Which of the following is NOT a component of RVUs?

The correct choice, which indicates that patient satisfaction is not a component of Relative Value Units (RVUs), reflects the structure of how RVUs are defined in the context of healthcare reimbursement. RVUs are designed to provide a standard measure for the resources used to provide a service, and they primarily consist of three components: physician work, practice expense, and malpractice expense.

Physician work is quantified based on the time, skill, and effort that a physician invests in delivering care. Practice expense takes into account the overhead costs associated with providing services, such as rent, utilities, and labor. Malpractice expense refers to the costs related to liability insurance that a physician incurs while offering services. All these components are rooted in measurable economic factors that inform compensation models.

In contrast, patient satisfaction, while an important aspect of healthcare delivery and quality measurement, does not directly contribute to the calculation of RVUs. It is more qualitative in nature and reflects the patient's experience and perception of care rather than an economic or resource-based evaluation of the services provided. As such, it is clear why patient satisfaction is not included as a component of RVUs.