Diffusion of Medicare's RBRVS and related physician payment policies.
In 1992, Medicare reformed its physician payment method by implementing the Medicare fee schedule (MFS), of which the resource-based relative value scale (RBRVS) is a major component. Using a recent survey and case studies, we examine the diffusion of Medicare's RBRVS to non-Medicare payers and how those payers use and perceive the RBRVS and MFS policies. We find that approximately one-third of payers that participated in the survey have adopted RBRVS-based payment systems in varying degrees while another 40 percent were seriously considering its adoption. Prospects for expanded use of Medicare's RBRVS appear favorable.
McCormack
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Health Economics Research, Inc., Washington, DC 20005, USA.
Burge
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D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D005245:Fee Schedules; D006302:Health Services Research; D007357:Insurance, Physician Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D016345:Medicare Part B / Q000458:organization & administration; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms / Q000639:trends*; D015895:Relative Value Scales; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States