Bone Bulletin
Abstract
Background and Introduction of Total Knee Arthroplasty
Few procedures in modern medicine illustrate the value of surgical advancement more clearly than total hip and total knee arthroplasty. Over the past several decades, advances in surgical technique, pre-operative management, and postoperative rehabilitation have transformed joint replacement into one of the most successful procedures in medicine. Patient satisfaction rates routinely exceed 90% and millions of individuals regain mobility, independence and quality of life each year through these operations.1 However, despite this clinical success and societal value, physician reimbursement for joint replacement surgery and many other successful orthopedic procedures has steadily declined. This paradox reflects a deeper structural issue within the Medicare physician reimbursement system. The system was designed to quantify the amount of physician work based on time, but as surgical care becomes safer and more efficient, reduced operating times, shorter hospital length of stay, and more convenient virtual encounters replacing in-person visits have been used as justification for reducing physician payment.
Recommended Citation
Hamou, Kiley
(2026)
"The Changing Value of Joint Arthroplasty Under the RVU System,"
Bone Bulletin: Vol. 4:
Iss.
1, Article 4.
Available at:
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/bone_bulletin/vol4/iss1/4
