Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34115665›Full record

ArticleDermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug

Trends in Patch Testing in the Medicare Part B Fee-for-Service Population.

Adarsh Ravishankar, Rebecca L Freese, Helen M Parsons, Erin M Warshaw, Noah Goldfarb

Open access · greenAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
0.8field-weighted citation impact, top 25% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Understanding the Composition of a Comprehensive Otolaryngologist's Practice Through Medicare Reimbursements.Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Adarsh RavishankarFrom the University of Minnesota Medical School.
Rebecca L FreeseBiostatistical Design and Analysis Center, Clinical and Translational Science Institute.
Helen M ParsonsDivision of Healthy Policy and Management, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota.
Erin M WarshawDepartment of Dermatology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System.
Noah Goldfarb
University of Minnesota · USMinneapolis VA Health Care System · USSouthern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute · USUniversity of Minnesota Medical Center · US

Funding

University of Minnesota Clinical and Translational Science Institute (UMN CTSI)UL1TR002494 · NCATS · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · PI BLAZAR, BRUCE R, WEISDORF, DANIEL J · 2018 to 2022
$34.9M
NCATS NIH HHS UL1 TR002494
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPatch testing is a vital component of the workup for allergic contact dermatitis. There are limited data on changes of patch testing use among Medicare providers, as well as patch testing reimbursement rates.

objectiveThe aim of the study was to evaluate trends in the use of patch testing among various Medicare providers and Medicare patch testing reimbursement.

designA longitudinal analysis of patch testing claims was performed with the Medicare Part B Physician/Supplier Procedure Summary files from 2010 to 2018. The primary outcomes were the total number and change in the number of submitted patch testing services from 2010 to 2018 by 3 provider groups: dermatology physicians, nondermatology physicians, and nonphysician providers. Secondary outcome measures included Medicare reimbursement amounts and changes in reimbursement amounts for patch test services (total and per 1000 enrollees) from 2010 to 2018 for the 3 provider groups, as well as per patch test service.

resultsFrom 2010 to 2018, submitted patch testing services per 1000 enrollees grew by 89.0%. The annual trend estimate for submitted services relative to 2010 was +10.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 8.1 to 12.0) for physicians and +34.1% (95% CI = 32.1 to 36.0) for nonphysician providers (physician assistants and nurse practitioners). Among physicians, the annual trend estimate for submitted services was +5.1% (95% CI = -11.3 to 21.5) for dermatologists and +31.40% (95% CI = 15.00 to 47.81) for allergists.

conclusionsPatch testing increased in the US Medicare population from 2010 to 2018, and this increase was largely driven by nonphysician providers and allergists.

Indexed as

Dermatitis, Allergic ContactMedicare Part BAgedHumansPatch TestsUnited States

Identifiers

PMID34115665
PMCPMC8655313
OpenAlexW3171311537

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.