For Women Neurosurgeons, the Gender Pay Gap Is Significant

A new study led by researchers at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, used Medicare Fee-for-Service Provider Utilization and Payment Data from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2020, to assess Medicare reimbursement among neurosurgeons. They found that women neurosurgeons received 44 percent less in annual payments than men.

The study sample included 6,052 neurosurgeons — 5,540 men and 512 women. Between 2013 and 2020, the number of neurosurgeons serving Medicare beneficiaries grew from 4,361 to 4,897, with the number of female neurosurgeons rising from 268 to 408.

Women neurosurgeons billed Medicare for $395 851.62, compared to $766 006.80 for men. Women neurosurgeons were reimbursed an average of $69 520.89, compared to $124 324.64 for men. After controlling for volume and experience, women still received $24,885.29 less than men per year.

The full study, “Gender Differences in Medicare Practice and Payments to Neurosurgeons,” was published on the website of JAMA Surgery. It may be accessed here.