Stop using RVUs | LOF # 130

<p>WARNING: RVUs may measure a physician&#39;s activity, but they can keep doctors from seeing the real money their work creates. Hospitals know the value of every procedure. Most physicians never see the numbers.</p><p><br></p><p>Dr. Eric Smuclovisky is an interventional radiologist, former academic physician and independent physician-entrepreneur. After opening an OBL/ASC, he watched reimbursement cuts and negative media pressure threaten the model. He then found another route to autonomy: negotiating professional service agreements that allow physicians to work with hospitals without surrendering their independence as W-2 employees.</p><p><br></p><p>In this conversation, Dr. Eric Smuclovisky reveals:</p><p>⬛ Why physician fees collapsed while hospital facility fees expanded—and how that changed who controls American medicine</p><p>⬛ Why he calls RVUs “monopoly money,” and how doctors can begin discovering what is actually billed under their names</p><p>⬛ How the No Surprises Act, charge lists, payer contracts, and IDR expose the hidden economics behind a medical bill</p><p>⬛ Why the physician shortage may finally give doctors enough leverage to negotiate from strength</p><p><br></p><p>Eric explains why a hospital&#39;s charge list is its “dirty little black book.” Hospitals set prices then negotiate discounts with commercial payers; those deals are not simple multiples of Medicare. A summary of benefits might show an $80,000 charge, roughly $20,000 paid, and $1,000 owed by the patient. The gaps reveal the private contracts behind the bill. It matters.</p><p><br></p><p>Follow Dr. Eric Smuclovisky:</p><p>LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-smuclovisky-58206927b/</p><p><br></p><p>Resources mentioned in this episode:</p><p>🏢 Outpatient Endovascular and Interventional Society (OEIS): https://oeisweb.com/</p><p>🔗 Stark Law, CMS: https://www.cms.gov/medicare/regulations-guidance/physician-self-referral</p><p>🔗 No Surprises Act and independent dispute resolution, CMS: https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises</p><p>🔗 CMS Physician Fee Schedule and CPT reimbursement lookups</p><p><br></p><p>👤 Ross Perot, referenced during the discussion of RVU history</p><p><br></p><p>Life of Flow is hosted by Dr. Lucas Ferrer and Dr. Miguel Montero-Baker.</p><p>🌐 Website: https://lifeofflowpodcast.com</p><p>▶ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeofFlowPodcast</p><p>🎧 Listen: Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/5GMv47SJ0ePxbjtIb1GZ5U · Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-of-flow/id1705596604</p><p>📩 Partner with the show: info@lifeofflowpodcast.com</p><p><br></p><p>Connect with the hosts:</p><p>Dr. Lucas Ferrer — [Lucas LinkedIn]</p><p>Dr. Miguel Montero-Baker — https://www.linkedin.com/in/miguel-montero-baker-a44354214/</p><p><br></p><p>Follow Life of Flow:</p><p>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeofflowpodcast/</p><p>X: https://x.com/vascularpodcast</p><p>LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lifeofflow</p><p><br></p>