CPT code 24160: Elbow prosthesis removal, humeral and ulnar components2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California

CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 24160 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 24160 covers

An orthopedic surgeon removes the prosthetic humeral and ulnar components from an elbow joint. The procedure may be performed when an elbow replacement is infected, loose, or otherwise requires removal without the work being a component revision. It is typically performed in a hospital or other surgical facility; Medicare recorded facility services for this code in 2024.

Report the code when the operative documentation supports removal of both specified components. If the surgeon revises the elbow replacement, distinguish that work from removal alone and select the applicable revision code based on the components revised. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. In a session with multiple procedures, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery; 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 24160 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 24160 rate is calculated

Each of 24160’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 24160

24160 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

24160 compared with similar codes

How to choose

24164Prosthesis removalProsthetic radial head

Use 24164 for removal of a radial head prosthesis. This code is for removal of the humeral and ulnar components of an elbow prosthesis.

24370Elbow revisionHumeral and ulnar components

Use 24370 when the work is revision of both humeral and ulnar components of a total elbow arthroplasty, rather than removal alone.

24371Elbow revisionTotal elbow prosthesis

Use 24371 for revision involving one component of a total elbow arthroplasty. This code describes removal of the humeral and ulnar components.

Codes related to 24160

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