Gender pay gap identified for gastroenterologists

Editor's Note

According to a report by researchers from the University of Virginia Healthcare System, there is a significant gender pay gap in Center for Medical Services (CMS) reimbursements for gastroenterologists, Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News October 19 reports. The findings were reported in this poster presentation as well as first analyzed in a 2022 American Journal of Gastroenterology study titled "Gender Gap in Total CMS Reimbursements for Gastroenterologists: A Medicare Claims Analysis."

Among the findings:

• Only about 23% of gastroenterologists were women in 2019, up from 17.6% in 2017. 
• According to the CMS data, male gastroenterologists billing to Medicare received an average of $94,416.28 a year in payments. Female gastroenterologists received just $56,014.14 a year. 
• Men had higher median total payments ($94,416.28 vs $56,014.14), higher median total services (1,047 vs 633) and higher median unique HCPCS codes billed (39 vs 32). 
• The report notes that on average, physicians receive approximately 19% of their income from treating Medicare patients.

The authors concluded that more studies are needed to get a full understanding of reimbursement inequity and help drive change to address gender pay gaps.