CPT code 23480: Clavicle osteotomy, alignment correction2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California

CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 23480 in California.

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

What 23480 covers

An orthopedic surgeon cuts and reshapes the clavicle to correct a structural alignment problem. The surgeon may use plates, screws, or other internal fixation to hold the bone in its corrected position. This is generally performed in an operating room, such as a hospital or ambulatory surgical facility, when a planned osteotomy is needed rather than routine fracture fixation or treatment of a nonunion or malunion.

The operative report should identify the clavicle, the reason for the osteotomy, the bone cut and correction performed, and any fixation used. Internal fixation used to stabilize the osteotomy is part of the service. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is statutorily restricted; co-surgeons require 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 23480 pays more and less in California

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

29 of 29 payment localities

How the 23480 rate is calculated

Each of 23480’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 23480

23480 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

23480 compared with similar codes

How to choose

23485Clavicle osteotomyWith bone graft

Choose 23485 when the osteotomy is for clavicular nonunion or malunion. Code 23480 is for a clavicle osteotomy for another indication.

23515Clavicle fracture repairOpen treatment

This code concerns a planned osteotomy for correction; 23515 is for open treatment of a clavicle fracture.

23490Clavicle reinforcementProphylactic stabilization

Code 23490 addresses prophylactic reinforcement of the clavicle. Code 23480 involves cutting and correcting the bone's alignment or shape.

Codes related to 23480

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