CPT code 23525: Joint reduction, sternoclavicular with manipulation2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $446.24 for 23525 nationally in the office and $367.08 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $391.66–$578.54.

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

What 23525 covers

Code 23525 describes closed treatment of a sternoclavicular joint dislocation in which the clinician manipulates the clavicle and sternum to restore alignment without surgically exposing the joint. An orthopedic surgeon typically performs the reduction. Posterior displacement may require urgent attention because of the sternoclavicular joint’s proximity to mediastinal structures. This code is specific to the sternoclavicular articulation, not the acromioclavicular joint or a clavicle fracture.

Report 23525 when the record supports an actual closed reduction with manipulation, rather than closed treatment without manipulation (23520) or open treatment. Document the dislocation, side, reduction maneuver, and post-reduction alignment. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%; bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. An assistant is payable only with documentation of medical necessity; 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 23525 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

23525 rates by state

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

How the 23525 rate is calculated

Each of 23525’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 23525

23525 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

23525 compared with similar codes

How to choose

23520Sternoclavicular treatmentWithout manipulation

Both codes describe closed treatment of a sternoclavicular dislocation. Choose 23525 when manipulation is performed; 23520 is for treatment without manipulation.

23530Joint dislocation surgerySternoclavicular, without graft

23530 is for open treatment of a sternoclavicular dislocation. Use 23525 when the reduction is performed closed, without open exposure.

23532Joint reconstructionFascial graft

23532 describes open sternoclavicular dislocation treatment with a graft. It does not describe a closed reduction with manipulation.

23545AC joint treatmentClosed, with manipulation

23545 is closed treatment with manipulation of an acromioclavicular dislocation. Code 23525 applies to the sternoclavicular joint.

Codes related to 23525

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