An article published in AAOS Now examines orthopedic bundled payment programs and key benchmarks for success.
The benchmarks were collected from more than 520,000 physical therapy visits owned and operated by orthopedic groups. The benchmarks include:
1. Weighted procedures per provider work hour: 4.8 timed procedures or four timed procedures and one modality, or 2.06 wRVUs per provider work hour.
2. Weighted procedures per visit: 3.5, or 1.5 wRVUs.
3. Visits per patient: eight
4. Initial evaluation show rate: 95 percent or higher
5. Follow-up visit show rate: 88 percent
6. Payments per weighted procedure:
• East and west coast: $26 per WP or $60 per wRVU
• Midwest: 115 percent of Medicare allowable rates — around $30 per WP or $70 per wRVU
7. Payments per visit: $90
8. Compensation cost per visit:
• $11.50 per WP
• $26.74 per wRVU
• $40.23 per visit
9. Physical therapy visits typically take 45 minutes to 60 minutes.
10. Visits per day: 10.8 visits for an eight-hour day after cancellations and no-shows.