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Abstract Background The medical pricing system strongly influences physicians’ job satisfaction and patient health outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the current relative value unit (RVU)-based pricing and utility of patients in commonly performed surgical procedures in South Korea. Methods Fifteen common surgical procedures were selected from OECD statistics, and three additional orthopedic procedures were examined. The current pricing of each surgical procedure was retrieved from the Korea National Health Insurance Service, and the corresponding utilities were obtained as quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gains from previous studies. The relationship between the current prices (RVUs) and the patients’ utility (incremental QALY gains/year) was analyzed. Subgroup analysis was performed between fatal and non-fatal procedures and between orthopedic and non-orthopedic procedures. Results A significant negative correlation (r = − 0.558, p

The evolving COVID-19 pandemic has unevenly affected academic medical centers (AMCs), which are experiencing resource-constraints and liquidity challenges while at the same time facing high pressures to improve patient access and clinical outcomes. Technological advancements in the field of data analytics can enable AMCs to achieve operational efficiencies and improve bottom-line expectations. While there are vetted analytical tools available to track physician productivity, there is a significant paucity of analytical instruments described in the literature to adequately track clinical and financial productivity of physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) employed at AMCs. Moreover, there is no general guidance on the development of a dashboard to track PA/NP clinical and financial productivity at the individual, department, or enterprise level. At our institution, there was insufficient tracking of PA/NP productivity across many clinical areas within the enterprise. Thus, the aim of the project is to leverage our institution's existing visualization tools coupled with the right analytics to track PA/NP productivity trends using a dashboard report.MethodsWe created an intuitive and customizable highly visual clinical/financial analytical dashboard to track productivity of PAs/NPs employed at our AMC.ResultsThe APP financial and clinical dashboard is organized into two main components. The volume-based key performance indicators (KPIs) included work relative value units (wRVUs), gross charges, collections (payments), and payer-mix. The session utilization (KPIs) included (e.g., new versus return patient ratios, encounter type, visit volume, and visits per session by provider). After successful piloting, the dashboard was deployed across multiple specialty areas and results showed improved data transparency and reliable tracking of PAs/NPs productivity across the enterprise. The dashboard analytics were also helpful in assessing PA/NP recruitment requests, independent practice sessions, and performance expectations.ConclusionTo our knowledge, this is the first paper to highlight steps AMCs can take in developing, validating, and deploying a financial/clinical dashboard specific to PAs/NPs. However, empirical research is needed to assess the impact of qualitative and quantitative dashboards on provider engagement, revenue, and quality of care.

Background: The medical pricing system strongly influences physicians' job satisfaction and patient health outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the current relative value unit (RVU)-based pricing and utility of patients in commonly performed surgical procedures in South Korea. Methods: Fifteen common surgical procedures were selected from OECD statistics, and three additional orthopedic procedures were examined. The current pricing of each surgical procedure was retrieved from the Korea National Health Insurance Service, and the corresponding utilities were obtained as quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gains from previous studies. The relationship between the current prices (RVUs) and the patients' utility (incremental QALY gains/year) was analyzed. Subgroup analysis was performed between fatal and non-fatal procedures and between orthopedic and non-orthopedic procedures. Results: A significant negative correlation (r = − 0.558, p < 0.001) was observed between RVU and incremental QALY among all 18 procedures. The fatal subgroup had a significantly higher RVU than the non-fatal subgroup (p < 0.05), while the former had a significantly lower incremental QALY than the latter (p < 0.001). Orthopedic procedures showed higher incremental QALY values than non-orthopedic procedures, but they did not show higher prices (RVU). Conclusions: This paradoxical relationship between current prices and patient utility is attributed to the higher pricing of surgical procedures for fatal and urgent conditions. Orthopedic surgery has been found to be a cost-effective treatment strategy. These findings could contribute to a better understanding of the potential role of incremental QALY in pursuing value-based purchasing or reasonable modification of the current medical fee schedule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In anticipation of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the Total Posterior Spine (TOPS) system, the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery (ISASS) conducted a study to estimate the work relative value units (RVUs) for facet arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to establish a valuation of work RVU for Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Code 0202T in the interim until the Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) can determine an appropriate value. The valuation established from this survey will assist surgeons to establish appropriate procedure reimbursement from third-party payers. Methods: A survey was created and sent to 52 surgeons who had experience implanting the TOPS system during the investigational device exemption clinical trial. The survey included a patient vignette, a description of CPT Code 0202T along with a video of the TOPS system, and a confirmation question about the illustration's effectiveness. Respondents were asked to compare the work involved in CPT Code 0202T to 8 lumbar spine procedures. A Rasch analysis was performed to estimate the relative difficulty of CPT 0202T using the work RVUs of the comparable procedures. Results: Forty-one surgeons responded to the survey. Of all the procedures, CPT Code 0202T received the most responses for equal work compared with posterior osteotomy (46%) followed by transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (41%). The results of the regression analysis indicate a work RVU for CPT 0202T of 39.47. Conclusion: The study found an estimated work RVU of 39.47 for CPT Code 0202T using Rasch analysis. As an alternative to this Rasch methodology, one may consider a crosswalk methodology to the work RVUs for transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion procedurally, not as an alternative code. Clinical Relevance: These recommendations are not a substitute for RUC methodology but serve as a reference for physicians and third-party payers to understand work RVU similarities for charge and payment purposes temporarily until RUC methodology provides accurate RVUs for the procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To study trends in volume and reimbursement for percutaneous kidney biopsy (PKB) by physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs) for Medicare enrollees from 2011–2021. Methods: Claims from the Medicare Part B Physician/Supplier Procedure Master File (a national Medicare database) for 2011-2021 were extracted using Current Procedural Terminology codes for PKB. Total volumes were compared by provider specialty. Non-facility reimbursement, work Relative Value Unit (RVU) non-facility practice expense RVU, and malpractice RVU were compared. Results: Between 2011 and 2021, total volume of PKB by physicians and APPs increased from 30,753 to 34,090 (10.9%), with a peak of 37,882 in 2019 prior to the COVID 19 pandemic. Radiology performed the majority of procedures during the study period. Relative share for radiology increased from 67.6% to 81.1% while the relative share for internal medicine/nephrology decreased from 24.3% to 14.3%, accelerating between 2019 and 2020. Volume and relative share for APPs marginally increased (from 0.9% to 1.2%). Non-facility reimbursement decreased from $578.96 in 2010 to $568.76 in 2021 (1.7%), work RVU decreased from 2.63 to 2.38 (9.5%), non-facility practice expense RVU decreased from 14.10 to 13.71 (2.8%), and malpractice RVU decreased from 0.31 to 0.21 (32.3%). Conclusion: Volume and total share of PKB performed by radiology increased over the study period. Conversely, internal medicine/nephrology performed fewer kidney biopsies. Despite the expanding role for APPs in other image-guided procedures, very few PKBs were performed by APPs throughout the study period. Reimbursement and RVU for PKB declined over the study period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanisms for Medicare payment to physicians are complicated and, in fee for service Medicare, the value of a procedure code explicitly determines the payment to the physician and the out-of-pocket cost to the beneficiary. These codes are created and then valued for payment through a complex but reproducible and transparent process that allows for physician and specialty society input. This article describes the process and its implications for interventional radiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundCoronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a novel disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) that rapidly spread around the globe. The dramatic increase in the number of cases and deaths have placed tremendous strain on health care systems worldwide. As health care workers and society adjust to focus treatment and prevention of COVID-19, other facets of the health care enterprise are affected, particularly surgical volume and revenue. The purpose of this study was to describe the financial impact of COVID-19 on an academic neurosurgery department.MethodsA retrospective review of weekly average daily work relative value units (wRVUs) were compared before and after COVID-19 in the fiscal year 2020. A comparative time period of the same months in the year prior was also included for review. We also review strategies for triaging neurosurgical disease as needing emergent, urgent, or routine operative treatment.ResultsDaily average wRVU after COVID-19 dropped significantly with losses in all weeks examined. Of the 7 weeks in the current post-COVID period, the weekly daily average wRVU was 173 (range, 128-363). The mean decline was 51.4% compared with the pre-COVID era. Both inpatient and outpatient revenue was affected.ConclusionsCOVID-19 had a profound detrimental effect on surgical productivity and revenue generation.

Background: Aside from single-center reports, few data exist across pediatric institutions that examine overall MRI turnaround time (TAT) and the determinants of variability. Objective: To determine average duration and determinants of a brain MRI examination at academic pediatric institutions and compare the duration to those used in practice expense relative value units (RVUs). Materials and methods: This multi-institutional cross-sectional investigation comprised four academic pediatric hospitals. We included children ages 0 to < 18 years who underwent an outpatient MRI of the brain without contrast agent in 2019. Our outcome of interest was the overall MRI TAT derived by time stamps. We estimated determinants of overall TAT using an adjusted log-transformed multivariable linear regression model with robust standard errors. Results: The average overall TAT significantly varied among the four hospitals. A sedated brain MRI ranged from 158 min to 224 min, a non-sedated MRI from 70 min to 112 min, and a limited MRI from 44 min to 70 min. The most significant predictor of a longer overall TAT was having a sedated MRI (coefficient = 0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.66–0.75; P < 0.001). The median MRI scan time for a non-sedated exam was 38 min and for a sedated exam, 37 min, approximately double the duration used by the Relative Value Scale (RVS) Update Committee (RUC). Conclusion: We found considerable differences in the overall TAT across four pediatric academic institutions. Overall, the significant predictors of turnaround times were hospital site and MRI pathway (non-sedated versus sedated versus limited MRI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to estimate the physician work effort for formal written breast radiology second-opinion reports of imaging performed at outside facilities, to compare this effort with a per-report credit system, and to estimate the downstream value of subsequent services provided by the radiology department and institution at a National Comprehensive Cancer Network-designated comprehensive cancer center.Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of consecutive reports for "outside film review" from July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2018. The number and types of breast imaging studies reinterpreted for each individual patient request were tabulated for requests for a 3-month sample from each year. Physician effort was estimated on the basis of the primary interpretation CMS fee schedule for work relative value units (wRVUs) for the study-specific Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code and study type. This effort was compared with the interpreting radiologist credit of 0.44 wRVUs per report. Subsequent imaging and evaluation and management encounters generated by these second-opinion patient requests were tracked through June 30, 2019.Results: For the 3-year period reviewed, 2,513 unique patient requests were identified, averaging 837 per fiscal year. For January to March of 2016, 2017, and 2018, 645 unique patient reports were identified. For these reports, 2,216 studies were reinterpreted, with an estimated physician effort of 2,660 wRVUs compared with 284 wRVUs on the basis of per-report credit. The range of annualized wRVUs for all outside studies interpreted and credited per specific CPT code was 3,135 to 3,804 (mean, 3,547). However, the institutional relative value unit credit received for fiscal years 2015, 2016, and 2017, on the basis of the number of patient requests, was only 385, 375, and 345 wRVUs, respectively.Conclusions: This study demonstrates the substantial work effort necessary to provide formal second-opinion interpretations for breast imaging studies at a National Comprehensive Cancer Network cancer center. The authors believe that these data support billing for the study-specific CPT code and crediting the radiologist with the full wRVUs for each study reinterpreted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 has resulted in decreases in absolute imaging volumes, however imaging utilization on a per-patient basis has not been reported. Here we compare per-patient imaging utilization, characterized by imaging studies and work relative value units (wRVUs), in an emergency department (ED) during a COVID-19 surge to the same period in 2019. This retrospective study included patients presenting to the ED from April 1–May 1, 2020 and 2019. Patients were stratified into three primary subgroups: all patients (n = 9580, n = 5686), patients presenting with respiratory complaints (n = 1373, n = 2193), and patients presenting without respiratory complaints (n = 8207, n = 3493). The primary outcome was imaging studies/patient and wRVU/patient. Secondary analysis was by disposition and COVID status. Comparisons were via the Wilcoxon rank-sum or Chi-squared tests. The total patients, imaging exams, and wRVUs during the 2020 and 2019 periods were 5686 and 9580 (−41%), 6624 and 8765 (−24%), and 4988 and 7818 (−36%), respectively, and the percentage patients receiving any imaging was 67% and 51%, respectively (p <.0001). In 2020 there was a 170% relative increase in patients presenting with respiratory complaints. In 2020, patients without respiratory complaints generated 24% more wRVU/patient (p <.0001) and 33% more studies/patient (p <.0001), highlighted by 38% more CTs/patient. We report increased per-patient imaging utilization in an emergency department during COVID-19, particularly in patients without respiratory complaints. • During a COVID-19 surge, patients in the ED without respiratory complaints generated more wRVUs and studies/patient. • There was a 170% relative increase in patients presenting to the ED with respiratory complaints. • Despite 24% absolute volume contraction, wRVU/patient and studies/patient increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The determination of accurate measures of evaluating surgeon work for reimbursement is poorly characterized. This study defines the correlation of surgical work relative value units (work RVUs) with several surrogate objective measures for otolaryngologic work. The defined surrogate objective measures evaluated in this study are length of hospital stay (LOS), operative time, 30-day mortality, 30-day unplanned readmission, 30-day reoperation, and 30-day morbidity. Methods: We collected data on otolaryngologic cases from 2016 to 2018 from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to associate work RVUs with objective measures of surgeon work. Linear regressions were used to identify predictors of work RVUs from the surrogate objective measures. Studentized residuals were used to identify outlying procedures. Results: Work RVUs correlated strongly with operative time (R=0.6775), 30-day readmission (R=0.6100), and LOS (R=0.6083); moderately with 30-day reoperation (R=0.5257) and 30-day morbidity (R=0.4842); and very weakly with 30-day mortality (R=0.1383). The best predictors for work RVUs based on multivariable linear regression analysis were morbidity, reoperation, and operative time. Analysis revealed that the projected work RVU is 12.23 units higher than the current value for excision of bone, mandible (Current Procedural Terminology [CPT] code 21025) and 19.48 units lower than the current value for resection/excision of lesion infratemporal fossa space apex extradural (CPT code 61605). Conclusion: Using objective surrogate measures for time and intensity of physician work in head and neck cases may improve work RVU assignment accuracy compared to the current system of physician survey. Future investigation with additional objective parameters may be beneficial to make work RVU assignments less subjective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The unsustainable rising costs of healthcare, a greater portion of which is being borne by the federal government, has resulted in the government's development of programs aimed to control costs without adversely affecting outcomes.Methods/results: Alternative Payment Models, the shift from inpatient to outpatient and ambulatory surgery centers' surgical venues, and Relative Value Update Committee coding and reimbursement strategies are all designed to achieve the aforementioned goal. These programs will continue to influence our practice patterns.Conclusion: It is clear that we must continue to advocate for access to high quality care reimbursed at a fair price. It is also clear that the successful adult reconstructive surgeon will understand these programs and adjust his/her practice to take full advantage of the opportunities that these programs present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The goal of this research was to evaluate trends in gynecologic surgical reimbursement and to determine the factors affecting compensation. Materials and Methods: Procedure codes representing a comprehensive list of gynecologic surgical procedures were used to calculate the mean annual reimbursements from 2012 to 2017. Medicare compensation trends for all gynecologic procedures and trends for hysterectomies were evaluated with and without adjustment for inflation, using data from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. The impact of the constituent components of physician billing was evaluated using linear regression. Results: Overall gynecologic surgical billing was flat with an insignificant increase of $12–$18 (2.5%–4.0%) during the study period. While the conversion factor increased significantly (5.2%) over time, the other major inputs to billing were flat. The most important determinant of compensation was the work relative value unit (wRVU). Using a regression model, a 1-point increase in the wRVU increased billing by $36.87. Laparoscopic hysterectomy reimbursement decreased significantly over time (p = 0.001). The mean reimbursement for laparoscopic hysterectomies dropped by 14.2% after changes to the relative value assignment were adjusted for these procedures. Conclusions: Gynecologic surgical reimbursement has been essentially flat over time. Reimbursement for laparoscopic hysterectomy has declined over time significantly. This inequity will only be magnified as hysterectomies shift to minimally invasive techniques. The most-effective method to maintain or improve overall gynecologic surgical compensation is to increase the assigned relative value unit for high-volume procedures such as hysterectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgeon providers and billing professionals use Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes to specify patient treatment and associated charges. In the present study, coding discrepancies between surgeons' first pass coding and employed coders' final codes were investigated. A total of 500 patients over 3 months were retrospectively analyzed for coding discrepancies. To quantify the impact of change, codes with the most accumulated discrepancies were studied and change to annual relative value unit (RVU) was determined. Final submission of codes to billing demonstrated a 161% increase in total codes by the professional coders, versus original surgeon-derived codes (1594 vs 987 CPT codes). The most common source of change between the surgeon and coder was the addition of distinct codes by the billing professional (270 patients, 54.51%). These results demonstrate the existence of coding discrepancies. Future investigation will evaluate the communication between surgeons and billing professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periprosthetic infection (PJI) remains a challenging complication in total shoulder arthroplasty. Surgical treatment options can include 1 or 2-stage revision procedures, temporizing articulating spacers, and resection arthroplasty, with many cases resulting in transfer of patient care to a tertiary care center. While these cases can impose significant cost and clinical burden for both surgeons and hospital systems, there is limited data about the operative time investment and reimbursement compared to aseptic revision cases. The purpose of the current study was to compare work relative value units and operative times for aseptic and septic shoulder arthroplasty revision procedures. We hypothesize that staged, PJI-related revision shoulder arthroplasty is associated with significant differences in operative time and work relative value units assigned as compared to aseptic revisions. This study utilized data obtained from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP). Inclusion criteria included all patients that underwent a revision total shoulder arthroplasty between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2018. Procedures were grouped as either aseptic or septic revisions and further stratified into 1 stage and each stage of a 2-stage revision for septic cases. The RVU-to-dollar conversion factor was provided by the United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This was used to obtain total reimbursement and reimbursement per minute estimates. When assessing the ratio of RVUs per minute of operative time across the groups, we found that the second stage of a 2-stage septic revision had a significantly lower RVU per minute operative time ratio (0.25) when compared to both the aseptic 2-component revision (0.34) and the first stage of a 2-stage septic revision (0.29). This translated to a significantly lower dollar per minute operative time value. The current study found that the second stage of a 2-stage septic revision was undervalued in the number of RVUs per minute of operative time when compared to an aseptic revision or even its first stage counterpart. An adjustment or redistribution of relative value units for these procedures may offset the disproportionate clinical burdens encountered with definitive treatment of these complications. Level III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the modern economic conditions, the rational planning of costs and the complex process optimization are essential requirements to all organizations. Knowledge of costs is needed to correctly assess the economic performance of an organization. Competent and timely correction of tariffs for the obligatory medical insurance and rationalization of the requested financing of the medical organization depends on this assessment. In the present study, we analyze various methods of personalized cost accounting: the ratio of costs to charges (RCC); relative value unit (RVU); time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC), and the possibility of their adaptation to the specific needs of medical organizations. The personalized cost accounting incorporated into a medical information system allows for controlling, planning and carrying out a close internal management of financial activity. This function helps decision-makers: control the use of funds for medical care provision; increase the efficiency of management decisions; justify the prices of paid medical services; define the deficit and surplus work units; analyze the treatment cost for each patient, considering the diagnosis, method of treatment, age and other classification signs, including the reference to specialized departments; reduce the unnecessary “paper” work load on the medical personnel; model the future needs of the organization in accordance with the planned changes in the hospitalization policy; optimize, control and plan the budget with regard to the established standards of financial expenses. Implementation of this approach is expected to increase the work efficiency in most medical organizations and the entire healthcare system.

Objectives: Physician compensation for procedures is typically rooted in the work relative value unit (wRVU) system. Operative time is one of the factors that goes into the determination of wRVU assignment. There should be consistency between the wRVU/hr rate, irrespective of average operative time required to perform certain procedures. We investigate if wRVU assignment for otolaryngology procedures adequately accounts for increased operative time. Study Design: Retrospective analysis of a surgical database. Methods: NSQIP was queried from 2015–2018 for the top 50 most frequently performed otolaryngology Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes completed as standalone procedures. Median operative time was determined for each CPT code, and wRVU/hr was calculated. Correlations between operative time, wRVU, and wRVU/hr were investigated using linear regression analysis. A secondary analysis using complication rate as an indicator for procedure complexity was performed to examine the relation between wRVUs and complication rates. Results: Fifty CPT codes containing 64,084 patients where only one code was reported were included in this analysis. The median operative time was 84 minutes, median wRVU was 11.23, and median wRVU/hour was 7.96. Linear regression analysis demonstrated a strong positive correlation between operative time and wRVU assignment (R2 = 0.805, P <.001). Further analysis found no correlation between operative time and wRVU/hr (R2 = 0.008, P =.525). Linear regression of wRVU/hr and complication rate showed a statistically significant positive correlation (R2 = 0.113, P =.017). Conclusion: This analysis suggests that compensation for otolaryngology procedures is positively correlated with operative time. Surgeries where more than one code is reported could not be evaluated, thus excluding some common combination of procedures performed by otolaryngologists. Level of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:E395–E400, 2021 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the impact of electronic health record (EHR) systems on physician productivity in terms of a concept called “relative value unit (RVU) intensity.” The researcher gathered 10 years of productivity data from 20 physicians in an effort to understand how the implementation of an EHR system impacted productivity. Through the evaluation of this data, the researcher identified the overall impact of the implementation impact of the EHR on the practice as well as the impact of the system on the mean individual RVUs generated per patient visit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic radiologists spend considerable amounts of time and effort providing nonclinical value-added services in the realms of teaching, research, and administration that are not reimbursable through traditional relative value units (RVUs) under the resource-based relative value scale. Numerous systems of academic RVUs have been proposed by medicine, surgery, and radiology programs to measure and reward these nonclinical contributions. In this article the authors (1) describe the traditional clinical RVU model of reimbursement; (2) review attempts to develop academic compensation models targeted toward research, teaching, and administration; and (3) describe possible models for academic productivity compensation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The costs of 5-year local control and overall survival benefits of radiotherapy have been demonstrated. • The cost of radiotherapy was AU$23,585 per 5-yeal local control and AU$86,480 per 5-year overall survival. • The cost of AU$86,480 per 5-year overall survival would translate to AU$17,296 per life year gained. • Radiotherapy is inexpensive if delivered optimally according to evidence based guidelines. Escalating health care costs have led to greater efforts directed at measuring the cost and benefits of medical treatments. The aim of this study was to estimate the costs of 5-year local control and overall survival benefits of radiotherapy for the cancer population in Australia. The local control and overall survival benefits of radiotherapy at 5-years and optimal number of fractions per course have been estimated for 26 tumour sites for which radiotherapy is indicated. For this study, a hybrid approach that merges features from activity based costing (ABC) and relative value units costing (RVU) were used to provide cost estimates. ABC methodology was used to allocate costs to all radiotherapy activities associated with each patient's treatment course, while the RVUs represent the cost of each radiotherapy activity relative to the average cost of all activities and were used to achieve a weighted cost allocation. A patient's journey for the financial year was constructed by consolidating all the radiotherapy activities and their associated costs, and the average cost per activity (fraction) was determined. The cost of radiotherapy per 5-year overall survival and local control was then estimated. The estimated population 5-year local control and overall survival benefits of radiotherapy for all cancer were 23% and 6%, respectively. The optimal number of fractions per treatment course if guidelines were followed was 19.4 fractions. The average cost per fraction for all cancer was AU$276. The estimated cost of radiotherapy was AU$23,585 per 5-year local control and AU$86,480 per 5-year overall survival (equivalent to 5 life years) for all cancer. The cost of AU$86,480 per 5-year overall survival would translate to AU$17,296 1-year overall survival. Therefore, the cost of radiotherapy is inexpensive if delivered optimally. Policy implications from this study include knowledge about cost to deliver radiotherapy to allow one to quantify the expected benefit at a population level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the effects an incentive-based physician compensation model has on safety outcomes related to outpatient otolaryngology surgical procedures.Study Design: A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database assessing the difference in outpatient surgical volume and postoperative adverse outcomes before and after the implementation of a relative value unit (RVU)-based payment structure.Setting: Single-center academic otolaryngology practice operating at a hospital-owned ambulatory surgery center.Subjects and Methods: Data prospectively collected from outpatient otolaryngology surgical cases performed at the surgery center from April 2013 to April 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Equal pre-RVU and post-RVU study periods were calculated for 4 surgeons based on their chronological transition in payment structure (range, 46-56 months). Case volume and incidence rates of adverse outcomes, including postoperative infections, emergency department visits, unplanned hospital admissions, and returns to the operating room, were compared between the pre-RVU and post-RVU study periods at both the surgeon and group levels.Results: At the group level, the post-RVU period was associated with a higher volume of surgical cases ( P = .001). No significant differences were observed in the overall incidence of adverse outcomes ( P = .21) or among the specific rates of postoperative hospitalizations ( P = .39), infections ( P = .45), unplanned returns to the operating room ( P = 1.00), or emergency department visits ( P = .39). Comparable results were observed at the individual surgeon level.Conclusion: The implementation of an incentive-based salary was not associated with a change in the incidence of adverse safety outcomes in the setting of increased outpatient otolaryngology procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate a new academic relative-value unit (aRVU) scoring system linked to faculty compensation and analyze its association with overall departmental academic productivity. Summary Background Data: Faculty are often not incentivized or financially compensated for educational and research activities crucial to the academic mission. Methods: We launched an online, self-reporting aRVU system in 2015 to document and incentivize the academic productivity of our faculty. The system captured 65 specific weighted scores in 5 major categories of research, education, innovation, academic service, and peer review activities. The aRVU scores were rank-aggregated annually, and bonuses were distributed to faculty members in 3 tiers: top 10%, top third, and top half. We compared pre-aRVU (academic year 2015) to post-aRVU (academic year 2017) departmental achievement metrics. Results: Since 2015, annual aRVU bonuses totaling $493,900 were awarded to 59 faculty members (58% of eligible department faculty). Implementing aRVUs was associated with significant increases in several key departmental academic achievement metrics: presentations (579 to 862; P = 0.02; 49% increase), publications (390 to 446; P = 0.02; 14%), total research funding ($4.6M to $8.4M; P < 0.001; 83%), NIH funding ($0.6M to $3.4M; P < 0.001; 467%), industry-sponsored clinical trials (8 to 23; P = 0.002; 188%), academic society committee positions (226 to 298; P < 0.001; 32%), and editorial leadership positions (50 to 74; P = 0.01; 48%). Conclusions: Implementing an aRVU system was associated with increases in departmental academic productivity. Although other factors undoubtedly contributed to these increases, an aRVU program may represent an important mechanism for tracking and rewarding academic productivity in surgery departments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To design and implement a formal otolaryngology inpatient consultation service that improves satisfaction of consulting services, increases educational opportunities, improves the quality of patient care, and ensures sustainability after implementation.Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study in a large academic medical center encompassing all inpatient otolaryngology service consultations from July 2005 to June 2014. Staged interventions included adding fellow coverage (July 2007 onward), intermittent hospitalist coverage (July 2010 onward), and a physician assistant (October 2011 onward). Billing data were collected for incidences of new patient and subsequent consultation charges. The 2-year preimplementation period (July 2005-June 2007) was compared with the postimplementation periods, divided into 2-year blocks (July 2007-June 2013). Outcome measures of patient encounters and work relative value units were compared between pre- and postimplementation blocks.Results: Total encounters increased from 321 preimplementation to 1211, 1347, and 1073 in postimplementation groups (P < 0.001). Total work relative value units increased from 515 preimplementation to 2090, 1934, and 1273 in postimplementation groups (P < 0.001).Conclusions: A formal inpatient consultation service was designed with supervisory oversight by non-Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education fellows and then expanded to include intermittent hospitalist management, followed by the addition of a dedicated physician assistant. These additions have led to the formation of a sustainable consultation service that supports the mission of high-quality care and service to consulting teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Relative value units (RVUs) are used to evaluate the effort required for providing a service to patients in order to determine compensation. Thus, more complicated cases, like revision arthroplasty cases, should yield a greater compensation. However, there are limited data comparing RVUs to the time required to complete the service. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to compare the (1) mean RVUs, (2) mean operative times, and (3) mean RVU/minute between primary and revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) and (4) perform an individualized idealized surgeon annual cost difference analysis.Methods: A total of 103,702 patients who underwent primary (current procedural terminology code 27130) and 7273 patients who underwent revision THA (current procedural terminology code 27134) were identified using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Mean RVUs, operative times (minutes), and RVU/minute were calculated and compared using Student t-test. Dollar amount per minute, per case, per day, and year was calculated to find an individualized idealized surgeon annual cost difference.Results: The mean RVU was 21.24 ± 0.53 (range, 20.72-21.79) for primary and 30.27 ± 0.03 (range, 30.13-30.28) for revision THA (P < .001). The mean operative time for primary THA was 94 ± 38 minutes (range, 30-480 minutes) and 152 ± 75 minutes (range, 30-475 minutes) for revision THA (P < .001). The mean RVU/minute was 0.260 ± 0.10 (range, 0.04-0.73) for primary and 0.249 ± 0.12 (range, 0.06-1.0) for revision cases (P < .001). The dollar amounts calculated for primary vs revision THA were as follows: per minute ($9.33 vs $8.93), per case ($877.12 vs $1358.32), per day ($6139.84 vs $5433.26), and a projected $113,052.28 annual cost difference for an individual surgeon.Conclusion: Maximizing the RVU/minute provides the greatest "hourly rate." The RVU/minute for primary (0.260) being significantly greater than revision THA (0.249) and an annualized $113,052.28 cost difference reveal that although revision THAs are more complex cases requiring longer operative time, greater technical skill, and aftercare, compensation per time is not greater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To study state Medicaid reimbursement rates for inpatient and outpatient otolaryngology services and to compare with federal Medicare benchmarks. Study Design State and federal database query. Setting Not applicable. Methods Based on Medicare claims data, 26 of the most common Current Procedural Terminology codes reimbursed to otolaryngologists were selected and the payments recorded. These were further divided into outpatient and operative services. Medicaid payment schemes were queried for the same services in 49 states and Washington, DC. The difference in Medicaid and Medicare payment in dollars and percentage was determined and the reimbursement per relative value unit calculated. Medicaid reimbursement differences (by dollar amount and by percentage) were qualified as a shortfall or excess as compared with the Medicare benchmark. Results Marked differences in Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement exist for all services provided by otolaryngologists, most commonly as a substantial shortfall. The Medicaid shortfall varied in amount among states, and great variability in reimbursement exists within and between operative and outpatient services. Operative services were more likely than outpatient services to have a greater Medicaid shortfall. Shortfalls and excesses were not consistent among procedures or states. Conclusions The variation in Medicaid payment models reflects marked differences in the value of the same work provided by otolaryngologists-in many cases, far less than federal benchmarks. These results question the fairness of the Medicaid reimbursement scheme in otolaryngology, with potential serious implications on access to care for this underserved patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]