Most Common CPT Codes
by Medical Specialty
A reference directory of commonly-billed physician CPT codes with current 2026 work RVU and total RVU values from CMS data. Filter by specialty or code category.
Most Common CPT Codes
Sorted by billing frequency (most commonly billed first). Click any code to view full RVU breakdown.
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Most Common CPT Codes by Specialty
Most frequently billed codes for each physician specialty
Highest Work RVU Codes
Most Frequently Billed
Understanding CPT Code RVU Values
Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes are the universal language for physician billing in the United States. Each code is assigned a work relative value unit (wRVU) by CMS through the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). These values reflect the physician's time, technical skill, mental effort, and stress associated with each service.
For physicians in productivity-based compensation models, tracking wRVUs is essential for understanding and benchmarking their clinical output. The codes listed on this page represent the most commonly billed CPT codes across the major physician specialties, curated from CMS billing data and clinical practice patterns.
Office E/M Codes (99202–99215)
The office evaluation and management codes are the most frequently billed CPT codes in the US, used by primary care physicians, internists, and most outpatient specialists. Following the 2021 E/M revisions, these codes saw significant wRVU increases. The 99214 (moderate complexity established patient) is currently the single most billed code in outpatient medicine.
Hospital E/M Codes (99221–99239)
Hospital evaluation and management codes are the core billing codes for hospitalists and inpatient physicians. 99223 (initial high-complexity admission), 99232 (subsequent moderate care), and 99238 (discharge) form the typical daily billing pattern for hospitalists. Subsequent care codes are time-based alternatives also available for complex encounters.
Critical Care Codes (99291–99292)
Critical care codes are time-based and require documentation of critical illness and at least 30 minutes of direct physician care. 99291 covers the first 30-74 minutes and commands among the highest wRVU values of any E/M code. 99292 is added for each additional 30-minute increment of critical care time.
Procedure and Surgery CPT Codes
Procedural specialties like gastroenterology, cardiology, and surgery generate wRVUs through procedure codes rather than E/M visits. A colonoscopy (45378) generates significantly more wRVUs per encounter than a typical office visit, which is why procedure-heavy specialties tend to have higher annual wRVU totals than primary care physicians with comparable work hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about CPT codes and RVU values
RVU values are sourced from the 2026 CMS Physician Fee Schedule and are provided for reference only. Always verify codes and values with official CMS sources and your billing department before use. Actual reimbursement depends on geographic adjustments (GPCI), payer contracts, and other factors.
Track Your Daily wRVU Production
Log the CPT codes you bill daily, track your wRVU totals over time, and see how you compare to specialty benchmarks.
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