Health · Chapter 15 · Basic Plans
Relative Value Scale
Definition
Each surgery is assigned units of relative cost rather than dollars; a conversion factor gives each unit a dollar value. Costs shift? Adjust the unit value once — every benefit updates while procedures keep their relative worth.
In plain English
An appendectomy is 22 units; the insurer just decides what a unit is worth this year.
Easy to confuse with
These are what this term gets tested against — if you can't tell them apart cold, drill the contrast.
Related terms