Analysis of the resource-based relative value scale for Medicare reimbursements to academic and community hospital radiology departments

The authors examined a homogeneous sample of 40 radiologists from four academic centers (ACs) and four community hospitals (CHs) to assess the prevalence, accuracy, and sources of knowledge regarding the resource-based relative value scale (RBRVS) reform of Medicare. The radiologists were also asked to estimate the relative intraservice work values of 12 of the radiologic services in the original RBRVS study, using the same definitions and the same standard service. The radiologists were found to be relatively well informed and accurate regarding the RBRVS-based Medicare reform. However, the standard errors of estimated work in the sample were much greater (from 56% to over 800%) than those reported for the nationally based RBRVS. The AC and CH radiologists also appeared to differ qualitatively in their perceptions of intraservice work. These findings suggest that the RBRVS may not represent accurately the spread of perceived relative work values among radiologists, including differences between AC and CH components in terms of site-specific radiologic work.