What Is One wRVU Worth in 2026?
Two numbers matter. Medicare's 2026 conversion factor is $33.4009 per RVU, but your employer pays on the dollars-per-wRVU rate written in your contract. The work RVU itself comes from the CMS fee schedule.
Where does the wRVU number come from?
CMS publishes a work RVU for every code in the Physician Fee Schedule. In the 2026 file, 99233 carries 2.40 work RVUs and 99232 carries 1.59 (CMS PFS relative value file, 2026).
Is the conversion factor what I get paid?
No. The 2026 conversion factor, $33.4009 for most clinicians, converts total RVUs into Medicare payment for the visit. Total RVUs add practice expense and malpractice to the work piece. Your paycheck usually runs on your contract's own rate, for example $50 per wRVU, times the work RVUs credited to you.
So what is a 99233 worth to me?
Multiply 2.40 by your contract rate. At a $50 rate, that is $120 of credited work. The code itself follows the documentation and medical necessity, never the other way around.
The full walk-through, including total versus work RVUs, is in the complete wRVU guide. Why credited work and documented work drift apart is in why your wRVU report doesn't match your notes. Founding Member pricing is on the Founding Member page.
