Monetary value assigned to each service based on the amount of physician work, practice expenses, and the cost of professional liability insurance. These three RVUs are then adjusted according to geographical area and used in a formula to determine Medicare fees.

Assigned weight calculated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that reflects the resource consumption of each diagnosis-related group (DRG). The higher the relative weight, the larger the payment to the facility. Relative weights are published in the final prospective payment system rule.

Measure used in health care cost accounting and data analysis that links the amount of personnel time, medical resources, and cost to care for a diagnosis-related group (DRG). If the RWP is higher, then more hospital resources are needed to care for that disease or injury. Also called ambulatory weighted unit .

Monetary dollar amount that indicates the average work of a physician of average efficiency relative to a given standard.

Person who files a qui tam suit on behalf of the U.S. government. See qui tam action, qui tam provision, and whistleblower .

To disclose a patient’s protected health information (PHI). See authorization form and consent form for mandates required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).