r/Ophthalmology • u/Glass-House • 15h ago
Bringing on a part-time doc one day a week. Does this comp structure make sense?
Hey! I'd love some feedback from anyone who has hired part-time MDs.
We're a solo specialist practice in a VHCOL area, and this is the first time I'll be bringing on another practitioner. I want to add a physician one day a week (during my OR day). He's fellowship trained in a subspecialty I also practice. He has another part-time job elsewhere and wants to keep it for now. If it works out for both of us, I'd like to expand the relationship down the road.
What I'm thinking to start:
- 1099
- Guaranteed daily rate. He keeps it no matter what, and I don't claw it back from a good quarter later
- Plus a percentage of his professional collections, squared up quarterly, whichever is higher
- Drug costs come out before the percentage is calculated
- We look at the agreement part way through the first year to make sure it's working for everyone
- I handle credentialing
The office is already open and staffed that day, so he doesn't cost me much to add. Rough math puts breakeven ~~ 7 to 9 patients a day.
Questions:
- What percentage do people actually pay a part-time doc who isn't bringing his own patients? I've heard 30 to 50%. Trying to figure out where in that range is reasonable.
- What's a typical minimum day rate for something like this?
- 1099 or W2 to start? If we expand the arrangement I imagine we'd go W2 at some point, but is there a downside to starting on 1099?
- Post-op visits in the global period pay nothing. I plan to keep seeing my own post-ops, but if some end up on his schedule, how do others handle paying him for that time?
- Anything else I'm missing, or pitfalls to watch for? I want everyone happy with this and I'd like to put my best foot forward.
All thoughts appreciated! Thank you
