CPT code 23415: Shoulder decompression, open ligament release2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Reports open release of the shoulder’s coracoacromial ligament, with or without acromioplasty, during surgery for subacromial impingement.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 23415 in Florida.
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 23415 covers
The surgeon releases the coracoacromial ligament, which spans the coracoid process and acromion, to increase clearance in the subacromial space. The procedure may include reshaping the acromion. An orthopedic surgeon typically performs it through an open approach during surgery for shoulder impingement, sometimes in the same session as rotator cuff repair.
Report 23415 when the operative work includes an open coracoacromial ligament release; acromioplasty may be performed with it. The operative report should identify the ligament release and any acromial work, rather than relying on an impingement diagnosis alone. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures at 50%. For bilateral work reported with modifier 50, CMS pays at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted; 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 23415 pays more and less in Florida
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | Unavailable | $712.11 |
| Miami, FL | Unavailable | $764.94 |
| Rest of Florida | Unavailable | $676.39 |
How the 23415 rate is calculated
Each of 23415’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 · 23415
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work9.00
9.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense8.86
8.86 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.85
1.85 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
19.7100
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$658.33
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 23415
23415 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 23415
Shoulder decompression, open ligament release
| 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) | 1 | Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| 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 · 23415
Shoulder decompression, open ligament release
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 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
23415 without 50 · national facility
$658.33
Shoulder decompression, open ligament release
23415-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$987.50
Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).
23415 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 29826Shoulder decompressionSubacromial space
- This code describes arthroscopic subacromial decompression. Use 23415 for the open ligament-release procedure.
- 23412Rotator cuff repairChronic tear, open repair
- 23412 reports repair of a chronic rotator cuff tear; 23415 reports open coracoacromial ligament release, with or without acromioplasty.
- 23410Rotator cuff repairAcute tear, open
- 23410 reports repair of an acute rotator cuff tear. It does not identify the ligament-release and acromial work described by 23415.
23415 billing questions
Does 23415 include acromioplasty?
Yes. The code covers coracoacromial ligament release with or without acromioplasty, so acromial reshaping performed as part of that service is included.
Can 23415 be reported with a rotator cuff repair?
The codes describe different work: ligament release and acromial work versus tendon repair. Report both only when both services were performed and the applicable coding edits permit separate reporting.
How does 23415 differ from 29826?
23415 describes the open approach. Code 29826 describes arthroscopic subacromial decompression, so the operative approach distinguishes the codes.
What documentation supports 23415?
The operative report should identify the open release of the coracoacromial ligament and describe any acromioplasty performed. A diagnosis of shoulder impingement alone does not establish that the procedure was done.
What are the assistant and co-surgeon payment rules?
CMS does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeons are paid only with 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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