2017 GPCI Comparison for RBRVS

    Every year, I do a quick analysis of the GPCI adjustments released by CMS, this year is no different.

    The purpose here is to see how large the adjustments are for each locality and compare the results to last year in order to see what the Feds think is happening in your town (or elsewhere). When using RVUs to do anything from setting your fees to measuring your physician productivity, it's important to keep an eye on the GPCI value - you could find your "value" changing by a couple percentage points each year even if you do the same amount of work.

    Two big changes this year.  First, in addition to a comparison between 2016 and 2017 I've added a new column to the results to help approximate what the scores mean.  Take a look at that column in the far right...RVUs in Alabama are worth about 91.26% of the base RVU values, Chicago IL is worth about 109.98% of the base values.  Glad to share my methodology with anyone who asks.

      2016 2017 Approximate
    Locality name Work PE MP Work PE MP Difference Relative Value
    Alabama 1.000 0.886 0.611 1.000 0.888 0.552 -0.55% 91.26%
    Alaska 1.500 1.107 0.712 1.500 1.112 0.710 0.16% 125.83%
    Arizona 1.000 1.000 0.877 1.000 0.986 0.856 -0.86% 98.20%
    Arkansas 1.000 0.867 0.534 1.000 0.870 0.555 0.38% 90.46%
    Colorado 1.000 1.011 1.090 1.000 1.015 1.066 -0.06% 101.22%
    Connecticut 1.024 1.121 1.232 1.023 1.117 1.244 -0.10% 108.39%
    DC + MD/VA Suburbs 1.051 1.205 1.280 1.048 1.205 1.271 -0.20% 113.81%
    Delaware 1.012 1.031 1.083 1.010 1.025 1.101 -0.18% 102.42%
    Fort Lauderdale, FL 1.000 1.030 1.715 1.000 1.021 1.756 0.00% 107.01%
    Miami, FL 1.000 1.033 2.490 1.000 1.031 2.528 0.25% 113.65%
    Rest of Florida 1.000 0.960 1.315 1.000 0.956 1.337 0.04% 100.67%
    Atlanta, GA 1.000 1.005 0.943 1.000 1.001 1.016 0.55% 100.17%
    Rest of Georgia 1.000 0.899 0.904 1.000 0.899 0.989 0.89% 95.27%
    Hawaii/Guam 1.003 1.162 0.618 1.002 1.154 0.616 -0.41% 104.10%
    Idaho 1.000 0.898 0.508 1.000 0.900 0.616 1.28% 92.33%
    Chicago, IL 1.016 1.037 2.019 1.012 1.036 1.972 -0.62% 109.98%
    East St. Louis, IL 1.000 0.934 1.885 1.000 0.935 1.835 -0.43% 103.69%
    Suburban Chicago, IL 1.012 1.057 1.636 1.011 1.055 1.601 -0.45% 107.84%
    Rest of Illinois 1.000 0.909 1.253 1.000 0.914 1.231 0.01% 97.89%
    Indiana 1.000 0.921 0.617 1.000 0.920 0.498 -1.35% 92.30%
    Iowa 1.000 0.896 0.493 1.000 0.902 0.458 -0.09% 91.16%
    Kansas 1.000 0.903 0.662 1.000 0.907 0.639 -0.05% 92.83%
    Kentucky 1.000 0.872 0.795 1.000 0.876 0.807 0.32% 92.75%
    New Orleans, LA 1.000 0.983 1.390 1.000 0.975 1.332 -0.92% 101.51%
    Rest of Louisiana 1.000 0.887 1.205 1.000 0.887 1.202 -0.03% 96.42%
    Southern Maine 1.000 1.007 0.642 1.000 1.007 0.656 0.14% 97.57%
    Rest of Maine 1.000 0.918 0.642 1.000 0.920 0.656 0.25% 93.57%
    Baltimore/Surr. Cntys, MD 1.023 1.097 1.181 1.023 1.096 1.238 0.49% 107.38%
    Rest of Maryland 1.015 1.036 0.971 1.012 1.035 1.027 0.37% 102.38%
    Metropolitan Boston 1.017 1.163 0.617 1.025 1.171 0.839 2.74% 107.73%
    Rest of Massachusetts 1.017 1.066 0.617 1.019 1.067 0.839 2.30% 102.67%
    Detroit, MI 1.000 0.994 1.328 1.000 0.992 1.510 1.65% 103.71%
    Rest of Michigan 1.000 0.920 0.954 1.000 0.920 0.986 0.33% 96.21%
    Minnesota 1.000 1.020 0.319 1.000 1.016 0.341 0.04% 95.46%
    Mississippi 1.000 0.864 0.613 1.000 0.867 0.492 -1.21% 89.82%
    Metropolitan Kansas City, MO 1.000 0.952 1.025 1.000 0.958 1.049 0.52% 98.46%
    Metropolitan St Louis, MO 1.000 0.955 1.025 1.000 0.957 1.039 0.23% 98.33%
    Rest of Missouri 1.000 0.848 0.946 1.000 0.856 0.970 0.64% 93.14%
    Montana 1.000 1.000 1.226 1.000 1.000 1.429 1.95% 103.43%
    Nebraska 1.000 0.908 0.362 1.000 0.909 0.340 -0.20% 90.53%
    Nevada 1.005 1.051 0.982 1.004 1.034 0.946 -1.16% 101.32%
    New Hampshire 1.000 1.058 0.873 1.000 1.052 0.962 0.61% 102.09%
    Northern NJ 1.040 1.182 1.090 1.041 1.181 1.014 -0.69% 110.32%
    Rest of New Jersey 1.025 1.125 1.090 1.025 1.124 1.014 -0.75% 106.97%
    New Mexico 1.000 0.919 1.161 1.000 0.920 1.204 0.48% 97.95%
    Manhattan, NY 1.052 1.168 1.764 1.052 1.174 1.690 -0.40% 115.92%
    NYC Suburbs/Long I., NY 1.046 1.209 2.215 1.044 1.207 2.182 -0.41% 121.00%
    Poughkpsie/N NYC Suburbs, NY 1.010 1.074 1.484 1.013 1.072 1.399 -0.75% 107.10%
    Queens, NY 1.052 1.199 2.181 1.052 1.200 2.151 -0.21% 120.80%
    Rest of New York 1.000 0.945 0.760 1.000 0.948 0.678 -0.73% 95.03%
    North Carolina 1.000 0.930 0.768 1.000 0.931 0.732 -0.33% 94.68%
    North Dakota 1.000 1.000 0.554 1.000 1.000 0.547 -0.07% 96.38%
    Ohio 1.000 0.918 0.993 1.000 0.918 0.999 0.06% 96.22%
    Oklahoma 1.000 0.872 0.845 1.000 0.882 0.900 1.07% 93.77%
    Portland, OR 1.005 1.049 0.708 1.008 1.052 0.746 0.65% 100.73%
    Rest of Oregon 1.000 0.967 0.708 1.000 0.967 0.746 0.40% 96.45%
    Metropolitan Philadelphia, PA 1.021 1.087 1.264 1.022 1.081 1.322 0.33% 107.31%
    Rest of Pennsylvania 1.000 0.929 0.987 1.000 0.933 1.010 0.42% 97.00%
    Puerto Rico 1.000 0.705 0.293 1.000 0.856 0.642 11.44% 90.51%
    Rhode Island 1.022 1.053 0.759 1.025 1.052 0.879 1.26% 102.57%
    South Carolina 1.000 0.912 0.715 1.000 0.912 0.634 -0.88% 93.02%
    South Dakota 1.000 1.000 0.400 1.000 1.000 0.395 -0.05% 95.16%
    Tennessee 1.000 0.898 0.524 1.000 0.900 0.525 0.11% 91.60%
    Austin, TX 1.000 1.019 0.766 1.000 1.020 0.757 -0.05% 98.98%
    Beaumont, TX 1.000 0.902 0.955 1.000 0.913 0.897 -0.09% 95.17%
    Brazoria, TX 1.019 0.990 0.955 1.020 0.994 0.897 -0.36% 99.82%
    Dallas, TX 1.018 1.009 0.772 1.015 1.012 0.770 -0.02% 99.40%
    Fort Worth, TX 1.005 0.995 0.772 1.006 0.991 0.760 -0.26% 97.94%
    Galveston, TX 1.019 1.013 0.955 1.020 1.012 0.897 -0.58% 100.65%
    Houston, TX 1.019 1.006 0.955 1.020 1.009 0.946 0.09% 100.90%
    Rest of Texas 1.000 0.920 0.822 1.000 0.929 0.809 0.29% 95.21%
    Utah 1.000 0.922 1.169 1.000 0.925 1.167 0.12% 97.89%
    Vermont 1.000 1.004 0.682 1.000 1.010 0.639 -0.17% 97.57%
    Virginia 1.000 0.983 0.824 1.000 0.985 0.866 0.52% 98.24%
    Virgin Islands 1.000 0.960 0.996 1.000 1.006 0.993 2.04% 100.22%
    Seattle (King Cnty), WA 1.025 1.155 0.495 1.026 1.151 0.713 1.95% 105.85%
    Rest of Washington 1.000 1.015 0.475 1.000 1.013 0.689 2.10% 98.11%
    West Virginia 1.000 0.836 1.282 1.000 0.847 1.289 0.59% 95.27%
    Wisconsin 1.000 0.955 0.566 1.000 0.956 0.457 -1.13% 93.63%
    Wyoming 1.000 1.000 1.219 1.000 1.000 1.050 -1.68% 100.40%

    Some interesting "winners" and "losers" here.  Wyoming, Indiana, Mississippi, Nevada, and Wisconsin each lost >1% relative to 2016. Meanwhile, the Virgin Islands, Washington State, all of Massachusetts, and Puerto Rico had big gains (PR had otherwise been cut substantially in previous years).

    The second big change is CALIFORNIA.  It from a handful of locales to over 30!  I did my best to match up the previous localities with the new ones in this chart.  I welcome any corrections to my estimates for which locales match to which.

    2016 2017   Approximate
    2016 Locality Work PE MP 2017 Locality Work PE MP Difference Relative
    Value
    Rest of California 1.027 1.083 0.658 BAKERSFIELD, CA 1.024 1.079 0.610 -0.8% 101.62%
    Rest of California 1.027 1.083 0.658 CHICO, CA 1.024 1.079 0.610 -0.8% 101.62%
    Rest of California 1.027 1.083 0.658 EL CENTRO, CA 1.024 1.079 0.610 -0.8% 101.62%
    Rest of California 1.027 1.083 0.658 FRESNO, CA 1.024 1.079 0.610 -0.8% 101.62%
    Rest of California 1.027 1.083 0.658 HANFORD-CORCORAN, CA 1.024 1.079 0.610 -0.8% 101.62%
    Los Angeles, CA 1.047 1.161 0.908 LOS ANGELES-LONG BEACH-ANAHEIM (LOS ANGELES CNTY), CA 1.047 1.169 0.801 -0.7% 108.34%
    Anaheim/Santa Ana, CA 1.035 1.216 0.908 LOS ANGELES-LONG BEACH-ANAHEIM (ORANGE CNTY), CA 1.041 1.197 0.801 -1.5% 109.36%
    Rest of California 1.027 1.083 0.658 MADERA, CA 1.024 1.079 0.610 -0.8% 101.62%
    Rest of California 1.027 1.083 0.658 MERCED, CA 1.024 1.079 0.610 -0.8% 101.62%
    Rest of California 1.027 1.083 0.658 MODESTO, CA 1.024 1.079 0.610 -0.8% 101.62%
    Marin/Napa/Solano, CA 1.059 1.286 0.496 NAPA, CA 1.057 1.271 0.477 -0.9% 110.90%
    Ventura, CA 1.030 1.180 0.834 OXNARD-THOUSAND OAKS-VENTURA, CA 1.027 1.178 0.754 -1.0% 107.46%
    Rest of California 1.027 1.083 0.658 REDDING, CA 1.024 1.079 0.610 -0.8% 101.62%
    Rest of California 1.027 1.083 0.658 RIVERSIDE-SAN BERNARDINO-ONTARIO, CA 1.024 1.079 0.626 -0.6% 101.75%
    Rest of California 1.027 1.083 0.658 SACRAMENTO--ROSEVILLE--ARDEN-ARCADE, CA 1.024 1.080 0.610 -0.7% 101.66%
    Rest of California 1.027 1.083 0.658 SALINAS, CA 1.024 1.083 0.610 -0.6% 101.80%
    Rest of California 1.027 1.083 0.658 SAN DIEGO-CARLSBAD, CA 1.024 1.088 0.610 -0.4% 102.03%
    Oakland/Berkeley, CA 1.061 1.260 0.457 SAN FRANCISCO-OAKLAND-HAYWARD (ALAMEDA/CONTRA COSTA CNTY), CA 1.068 1.293 0.439 1.5% 112.12%
    San Francisco, CA 1.079 1.388 0.457 SAN FRANCISCO-OAKLAND-HAYWARD (MARIN CNTY), CA 1.058 1.271 0.477 -5.5% 110.95%
    San Francisco, CA 1.079 1.388 0.457 SAN FRANCISCO-OAKLAND-HAYWARD (SAN FRANCISCO CNTY), CA 1.077 1.357 0.439 -1.5% 115.48%
    San Mateo, CA 1.079 1.372 0.416 SAN FRANCISCO-OAKLAND-HAYWARD (SAN MATEO CNTY), CA 1.077 1.349 0.419 -1.0% 114.95%
    Rest of California 1.027 1.083 0.658 SAN JOSE-SUNNYVALE-SANTA CLARA (SAN BENITO CNTY), CA 1.031 1.121 0.610 1.4% 103.87%
    Santa Clara, CA 1.088 1.347 0.416 SAN JOSE-SUNNYVALE-SANTA CLARA (SANTA CLARA CNTY), CA 1.086 1.351 0.402 -0.0% 115.32%
    Rest of California 1.027 1.083 0.658 SAN LUIS OBISPO-PASO ROBLES-ARROYO GRANDE, CA 1.024 1.079 0.610 -0.8% 101.62%
    Rest of California 1.027 1.083 0.658 SANTA CRUZ-WATSONVILLE, CA 1.024 1.103 0.610 0.3% 102.72%
    Rest of California 1.027 1.083 0.658 SANTA MARIA-SANTA BARBARA, CA 1.024 1.091 0.610 -0.3% 102.17%
    Rest of California 1.027 1.083 0.658 SANTA ROSA, CA 1.024 1.093 0.610 -0.2% 102.26%
    Rest of California 1.027 1.083 0.658 STOCKTON-LODI, CA 1.024 1.079 0.610 -0.8% 101.62%
    Rest of California 1.027 1.083 0.658 VALLEJO-FAIRFIELD, CA 1.057 1.271 0.477 7.3% 110.90%
    Rest of California 1.027 1.083 0.658 VISALIA-PORTERVILLE, CA 1.024 1.079 0.610 -0.8% 101.62%
    Rest of California 1.027 1.083 0.658 YUBA CITY, CA 1.024 1.079 0.610 -0.8% 101.62%
    Rest of California 1.027 1.083 0.658 REST OF CALIFORNIA, CA 1.024 1.079 0.610 -0.8% 101.62%

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