CPT code 23182: Bone excision, scapula, partial removal2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $640.96 for 23182 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 23182 covers

An orthopedic surgeon reports this service when surgery removes a portion of scapular bone. The operative report should identify the affected area and describe the bone removal and its clinical purpose. The work is distinct from removing a sequestrum or performing a procedure specifically directed at a bone cyst or benign tumor. CMS utilization data show this code is performed in facility settings, such as a hospital operating room.

Choose the code from the operation documented, not just the diagnosis: record the scapular site, extent of bone removed, and whether the surgeon treated a sequestrum or a defined lesion. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When other procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. For bilateral surgery, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. An assistant at surgery 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 23182 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

23182 rates by state

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

How the 23182 rate is calculated

Each of 23182’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 23182

23182 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

23182 compared with similar codes

How to choose

23172SequestrectomyScapula

23172 is for sequestrectomy of the scapula. Use 23182 when the documented service is partial scapular bone excision rather than removal of a sequestrum.

23140Bone lesion removalClavicular lesion

23140 addresses excision or curettage of a bone cyst or benign tumor. 23182 describes partial scapular bone excision without that lesion-specific service.

23190Bone removalPartial scapula

Both concern partial removal of scapular bone. Distinguish them by the procedure documented and the specific service performed; do not select solely from the diagnosis.

Codes related to 23182

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