Variation in Practice Patterns and Reimbursements Between Female and Male Urologists for Medicare Beneficiaries

Key Points Question Do practice patterns, reimbursements, and geographic distribution of urologists who treat Medicare beneficiaries differ by urologist sex? Findings In this population-based cohort study of 8665 US urologists who received Medicare payments in 2016, statistically significant differences in practice patterns and payments were found for female urologists, including considerable geographic gaps in access to these physicians (ie, one-third of hospital markets had 0 female urologists for Medicare beneficiaries). Meaning Female urologists appeared to provide unique care for more female Medicare beneficiaries and to perform more female-specific care, but a wide variation in geographic concentration of urologists based on urologist sex was found.