The content on this page is for international users. If you are located in the U.S., visit the RBRVS overview page for information about RVUs.
Relative Value Units (RVUs) provide CPT® content users with an objective foundation for understanding the resource cost of medical procedures. RVUs can support various types of payment systems and help health care professionals standardize how clinical resources are measured and evaluated.
What are RVUs?
RVUs are used to represent the value of resources needed to perform procedures and services described in the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code set. Each RVU accounts for the time, skill and intensity involved in delivering care, and together they create a relative ranking system known as the Resource-Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS).
Purpose of the RBRVS
The Resource-Based Relative Value Scale is structured to align payment for physician services with the resources required to provide them. Its goal is to help establish a consistent method of comparing procedures and to support the development and modernization of fee schedules or payment methodologies.
What makes up an RVU?
An RVU consists of three core components:
- Physician work—time, skill, effort, and clinical judgment
- Practice expense—overhead, staff, equipment, and supplies
- Professional liability—when included, represents cost of risk management
These values can be adjusted based on geography or local conditions to allow for fair comparisons across different regions. A conversion factor may also be applied to align RVU values with a consistent pricing framework.
AMA support for RVU use
The AMA offers resources that provide RVU values for all CPT codes, as well as documentation explaining how RVUs are assigned. These tools help CPT content users make informed decisions about how procedures are valued and measured.
Other uses of RVUs
Beyond payment structures, RVUs have several practical applications:
- Evaluating physician or group productivity
- Analyzing resource utilization
- Supporting internal cost benchmarking
- Informing performance analytics across systems or providers
Example: Applying RVUs
RVU data can be used to measure productivity within a practice or health system. Here's how:
- For each CPT code, calculate work RVUs (wRVUs) by multiplying the code’s frequency by its wRVU value.
- Sum the wRVUs for each physician or group over a specific time period.
- Use the total to compare against benchmarks, schedules, or other providers.
This approach can reveal variations, identify trends and inform performance evaluations or operational improvements.
How RVUs are updated
RVUs are reviewed and updated regularly to reflect clinical advancements and procedural changes. The AMA Specialty Society Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) plays a central role in this process.
The RUC’s recommendations for RVU updates are closely aligned with the annual CPT Editorial Panel schedule, ensuring the system evolves alongside changes to the CPT code set.
