Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To develop and test a method for comparing the appropriateness of hysterectomy use in different health plans.

DESIGN:

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING:

Seven managed care organizations.

PATIENTS:

Random sample of all nonemergency, non-oncological hysterectomies performed in the seven managed care organizations over a 1-year period. Patients who were not continuously enrolled in a plan for 2 years prior to their hysterectomy were excluded.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Proportion of women undergoing hysterectomy in each plan for inappropriate clinical reasons according to ratings derived from a panel of managed care physicians.

RESULTS:

Overall, about 16% of women underwent hysterectomy for reasons judged to be clinically inappropriate. Only one plan had significantly more hysterectomies rated inappropriate compared with the group mean (27%, unadjusted). Adjusting for age and race did not affect the rankings of the plans and had little effect on the numeric results.

CONCLUSION:

The rates of inappropriate use of hysterectomies are similar to those for other procedures and vary to a small degree among health plans. This information may be useful to purchasers when they consider which health plans to offer their employees.