CPT code 23073: Shoulder tumor excision, deep, 5 cm or larger2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $658.67 for 23073 nationally in a facility.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 23073 covers

Code 23073 describes operative removal of a soft-tissue tumor in the shoulder region when the lesion lies beneath the superficial fascia, such as within muscle, and measures at least 5 cm. Orthopedic surgeons and orthopedic oncologists commonly perform the procedure in an operating room; it may also be performed in an appropriately equipped outpatient surgical setting. The code concerns the tumor’s location and depth, not removal from the shoulder joint itself.

Select this code when the operative report supports the shoulder-region site, deep tissue plane, lesion size, and excision performed. Distinguish a deep lesion under 5 cm from one at least 5 cm, and distinguish excision from radical resection. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery services may be paid; co-surgeons and team surgery are 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 23073 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

23073 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

How the 23073 rate is calculated

Each of 23073’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 23073

23073 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 50

23073 compared with similar codes

How to choose

23076Shoulder tumor excisionDeep, under 5 cm

Both involve deep shoulder-region tumor excision; the size distinction is under 5 cm for 23076 versus at least 5 cm for 23073.

23071Shoulder mass excisionSubcutaneous, 3 cm or larger

23071 applies to a subcutaneous lesion measuring 3 cm or larger. Code 23073 requires a deep lesion measuring at least 5 cm.

23078Shoulder tumor resectionRadical resection, 5 cm or larger

23078 describes radical resection of a shoulder-region tumor at least 5 cm. Code 23073 describes excision, not radical resection.

23066Shoulder biopsyDeep tissue

23066 is for biopsy of deep shoulder-region tissue; 23073 is for excision of a deep tumor at least 5 cm.

Codes related to 23073

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates