CPT code 24073: Tumor excision, deep, 5 cm or larger2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $653.32 for 24073 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 24073 covers

A surgeon removes a soft-tissue tumor located beneath the fascia in the upper arm or elbow, including a mass within muscle. The service covers tumors measuring 5 cm or larger. Orthopedic surgeons and surgical oncologists commonly perform this operation in an operating room, including hospital or ambulatory surgery settings.

Select the code using the tumor’s documented depth and size: it must be deep, rather than confined to the tissue above the fascia, and measure at least 5 cm. The operative report should identify the arm or elbow site, the tumor’s relationship to the fascia or muscle, and its size. This major surgery has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care for 90 days. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Modifier 50 applies to bilateral procedures, 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 24073 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

24073 rates by state

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

How the 24073 rate is calculated

Each of 24073’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 24073

24073 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

24073 compared with similar codes

How to choose

24076Tumor excisionDeep, under 5 cm

Both describe deep tumors in the upper arm or elbow; use 24076 when the tumor is under 5 cm and this code when it is 5 cm or larger.

24071Soft-tissue excisionSubcutaneous, 3 cm or larger

Use 24071 for a subcutaneous lesion measuring 3 cm or larger. This code requires a deep tumor measuring at least 5 cm.

24066Soft-tissue biopsyDeep arm or elbow

Code 24066 is for biopsy of deep upper arm or elbow soft tissue. Use this code when the service is excision of a qualifying tumor, rather than tissue sampling.

24079Tumor resectionArm or elbow, 5 cm or larger

Both address tumors at least 5 cm in the upper arm or elbow, but 24079 describes radical resection; this code describes excision.

Codes related to 24073

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