Trends and postoperative outcomes of thyroidectomy after expansion and rise of health insurance deductibles in the fiscal year

Robert E Africa; Sepehr Shabani; Orly M Coblens; Brian J McKinnon

doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2024.104312

Trends and postoperative outcomes of thyroidectomy after expansion and rise of health insurance deductibles in the fiscal year

Am J Otolaryngol. 2024 Apr 20;45(4):104312. doi: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2024.104312. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Robert E Africa¹, Sepehr Shabani², Orly M Coblens², Brian J McKinnon²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. Electronic address: reafrica@utmb.edu.
² Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.

PMID: 38657532
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2024.104312

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate a relationship between expansion of High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) and the number of thyroid surgery cases with associated postoperative outcomes in the fiscal year.

Methods: Data from TriNetX was used to evaluate the trends in thyroid surgery from 2005 and 2021 between the end of the year (Quarter 4) and the beginning of the year (Quarter 1). Risk of postoperative outcomes were statistically interrogated.

Results: The average rate of thyroid surgery in cases/year between Quarter 4 and Quarter 1 was similar after expansion of HDHPs (152; 146; p = 0.64). There was no increased risk of postoperative complications. The rate of surgery decreased significantly for patients with Medicare after implementation of the revised American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines (Quarter 4: p = 0.03; Quarter 1: p = 0.02).

Conclusions: Patients are less likely to delay thyroid surgery at the end of the year despite higher deductibles.

Keywords: Big data; Deductible; Health insurance; Health plan; Thyroidectomy.