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What are they? What do I need to know about them? I hear the term a lot, and I just politely nod.
The site Dakota linked is pretty good. A simpler explaination is that the RVU or Relative Value Unit is a way to standardize and compare the amount of work bone by docs. It's especially important for EPs because the volume and complexity of our patient load changes every shift. We need a way to compare and fairly pay docs who see these changing patient loads. You can't just use number of patients seen because they bill differently.
Here's what you need to know. After you finish a chart the work you did, based only on your documentation so document well, the chart will have an RVU assigned. This is usually done by whoever does your billing. You will then be paid based on however your group pays you which may or may not be based on the RVUs.
I remember reading somewhere recently the fact that the committee that actually decides what the RVUs are for everything is composed of a disproportionately high number of physicians from the procedural specialties. Has anyone else heard or thought about this? The implications were fascinating.
OK, found it:
http://allbleedingstops.blogspot.com/2007/11/ranting-on-ruc.html
Interesting question. And here's the answer everyone hates: it depends.docB - for an EM physician, what is a good average RVU/hr?
It seems like if we could spend another year just studying billing and coding we could increase our pay by 50%, mostly because we leave stuff out. We get some GR teaching (mostly about how stuff is codeded), but little tricks like using a blade pretty cool. However, you do have to keep patient care in mind because I assume they are billed based on RVU as well (?) and using a scapel when one isn't necessary just to increase billing isn't good! If they have RUQ pain, call it as it is!
and using a scapel when one isn't necessary just to increase billing isn't good! If they have RUQ pain, call it as it is!
CREAM, amirite???Dollar bill y'all.