Because overall work relative value units (RVUs) increased just 0.8 percent, there was a “2.7 percent net increase in compensation not related to increased work effort,” write Bradley S.J. Vaudrey, MBA, and Sara J. Loos of RSM McGladrey, the consulting firm that conducted the survey, in the AMGA’s Group Practice Journal. Which means the compensation increases are still “well below the national inflation rate of 8.4 percent in 2006.”
Here are statistics for eight specialties from the survey:
1. Orthopedics compensation was up 5.5 percent ($409,518 to $436,481), while work relative value units fell 1.0 percent. Net collection for the specialty was down 0.4 percent ($807,862 to $804, 513), and net compensation per RVU was up 8.2 percent (from $56.70 to $61.34).
2. General surgery compensation was up 5.5 percent ($344,200 to $356,388), while work RVUs decreased by 2.2 percent. Net collection decreased 4.6 percent ($609,612 to $581,330), and net compensation per RVU was up 4.7 percent (from $46.65 to $48.83).
3. Neurology compensation was up 5.2 percent ($211,995 to $222,998), while work RVUs increased 2.4 percent. Net collection rose 1.4 percent ($369,608 to $374,868), and compensation per RVU was up 2.3 percent ($48.75 to $49.88).
4. Ophthalmology compensation was up 5.1 percent ($281,112 to $295,510), while work RVUs increased by 3.5 percent. Net collection increased 8.3 percent ($633,038 to $685,656), and compensation per RVU rose 2.7 percent (from $39.64 to $40.73).
5. Urology compensation was up 4.6 percent ($349,811 to $365,999), while work RVUs increased by 2.1 percent. Net collection increased 1.6 percent ($748,707 to $760,352), and compensation per RVU increased 1.1 percent (from $50.74 to $51.31).
6. Otolaryngology was up 3.9 percent ($315,000 to $327,399), while work RVUs dropped 1.3 percent. Net collection decreased 3.8 percent ($726,524 to $698,682), and compensation per RVU increased 5.2 percent (from $50.84 to $53.48).
7. GI compensation was up 3.5 percent ($344,200 to $356,388), while work RVUs increased 0.7 percent. Net collection Net collection for the specialty was down 2.7 percent ($772,711, from $794,059), and net compensation per RVU were up 6.8 percent (from $48.08 to $51.33).
8. Anesthesiology compensation was up 2.1 percent ($337,654 to $344,691); there was no tracking of work RVUs. Net collection was down 1.4 percent ($452,966 to $46,765); compensation per RVU was not reported.
The 2007 AMGA Medical Group Compensation and Financial Survey tallies results from 222 national medical groups representing approximately 43,000 providers in more than 140 specialties. For more information, visit AMGA online.
