
Compensation
Many physicians get paid based on wRVUs — work relative value units. Learn about this production-based compensation model and how it factors into your job search.
March 2, 2022
Your first job offer is in hand, and your pay will be determined by something called a work relative value unit (wRVU). Your first reaction might be, what is that? I'm being paid how?
Although common, this production-based form of compensation can be confusing, especially to physicians entering the job market for the first time. To clear up any confusion, we've compiled answers to the most common questions about wRVUs, so you can quickly discover everything you need to know.
A wRVU is a standard unit of measurement used to establish value for common health care procedures. Simply put, a wRVU is a number assigned to every codable direct patient care experience.
In production-based compensation plans, you are expected to generate a set number of wRVUs (your wRVU threshold). A dollar value, sometimes called a conversion factor, is assigned to each wRVU generated.
Health care organizations use Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) current procedural terminology (CPT) codes to assign wRVUs.
If your salary is determined by wRVUs, your pay may simply be equal to your wRVU total, times a set dollar value. While you’ll likely get a stable paycheck throughout the year, your employer will do regular lookbacks to determine that your wRVUs meet or exceed what you are paid.
Alternatively, you could receive a base salary with incentives for wRVUs generated beyond a designated threshold.
For example, consider an offer with a guaranteed base salary of $180,000, built around a wRVU threshold of 3,600 with a conversion factor of $50 per wRVU. If you generate 4,000 wRVUs — 400 above your threshold — you will make an additional $20,000 on top of your base pay.
Erik Steen, Provider Compensation Manager with Providence, offers a few quick ways to calculate your wRVU potential before accepting a job offer.
wRVUs do a reasonable job of ensuring physicians are compensated fairly for their time, but this system does have its downfalls. wRVUs do not account for many administrative things outside of direct patient care that are expected and necessary parts of your job as a physician. These include charting, email or certain telehealth services.
Production-based compensation models, like those relying on wRVUs, aren’t going away. But many employers are now including value-based pay incentives to reward physicians for good patient outcomes.
As you evaluate job offers, understand how value-based care incentives will factor into your total compensation.
Want to learn more about wRVUs and other ways physicians get paid? Provider Solutions & Development offers complimentary resources, including one-on-one career coaching, toolkits, seminars and training.
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