Description of Hourly Wage Calculations

Attachment O: Detailed Description of Average Hourly Wage Calculations

Row 1. It was estimated that a traditional physician (survey years 2018 and 2019+) would complete the NAMCS-1 25% of the time (total burden: 61+549=610; 610 x .25=152 physician hours). It was computed that an average physician’s hourly wedge was $103.65 based on the hourly salary of the following BLS physician categories: family and general practitioners ($100.27), general internists ($95.37), obstetricians and gynecologists ($113.10), general pediatricians ($90.16), psychiatrists ($103.89), surgeons ($121.10), and a catch-all category “physicians and surgeons, all other” ($101.63).

Row 2. It was estimated that a traditional physician’s staff (survey years 2018 and 2019+) would compete the NAMCS-1 75% of the time (total burden: 61+549=610; 610 x .75=458 staff hours). The estimated hourly wage for a physician’s staff who might be completing the form is $32.16. This is calculated from the BLS categories of registered nurses ($35.36), licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses ($21.98), first-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers ($28.14), receptionists and information clerks ($14.25), medical secretaries ($17.25), physician assistants ($50.37), nurse practitioners ($51.68), nurse midwives ($49.83), and medical records and health information technicians ($20.59).

Row 3. It is assumed that in 2018 and 2019, sampled traditional physicians will not prepare medical records for NAMCS processing themselves (total burden: 50 + 447=497 staff hours). Therefore, the average hourly wage for pulling and re-filing medical records ($32.16) was based on office staff (again obtained from various BLS categories) that might perform this activity: registered nurses ($35.36), licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses ($21.98), first-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers ($28.14), receptionists and information clerks ($14.25), medical secretaries ($17.25), physician assistants ($50.37), nurse practitioners ($51.68), nurse midwives ($49.83), and medical records and health information technicians ($20.59).

Row 4. It was estimated that only MU physician staff would complete the NAMCS-PFI and prepare and transmit EHR visit data (total burden: 1,500 + 2,000=3,500 staff hours). The estimated hourly wage for a physician’s staff who might be completing this work is $32.16. This was calculated from the BLS categories of registered nurses ($35.36), licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses ($21.98), first-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers ($28.14), receptionists and information clerks ($14.25), medical secretaries ($17.25), physician assistants ($50.37), nurse practitioners ($51.68), nurse midwives ($49.83), and medical records and health information technicians ($20.59).

Row 5. The estimate used for those individuals (survey years 2018 and 2019+) completing the CHC facility items ($90.52) included the following BLS categories: (1) medical and health services managers (as a proxy category for medical directors) ($53.69), and (2) family and general practitioners ($100.27), general internists ($95.37), obstetricians and gynecologists ($113.10), and general pediatricians ($90.16). The medical specialties in the second grouping were used as a proxy for physicians that might be CHC medical directors. The total hours were computed from Table 1 (total burden: 52 + 6=58 staff hours).

Row 6. Sampled CHC physicians and advanced practice providers (survey years 2018 and 2019+) will each complete a CHC NAMCS-1 (total burden: 18 + 156=174 staff hours). The average hourly wedge computed for these providers was $87.74, based on the hourly salary of providers that are used as a proxy for who might be sampled at the CHC site. Respondents include the following BLS physician categories: family and general practitioners ($100.27), general internists ($95.37), obstetricians and gynecologists ($113.10), general pediatricians ($90.16), psychiatrists ($103.89), surgeons ($121.10), a catch-all category “physicians and surgeons, all other” ($101.63), physician assistants ($50.37), nurse practitioners ($51.68), and nurse midwives ($49.83).

Row 7. It is assumed that sampled CHC physicians and advanced practice providers (survey years 2018 and 2019+) will not prepare medical records for NAMCS processing themselves (i.e, FR abstracting); however, mid-level providers might do this activity for sampled physicians (total burden: 18 + 156=174 staff hours). Therefore, the average hourly wage for pulling and re-filing medical records at a CHC ($32.16) was based on office staff (again obtained from various BLS categories) that might perform this activity: registered nurses ($35.36), licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses ($21.98), first-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers ($28.14), receptionists and information clerks ($14.25), medical secretaries ($17.25), physician assistants ($50.37), nurse practitioners ($51.68), nurse midwives ($49.83), and medical records and health information technicians ($20.59).

Row 8. It is assumed that sampled traditional physicians or CHC respondents will not prepare medical records for NAMCS reabstraction themselves (i.e, FR abstracting); however, since this is a combined category for the reabstraction study, mid-level providers might do this activity in physician offices (total burden: 1 staff hour). Therefore, the average hourly wage for pulling and re-filing medical records for this study was $32.16, again based on office staff (using various BLS categories) that might perform this activity: registered nurses ($35.36), licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses ($21.98), first-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers ($28.14), receptionists and information clerks ($14.25), medical secretaries ($17.25), physician assistants ($50.37), nurse practitioners ($51.68), nurse midwives ($49.83), and medical records and health information technicians ($20.59).

Row 9. It is assumed that sampled traditional physicians or CHC respondents will not be involved in answering the follow-up questions for NAMCS reinterview themselves; however, since this is a combined category for the reinterview study, mid-level providers might do this activity in physician offices (total burden: 25 staff hours). Therefore, the average hourly wage for answering the questions for this study was $32.16, again based on office staff (using various BLS categories) that might perform this activity: registered nurses ($35.36), licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses ($21.98), first-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers ($28.14), receptionists and information clerks ($14.25), medical secretaries ($17.25), physician assistants ($50.37), nurse practitioners ($51.68), nurse midwives ($49.83), and medical records and health information technicians ($20.59).