Trends in Medicare Reimbursement for Breast Procedures

Inflation-adjusted Medicare reimbursements for breast procedures declined substantially from 2010 to 2024, with the steepest losses in implant-based reconstruction. Geographic adjustments increased payments in higher-cost cities but did not fully account for differences in cost of living or local inflation. As a result, reimbursement trends often lagged behind regional economic conditions, raising concerns about long-term practice sustainability and equitable access to reconstruction.