Trends in Soft Palate Surgery and Reimbursements for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Among the Medicare Population

Objectives: This study aims to analyze trends in utilization and reimbursement of soft palate surgery for OSA using the Medicare national database. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the 2000 to 2021 Part B National Summery datafiles using current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes 42145 (uvulopalatopharyngoplasty [UPPP]), 42950 (pharyngoplasty [PP]), and 42140 (uvulectomy [UVU]) was performed. Results: Between 2000 and 2021, the number of OSA surgeries fell 65.7% from 4208 to 1443. UPPP fell 87.6% from 3455 in 2000 to 428 in 2021 (P < .001). UVU also fell in popularity, from 568 to 376 (33.8%; P < .001). In contrast, the performance of PP rose 245.4% over time, from 185 to 639 (P < .001). When comparing 2000 to 2009, both PP and UVU rose in relative use (from 4.4% to 12.3% and from 13.5% to 20.4% of all soft palate OSA surgeries, respectively), while UPPP fell (82.1% to 67.3%; P < .001). Total Medicare payments for all 3 procedures fell 57.2% from $1 658 844 to $633 091 (P < .001). Adjusted total UPPP payments fell 88.7% (P < .001). Adjusted total PP payment rose 137.5% to $262 538 in 2021 (P < .001). Conclusion: Soft palate surgery for OSA has declined amongst the Medicare population over 21 years (2000-2021). The more individualized and tissue sparing PP has risen in popularity but did not overcome the large decline of the traditional UPPP. Accordingly, there was a 75.7% fall in inflation-adjusted reimbursements. Overall, our data indicates a decline in soft palate surgery in the management of geriatric OSA, with modest relative increase in pharyngoplasty procedures.