The production work of family medicine physicians (and other doctors) is measured using a payment system known as the Relative Value Unit (RVU). The RVU system is used to determine the value of medical services provided by physicians and is used by insurance companies to reimburse physicians for their services.
Most data organizations put the avg FM RVU produced each year around 4500. With a little bit of intentional billing practices you can generate much more than this. Since my first year in practice I have generated 7000+ per year. It is quite easy to do with the right billing practices.
The average RVU for family medicine is an important metric that helps to assess the productivity and efficiency of family medicine physicians. The average RVU is calculated by dividing the total number of RVUs generated by a group of family medicine physicians by the number of physicians in the group. This metric is used by healthcare organizations to evaluate the performance of their family medicine physicians and to identify areas for improvement. Understanding the average RVU for family medicine is important for physicians, healthcare organizations, and insurance companies to ensure that patients receive high-quality care at an affordable cost.
Understanding RVUs in Family Medicine
RVUs, or Relative Value Units, are a measure of the value of medical services. In the world of family medicine, RVUs are used to determine the reimbursement rate for services provided by physicians.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) assigns RVUs to each medical service based on three factors: the physician’s work, the practice expense, and the cost of malpractice insurance. These three factors are combined to create a total RVU for each service.
The average RVU for family medicine varies depending on the specific service provided. For example, a 99214 office visit has a RVU of about 1.92, whereas a 99213 is 1.3 RVU.
It’s important to note that RVUs are not the only factor in determining reimbursement rates. Other factors, such as geographic location and the patient’s insurance coverage, can also impact the final reimbursement rate.
In conclusion, understanding RVUs is crucial for family medicine physicians who want to ensure they are being fairly reimbursed for their services. By keeping track of RVUs for each service provided, physicians can better understand their practice’s financial performance and make informed decisions about their practice.
Average RVU Metrics for Family Medicine
Family medicine is a crucial field of medicine, and the average RVU metrics for family medicine can help to provide a better understanding of the performance (how much you generate) of family medicine practitioners. Here are some of the key metrics to consider:
By Panel Size
The larger the panel, the more patients that will be coming in to see you. This means you will be generating more RVU’s
Modifiers
If you are using a lot of modifiers, meaning you are doing a lot of procedures or counseling, then you will be increasing the RVU’s per patient and this will end up generating more RVU’s for you overall. If you go from 1.92 RVU/patient to 2.25 RVU per patient then you will significantly increase your RVU’s over time.
By Practice Type
The type of practice that a family medicine practitioner operates can also have an impact on their RVU metrics. Generally speaking, practitioners in larger practices tend to have higher RVU scores than those in smaller practices.
According to recent data, family medicine practitioners in practices with 10 or more physicians have an average RVU score of around 4,200. In contrast, those in practices with fewer than five physicians have an average RVU score of around 3,600.
Overall, understanding the average RVU metrics for family medicine can help to provide valuable insights into the performance of practitioners in this important field of medicine.
Factors Influencing RVU Calculations
RVUs or Relative Value Units are the measure of the work performed by physicians and other healthcare providers. The calculation of RVUs is complex and influenced by several factors. Here are some of the factors that can affect RVU calculations in family medicine.
Patient Complexity
The complexity of the patient’s medical condition is one of the primary factors that affect RVU calculations. RVUs are higher for patients with complex medical conditions that require more time and effort from the physician. For instance, a patient with multiple chronic conditions will require more time and attention from the physician than a patient with a single acute condition.
99214 and wellness visits code higher than 99213’s. Do your best to not make a visit a 99213. I am not saying commit fraud, I am saying if the patient is there for shoulder pain, mention their blood pressure and ask about their cholesterol medication. Boom, that means that shoulder pain visit now has 2 chronic medical issues attached to it and is a 99214.
Procedure Types
Injections, skin procedures, counseling (smoking, alcohol, obesity) all have RVU’s that you can generate. Cryotherapy is a simple quick “procedure” that you can use to generate a lot of RVU’s. Patients don’t have to go see a dermatologist to have cryotherapy done, this can easily be done in your clinic.
Practice Efficiency
The efficiency of the practice is also a factor that can affect RVU calculations. A practice that is well-organized and has streamlined processes can perform more procedures in less time, leading to higher RVUs. On the other hand, a practice that is disorganized and inefficient may take longer to perform procedures, resulting in lower RVUs.
In conclusion, several factors influence RVU calculations in family medicine. Physicians must consider these factors when determining the RVUs for their services. By understanding the factors that affect RVUs, physicians can ensure that they are appropriately compensated for their work.
RVU-Based Compensation Models
RVU-based compensation models are becoming increasingly popular in the healthcare industry, including family medicine. These models are designed to incentivize physicians to be more productive and efficient with their time. In this section, we will explore two common types of RVU-based compensation models.
Salary and Productivity Bonuses
Under this model, family medicine physicians are typically paid a base salary, with additional compensation based on their productivity. Productivity is measured using a system of RVUs, with each service or procedure assigned a certain number of RVUs based on its complexity and time required. Physicians are then compensated based on the total number of RVUs they generate.
This model can be beneficial for family medicine physicians who are able to see a high volume of patients and perform a variety of services. However, it can also be challenging for physicians who may have a more complex patient population or who spend more time on non-billable activities such as administrative tasks.
Hybrid Models
A hybrid RVU-based compensation model combines elements of both productivity-based and salary-based models. Under this model, family medicine physicians are typically paid a base salary, with additional compensation based on their productivity. However, the productivity component may be weighted differently depending on the physician’s specific role and responsibilities.
For example, a physician who spends more time on administrative tasks may have a lower RVU requirement than a physician who sees a high volume of patients. This model can be beneficial for family medicine physicians who have varying responsibilities or patient populations.
Overall, RVU-based compensation models can be an effective way to incentivize family medicine physicians to be more productive and efficient with their time. However, it is important to carefully consider the specific needs and responsibilities of each physician when implementing these models.
Challenges and Considerations
Data Accuracy
One of the main challenges in calculating average RVU for family medicine is the accuracy of the data. RVU values vary depending on the complexity of the patient’s case, the physician’s level of experience, and the location of the practice. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that the data used to calculate the average RVU is accurate and representative of the physician’s practice.
To ensure data accuracy, physicians should track their RVU values consistently and regularly. This can be done using electronic health records (EHRs) or other practice management software. It is also important to ensure that the data is properly coded and that the physician’s coding practices are consistent with industry standards.
Benchmarking Difficulties
Another challenge in calculating average RVU for family medicine is benchmarking difficulties. RVU values can vary significantly depending on the location of the practice, the patient population, and the physician’s level of experience. Therefore, it can be challenging to compare the RVU values of one physician to another.
One way to address benchmarking difficulties is to use specialty-specific benchmarks. These benchmarks take into account the unique characteristics of family medicine and can provide a more accurate comparison of RVU values. It is also important to consider the physician’s level of experience when benchmarking RVU values.
In conclusion, accurately calculating average RVU for family medicine can be challenging due to data accuracy and benchmarking difficulties. Physicians should take steps to ensure data accuracy and use specialty-specific benchmarks to address benchmarking difficulties.
You can easily increase your average RVU by adding in procedures, seeing more patients and coding appropriately. I can’t tell you how many of our colleagues are coding 99213’s on a lot of visits when they shouldn’t be. IF you do the work, get paid for it!