Hospital Medicine RVU Guide

Comprehensive RVU guide for hospital medicine procedures. Find the highest-value CPT codes, productivity benchmarks, and optimization strategies.

Track Your Hospital Medicine Productivity

18-25 wRVUs

Daily Target

work RVUs per day

4,500-5,500 wRVUs

Annual Target

work RVUs per year

Specialties

using these codes

Note: Based on 7 on/7 off schedule

Rank	CPT Code	Description	Work RVU	Total RVU	Category
1	99291	Critical care first hour	4.50	8.21	E/M
2	99223	1st hosp ip/obs high 75	3.50	5.17	E/M
3	99222	1st hosp ip/obs moderate 55	2.60	3.88	E/M
4	99233	Sbsq hosp ip/obs high 50	2.40	3.52	E/M
5	99292	Critical care addl 30 min	2.25	3.57	E/M
6	32554	Aspirate pleura w/o imaging	1.82	6.87	Surgery
7	36556	Insert non-tunnel cv cath	1.75	6.22	Surgery
8	99221	1st hosp ip/obs sf/low 40	1.63	2.46	E/M
9	99232	Sbsq hosp ip/obs moderate 35	1.59	2.36	E/M
10	99238	Hosp ip/obs dschrg mgmt 30/<	1.50	2.42	E/M
11	49082	Abd paracentesis	1.24	6.19	Surgery
12	99231	Sbsq hosp ip/obs sf/low 25	1.00	1.46	E/M
13	36620	Insertion catheter artery	1.00	1.29	Surgery

RVU values from CMS Physician Fee Schedule

CPT Code

Quantity

Focus on Complex Cases

Prioritize 99223 and 99233 when documentation supports

Procedure Opportunities

Central lines (36556) and paracentesis (49082) add significant RVUs

Hospitalist

Internal Medicine

Join thousands of physicians optimizing their hospital medicine practice productivity.