Medical Briefs
Payers’ RBRVS Use Grows - A recent AMA study of 127 public and
private payers found that 77% use Medicare’s Resource-Based Relative Value
Scale (RBRVS) as input when determining physician pay. Usage was 74% in 2001
and 63% in 1998.
Sales Reps’ Access to Physicians - A recent telephone survey of
180,000 physicians by SK&A Information Services, Inc., found that 19% of
office-based physicians do not meet with drug industry sales representatives
and another 22.7% require an appointment before meeting. Some physicians
(about 5%) restrict meetings with reps to certain weekdays or a certain time
of the day (3.2%).
Movement to Mid-Sized Practices - A national study last year by the
Center for Studying Health System Change found that the share of physicians
in solo or two-person practices fell by about eight percentage points from
40.7% to 32.5% between 1996-97 and 2004-05. Yet the share of physicians in
multi-specialty practices also dropped to 27.5% in 2004-05 from 30.9% in
1998-99.
Health Care Commentaries is
provided by Somerset’s
Health Care Team
for our clients and other interested persons upon request. Since
technical information is presented in generalized fashion, no final
conclusion on these topics should be made without further review. For
additional information on the issues discussed, please contact a member
of our Health Care Team. This
document is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for
the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed on the
taxpayer.
Somerset CPAs,
P.C.
3925 River Crossing Parkway, Third Floor
Indianapolis, Indiana 46240
317.472.2200 • 800.469.7206 • FAX 317.208.1200
http://healthcare.somersetcpas.com
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