the units assigned to allow a comparison of any one procedure relative to another. See RBRVS.

relative value units; Medicare payment under the Physician Fee Schedule is based on national uniform relative value units that represent physician work, practice expense, and malpractice expense.

The weight within the RBRVS assigned to a particular CPT. The Total RVU for a CPT is made up of the Work RVU (the amount of time and effort it takes), the Practice Expense RVU (the overhead cost of that time), and the Malpractice RVU (the likelihood of complications)

A procedure’s Relative Value Unit ( RVU), set by HCFA and geographically adjusted to location. The Medicare Fee is the product of the procedure RVU and the Medicare Conversion Factor (a US national uniform dollar amount per RVU).