CPT code 25215: Carpectomy, entire proximal carpal row2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $577.84 for 25215 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 25215 covers

A proximal row carpectomy removes the scaphoid, lunate, and triquetrum, the three bones forming the wrist’s proximal carpal row. A hand or orthopedic surgeon may perform it for selected cases of painful wrist arthritis, including arthritis after carpal injury or collapse, when the remaining joint surfaces can support the intended reconstruction. The operation is commonly performed in a hospital outpatient or ambulatory surgery setting, and may also be performed in an inpatient setting.

Report 25215 when the documented procedure removes the entire proximal row, rather than one carpal bone. The operative note should identify the bones removed, the side, the indication, and any distinct procedures performed in the same session. CMS assigns a 90-day global period: the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period are included. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued is paid in full and others at 50%. For bilateral reporting with modifier 50, CMS pays 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 25215 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

25215 rates by state

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

How the 25215 rate is calculated

Each of 25215’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 25215

25215 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

25215 compared with similar codes

How to choose

25210Carpal bone removalOne bone

Choose 25210 when the procedure removes one carpal bone. Use 25215 when all three bones of the proximal carpal row are removed.

25230Radius resectionPartial bone removal

25230 concerns partial removal of the radius, not removal of the proximal carpal row. Select based on the bone actually resected.

25240Ulna ostectomyPartial bone removal

25240 concerns partial removal of the ulna. It is not the code for a proximal row carpectomy.

25800Wrist fusionComplete, without graft

25215 removes the proximal carpal row; 25800 is wrist arthrodesis. The operative plan and documented procedure distinguish carpectomy from fusion.

Codes related to 25215

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