Assume that a primary care physician practice performs only
physical examinations. However, there are three levels of
examination- I, II, and III- that vary in depth and complexity. An
RVU analysis indicates that a level I exam requires 10 RVUs, a
level II exam 20 RVUs, and a level III exam 30 RVUs. The total
costs to run the practice, including a diagnostic laboratory,
amount to $500,000 annually, and the numbers of examinations
administered are 2,400 Level I, 800 Level II, and 400 Level III.
a) Using RVU methodology, what is the estimated cost per type
of examination?
b) If the goal of the practice is to earn a 20 percent profit
margin on each examination, how should the examinations be
priced?