Free RBRVS Calculator for 2013

Welcome to the free 2013 RBRVS Calculator. 

As you may know, the AMA won't let anyone provide a free RVU calculator that includes CPT codes due to their CPT copyrights. In an abundance of caution and, because in our unhappy experience, the AMA interprets its rights (in our opinion) overly broadly, we created this tool for those of you who have a CPT license that allows for a use such as this. In theory, that should mean any practice that submits insurance claims.

To make a long story short, you can use this spreadsheet with the data that you can download from CMS to make a fairly sophisticated RVU calculator in about 5 minutes.

What does it do? It allows you to choose your CMS-driven location, set a Medicare Multiplier, and then, on a code-by-code basis, determine your pricing level. If you then take the time to include your code volume and pricing, it will determine your practice's FACF (i.e., how much you charge, on average, relative to Medicare). If you then provide your payment information, it will compare it to the Medicare fee schedule for you.

As of this writing, I have created an OpenOffice version.  The Excel version is in testing finished.

How does it work?

1. Download one of the above spreadsheets.
2. Head to CMS and download the 2013 RVU zip file. (This link brings you to the January 2013 release; be on the look out for newer versions.) You have to agree to the license and usage rules from CMS, of course.
3. Extract the PPRRVU13_V1226_UP0.xlsx file from the zip file. Yes, I think it's completely lame that our federal government uses a proprietary format for this data, especially one (the new .xlsx) that not everyone who even owns Excel can open. Grrrrr.
4. Cut and paste the entire page of data from the PPRRVU13_V1226_UP0.xlsx file into the tab marked "PPRRVU13_V1226_UP0" in the RVU Calculator spreadsheet. Don't panic if it seems to freeze for a minute, it's a lot of data.
5. Choose your locality with the pulldown menu. Pick a Medicare Multiplier. Then, enter some CPT codes in column A. Gasp in amazement.
6. Put some unit volumes, prices, and payments in and watch what happens. Any field marked in a light blue-gray is a place where you can enter info.

I'd love for some guinea pigs to try this out and tell me what doesn't work. PCC clients, natch, can do this already with our reports, so I want to hear from the rest of you :-)