Establishing a Per-Hour Rate for Early-Career Adult Reconstruction Surgeons Performing Medicare Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty

Background

There is a paucity of data regarding compensation for early-career adult reconstruction surgeons. This study aims to quantify the time throughout the full episode of care for a Medicare primary total hip/knee arthroplasty and convert to per-hour pay for early-career arthroplasty surgeons at various geographic locations and practice settings. Using Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services data, this study also compares the compensation of early-career vs established total joint arthroplasty (TJA) surgeons.

Methods

Between January 2022 and January 2023, 3 early-career surgeons in 3 different locations collected prospective data on time spent in patient care during the global period following primary TJAs (pTJAs). A weighted average time spent per pTJA during global period was calculated with the 2024 work relative value unit and conversion factor to establish a per-hour rate. This rate was compared to the compensation rates of other healthcare-related fields and established TJA surgeons using Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) values.

Results

A total of 334 pTJAs (148 hips and 186 knees) were performed among 3 surgeons, and per-hour rates of $87.62 and $87.70 were found, respectively. These are less than hospital/healthcare system/health insurance/med tech CEOs, lawyers, dentists, and travel nurses. Early-career TJA surgeons were found to take 7.98%-8.68% longer than RUC standard times for a TJA episode of care.

Conclusions

This study quantifies the per-hour compensation of early-career arthroplasty surgeons, who earn lower compensation rates to travel nurses and take longer than Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services RUC times for pTJAs. Given the increasing demand for pTJAs, decreasing reimbursement rates, and concern over burnout, access to quality pTJA care for patients is concerning.