CPT code 21743: Nuss repair, with thoracoscopy2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Thoracoscopic Nuss repair corrects pectus deformity through minimally invasive chest-wall reshaping and is reported when thoracoscopy is used.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 21743 in Illinois.
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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On this page 9 sections
What 21743 covers
This code reports minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum or carinatum using the Nuss approach with thoracoscopic visualization. The surgeon reshapes the chest wall by placing a curved support bar behind the sternum under thoracoscopic guidance. A thoracic or pediatric surgeon typically performs the operation in an operating room. Thoracoscopy distinguishes this service from the Nuss repair reported without thoracoscopy.
Medicare assigns physician fee schedule status C: no national payment amount is published, and the Medicare Administrative Contractor prices each claim. The operation has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the standard multiple-procedure reduction applies to the others. Modifier 50 is inappropriate; an assistant at surgery may be paid, and co-surgeons require supporting documentation. 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 21743 pays more and less in Illinois
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis, IL | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Rest of Illinois | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago, IL | Unavailable | Unavailable |
How the 21743 rate is calculated
Each of 21743’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 · 21743
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.00
0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.00
0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.00
0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
0.0000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$0.00
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 21743
21743 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 21743
Nuss repair, with thoracoscopy
| 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) | 0.10/0.69/0.21 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 21743
Nuss repair, with thoracoscopy
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
21743 without 51 · national facility
$0.00
Nuss repair, with thoracoscopy
21743-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$0.00
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%).
21743 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 21742Nuss repairWithout thoracoscopy
- Choose 21743 when thoracoscopy is used during the Nuss repair; 21742 describes the Nuss approach without thoracoscopy.
- 21740Sternal reconstructionOpen reconstruction
- 21740 describes sternal reconstruction for deformity without specifying the minimally invasive Nuss approach. Use 21743 for thoracoscopically assisted Nuss repair.
- 21750Sternal repairPostoperative separation
- 21750 addresses separation of the sternum, not repair of a pectus deformity using a Nuss procedure.
21743 billing questions
How does 21743 differ from 21742?
Both describe a minimally invasive Nuss repair. Use 21743 when thoracoscopy is used; 21742 is the corresponding code without thoracoscopy.
Is thoracoscopy separately reported with 21743?
Thoracoscopy is part of the procedure described by 21743. Do not use 21742 for the same repair when thoracoscopy is performed.
Does Medicare publish a national payment amount for 21743?
No. Physician fee schedule status C means the Medicare Administrative Contractor prices the claim.
What global period applies?
The procedure has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can modifier 50 be used?
No. Medicare's bilateral adjustment does not apply to this code, and modifier 50 is inappropriate.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; 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
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