The RVU Shake-Up: Why CMS Is Cutting Surgical Pay—and What It Means for You

In this episode, we break down the upcoming CMS policy that will reduce work RVUs for nearly all non–time-based surgical CPT codes beginning January 1st. Dr. Chris Childers, surgical oncologist and health-policy expert, and Christian Shaughnessy, ACS Senior VP for Advocacy, join us to explain what these cuts mean for surgeons in both private practice and employed models. We explore why CMS believes surgeons are becoming “more efficient,” and why newly published data suggest the opposite may be true. Our guests outline the downstream financial, workforce, and patient-access implications of this unprecedented policy shift. Finally, we discuss how every surgeon can—and should—take action now to help prevent these cuts from taking effect. Hosts: Patrick Georgoff, MD, @georgoff Christopher Childers, MD, PhD, @cchildersmd Christian Shalgian, ACS Division of Advocacy and Health Policy Senior Vice President Take action: https://www.facs.org/advocacy/regulatory-issues/fight-back-against-cuts-to-work-relative-value-units/ Longitudinal Trends in Efficiency and Complexity of Surgical Procedures: Analysis of 1.7 Million Operations Between 2019 and 2023: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40801398/ Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more. If you liked this episode, check out our recent episodes here: https://behindtheknife.org/listen Behind the Knife Premium: General Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/general-surgery-oral-board-review Trauma Surgery Video Atlas: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/trauma-surgery-video-atlas Dominate Surgery: A High-Yield Guide to Your Surgery Clerkship: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/dominate-surgery-a-high-yield-guide-to-your-surgery-clerkship Dominate Surgery for APPs: A High-Yield Guide to Your Surgery Rotation: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/dominate-surgery-for-apps-a-high-yield-guide-to-your-surgery-rotation Vascular Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/vascular-surgery-oral-board-audio-review Colorectal Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/colorectal-surgery-oral-board-audio-review Surgical Oncology Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/surgical-oncology-oral-board-audio-review Cardiothoracic Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/cardiothoracic-surgery-oral-board-audio-review Download our App: Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/behind-the-knife/id1672420049 Android/Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.btk.app&hl=en_US