CPT code 21602: Chest wall tumor excision, without mediastinal lymphadenectomy2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Massachusetts
Reports surgical removal of a chest wall tumor, including involved ribs, when the operation does not include mediastinal lymphadenectomy.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 21602 in Massachusetts.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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What 21602 covers
A thoracic surgeon or surgical oncologist reports this service for removal of a chest wall tumor that involves the ribs, without mediastinal lymphadenectomy. A typical setting is an operating room, with the operative report describing the tumor’s site and extent, the chest wall structures removed, and the absence of mediastinal node dissection. Rib removal performed as part of the tumor resection is included in the service; this is not a code for an isolated rib resection.
Select this code based on the operation actually performed, distinguishing it from the related tumor-excision service that includes mediastinal lymphadenectomy. The operative report should support the tumor excision and its extent, including any rib resection. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation. Modifier 50 is inappropriate, and team surgery is not permitted.
This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.
Where 21602 pays more and less in Massachusetts
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Boston, MA | Unavailable | $1,661.23 |
| Rest of Massachusetts | Unavailable | $1,537.99 |
How the 21602 rate is calculated
Each of 21602’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.
How the rate is built · 21602
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work21.64
21.64 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense18.83
18.83 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice5.31
5.31 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
45.7800
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,529.09
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 21602
21602 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 21602
Chest wall tumor excision, without mediastinal lymphadenectomy
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.71/0.19 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 21602
Chest wall tumor excision, without mediastinal lymphadenectomy
90-day global period ends
Dec 30, 2026
Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
21602 without 51 · national facility
$1,529.09
Chest wall tumor excision, without mediastinal lymphadenectomy
21602-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$764.55
When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).
21602 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 21603Chest wall tumor excisionWith lymphadenectomy
- The key distinction is mediastinal lymphadenectomy: this code is for tumor excision without it; 21603 includes it.
- 21600Rib excisionPartial rib removal
- 21600 describes costochondral resection. Use this code for chest wall tumor excision, not isolated removal of a costochondral segment.
- 21630Sternum resectionRadical resection
- 21630 is for radical resection of the sternum. This code is for chest wall tumor excision without mediastinal lymphadenectomy.
21602 billing questions
How does this code differ from 21603?
This code describes chest wall tumor excision without mediastinal lymphadenectomy. Use 21603 when the operation also includes mediastinal lymphadenectomy.
Can the rib resection be reported separately?
When rib removal is part of the chest wall tumor resection, it is included in this service. This code is not for an isolated rib resection.
What documentation supports reporting this code?
The operative report should identify the chest wall tumor, the structures removed, any involved ribs resected, and whether mediastinal lymphadenectomy was performed.
Should modifier 50 be used for bilateral work?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.
How does the 90-day global period affect postoperative billing?
The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is not permitted.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.
CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027
Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
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