Multispecialty groups owned by hospitals and integrated delivery systems showed a slight decrease in work units from 2004-2009, while their independent counterparts showed a slight increase, according to a release by MGMA.
Hospital groups showed a 0.55 percent decrease in RVUs per patient and a 17.85 percent decrease in work RVUs per patient, compared with increases of 0.09 percent and 13 percent respectively for independent groups, according to the MGMA Cost Survey for Multispecialty Practices.
However, over the last five years, the number of patients seen per provider rose by nine percent in hospital-owned groups and fell by nine percent in independent groups.
Hospital- and IDS-owned groups also showed the following changes from 2008-2009:
1. Operating costs per physician fell by 0.37 percent.
2. Operating costs rose by 2.4 percent.
3. Staff and provider costs in 2009 made up 89 percent of total costs.
In hospital-owned groups, "tight budget controls have coupled with the deployment of electronic health records and may account for reductions in administrative supplies and transcription costs,” said Kenneth T. Hertz, a principal at MGMA Health Care Consulting Group.
In contrast, independent groups showed the following changes from 2008-2009:
1. Operating costs per physician rose by nearly two percent.
2. Revenue after operating costs per physician fell 0.16 percent.
3. Staff and provider cost made up 76 percent of total costs in 2009.
Many independent practices have been deploying electronic health records, increasing their IT expenditures, Mr. Hertz said. "These increases will be reflected in the balance sheet as well as the practice's income statement," he said.
Read the MGMA release on medical groups.
Read more coverage on hospital-employed physicians:
- 3 Medical Specialties Most Pursued for Employment by Hospitals
- 7 Tips for Hospitals Creating Physician Contracts
- 7 Key Provisions for Successful Physician Employment Contracts
Hospital groups showed a 0.55 percent decrease in RVUs per patient and a 17.85 percent decrease in work RVUs per patient, compared with increases of 0.09 percent and 13 percent respectively for independent groups, according to the MGMA Cost Survey for Multispecialty Practices.
However, over the last five years, the number of patients seen per provider rose by nine percent in hospital-owned groups and fell by nine percent in independent groups.
Hospital- and IDS-owned groups also showed the following changes from 2008-2009:
1. Operating costs per physician fell by 0.37 percent.
2. Operating costs rose by 2.4 percent.
3. Staff and provider costs in 2009 made up 89 percent of total costs.
In hospital-owned groups, "tight budget controls have coupled with the deployment of electronic health records and may account for reductions in administrative supplies and transcription costs,” said Kenneth T. Hertz, a principal at MGMA Health Care Consulting Group.
In contrast, independent groups showed the following changes from 2008-2009:
1. Operating costs per physician rose by nearly two percent.
2. Revenue after operating costs per physician fell 0.16 percent.
3. Staff and provider cost made up 76 percent of total costs in 2009.
Many independent practices have been deploying electronic health records, increasing their IT expenditures, Mr. Hertz said. "These increases will be reflected in the balance sheet as well as the practice's income statement," he said.
Read the MGMA release on medical groups.
Read more coverage on hospital-employed physicians:
- 3 Medical Specialties Most Pursued for Employment by Hospitals
- 7 Tips for Hospitals Creating Physician Contracts
- 7 Key Provisions for Successful Physician Employment Contracts