Easing the transition to an RBRVS-based physician compensation system.

In many provider organizations, traditional physician compensation systems based on patient charges have been replaced with resource-based relative value scale (RBRVS) systems, which pay physicians for actual effort expended. Group practices considering adopting an RBRVS-based system should be aware that the transition from one system to another requires careful planning. A four-step process that can ease this transition includes organizing a transition team, comparing CPT codes with the relative-value unit (RVU) schedule, designing and developing an RVU-based report, and analyzing RVU production data.