Tsilimigras DI, Hyer JM, Chen Q, et al. - Since use of minimally invasive liver surgery (MILS) in clinical practice is increasing, researchers focused on characterizing inter-surgeon variability in operative approach (MILS vs open) and also the effect of providers on the probability of receiving MILS. They selected Medicare beneficiaries who received hepatectomy between 2013 – 2017, by reviewing the Medicare 100% Standard Analytic Files. A lower chance of receiving MILS was observed in male patients, while a higher chance of MILS was noted in patients operated on more recently for a cancer indication. Experts found 36% lower chance of mortality within 90-days in patients who received a MILS performed by a high-volume MILS surgeon. Overall, findings demonstrated a heavy impact of individual surgeon provider, rather than of patient- or procedure-related factors, on the chance of receiving MILS as well as on post-operative death. Results revealed a nearly two-fold variation in the odds that a patient had MILS vs open hepatectomy depending on the individual surgeon provider, after controlling for patient- and procedure-related characteristics.