection or coding cannot be addressed.ConclusionsDS perform the highest volumes of repairs in the Medicare population. DS play a primary role in routine and advanced cutaneous reconstructive surgery, especially of aesthetically important regions.Copyright © 2013 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

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