CPT code 24102: Elbow synovectomy, open joint approach2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Missouri
Report 24102 when a surgeon opens the elbow joint and removes synovial tissue to treat joint synovitis rather than obtain a biopsy alone.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 24102 in Missouri.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
Your location
On this page 9 sections
What 24102 covers
The surgeon opens the elbow joint and removes synovial tissue, typically to address clinically significant synovitis, such as persistent proliferative inflammation. An orthopedic surgeon generally performs this operation in a hospital or other surgical facility. The code describes an arthrotomy with synovectomy, not an isolated diagnostic sample or an arthroscopic procedure.
Select 24102 when the operative report supports removal of synovium as treatment; a limited synovial sample for diagnosis points to a different service. Document the affected elbow, surgical approach, reason for synovectomy, and work performed. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. When other procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. For bilateral surgery, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; 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 24102 pays more and less in Missouri
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MO | Unavailable | $561.99 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MO | Unavailable | $566.66 |
| Rest of Missouri | Unavailable | $542.12 |
How the 24102 rate is calculated
Each of 24102’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 · 24102
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work8.05
8.05 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense7.66
7.66 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.62
1.62 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
17.3300
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$578.84
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 24102
24102 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 24102
Elbow synovectomy, open joint approach
| 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) | 2 | Paid. |
| 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 · 24102
Elbow synovectomy, open joint approach
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
24102 without 50 · national facility
$578.84
Elbow synovectomy, open joint approach
24102-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$868.26
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).
24102 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 24100Elbow biopsySynovial tissue only
- 24100 is for elbow arthrotomy with synovial biopsy alone. Choose 24102 when synovium is removed as treatment.
- 24101Elbow arthrotomyExploration, biopsy, or removal
- 24101 covers elbow arthrotomy for exploration, biopsy, or removal of a loose or foreign body; 24102 is distinguished by synovectomy.
- 29835Elbow arthroscopyPartial synovectomy
- 29835 describes partial synovectomy performed arthroscopically. 24102 uses an arthrotomy approach.
- 29836Elbow arthroscopyComplete synovectomy
- 29836 describes major elbow synovectomy performed arthroscopically; 24102 is the arthrotomy service.
24102 billing questions
When should 24102 be chosen instead of 24100?
Use 24102 when the surgeon removes synovium therapeutically during an elbow arthrotomy. Code 24100 describes an elbow arthrotomy for synovial biopsy alone.
Is an arthroscopic elbow synovectomy reported with 24102?
No. 24102 describes an arthrotomy; an arthroscopic synovectomy is represented by the arthroscopy code that matches the extent of synovectomy performed.
What documentation supports 24102?
The operative report should identify the elbow, the arthrotomy approach, the synovitis being treated, and the synovial tissue removed.
How is bilateral elbow surgery handled?
CMS lists bilateral reporting with modifier 50 and payment at 150%. The documentation should support treatment of both elbows.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.
What postoperative care is included?
24102 has a 90-day global period that includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
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
Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
Fee sheets
Put 24102 and the rest of your codes on one sheet
Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.
Build my fee sheet