Medicare Advantage Limits Access for Surgical Specialists

Medicare Advantage plans often limit patient access to surgical specialists, which can affect care delivery and outcomes.

• Among 36,584 counties, the average Medicare Advantage network included only 57.6% of surgical specialists.
• Plastic surgery networks had the least access, averaging 47.1%, while vascular, thoracic, and orthopedic networks exceeded 60%.
• Over 1 million enrollees reside in counties with no in-network surgeons, particularly in rural areas.

Surgeons should consider these access gaps when evaluating care options for Medicare Advantage patients, especially in underserved regions.