CPT code 24101: Elbow arthrotomy, exploration, biopsy, or removal2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $482.64 for 24101 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 24101 covers

An orthopedic surgeon opens the elbow joint to inspect its interior, obtain tissue for biopsy, or remove an intra-articular loose body or foreign object. The service is performed in an operative setting; examples include evaluating abnormal joint tissue or removing a loose fragment that is inside the joint. This is an open approach, rather than arthroscopic treatment, and it is distinct from surgery directed at the olecranon bursa or excision of the radial head.

Select this code when the documented work includes elbow arthrotomy with exploration, biopsy, or removal. The operative report should identify the joint target and describe the work performed; biopsy alone is represented by a different elbow arthrotomy code, and synovectomy has its own code. 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 is paid in full and others at 50%. Modifier 50 for bilateral surgery 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 24101 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

24101 rates by state

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

How the 24101 rate is calculated

Each of 24101’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 24101

24101 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

24101 compared with similar codes

How to choose

24100Elbow biopsySynovial tissue only

24100 describes elbow arthrotomy with biopsy only. Choose 24101 when the procedure includes exploration or removal of an intra-articular loose body or foreign object.

24102Elbow synovectomyOpen joint approach

24102 is the elbow arthrotomy code for synovectomy. 24101 describes exploration, biopsy, or removal without that synovectomy service.

24105Bursa excisionOlecranon bursa

24105 treats the olecranon bursa. Use 24101 for open work inside the elbow joint, not excision of the bursa.

24130Radial head excisionRemoval of radial head

24130 describes excision of the radial head. It is not the code for opening the joint to explore it or remove an intra-articular loose body.

Codes related to 24101

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