CPT code 23174: Sequestrectomy, humeral head or surgical neck2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $724.80 for 23174 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 23174 covers

An orthopedic surgeon uses this procedure to remove a sequestrum, a fragment of dead bone, from the humeral head or surgical neck. It is typically performed in an operating room when diseased bone requires operative treatment, such as in a case of chronic bone infection. The operative report should identify the humeral site and describe removal of the sequestrum rather than a broader bone resection or excision of a bone lesion.

Report the code when the documented procedure matches that site and scope; the operative note should support the diagnosis, location, and bone removed. Medicare treats it as major surgery with a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, 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 23174 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

23174 rates by state

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

How the 23174 rate is calculated

Each of 23174’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 23174

23174 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

23174 compared with similar codes

How to choose

23184Bone excisionProximal humerus

This code is for removal of a sequestrum from a specified humeral site. Code 23184 describes partial excision of proximal humeral bone, so the operative extent determines the choice.

23195Humeral head resection

Code 23195 describes resection of the humeral head. Choose this code when the documented work is sequestrectomy at the humeral head or surgical neck, not a broader head resection.

23172SequestrectomyScapula

Both codes describe sequestrectomy, but 23172 is for the scapula; this code is for the humeral head or surgical neck.

23150Bone lesion removalProximal humerus, no graft

Code 23150 is a humeral bone-lesion removal code. This code is specific to removing a sequestrum from the humeral head or surgical neck.

Codes related to 23174

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