CPT code 25215: Carpectomy, entire proximal carpal row2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Reports surgical removal of the scaphoid, lunate, and triquetrum as a proximal row carpectomy, often used to address selected forms of wrist arthritis.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 25215 in Texas.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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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 in Texas
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | Unavailable | $587.82 |
| Beaumont, TX | Unavailable | $550.66 |
| Brazoria, TX | Unavailable | $566.50 |
| Dallas, TX | Unavailable | $572.01 |
| Fort Worth, TX | Unavailable | $570.05 |
| Galveston, TX | Unavailable | $569.45 |
| Houston, TX | Unavailable | $597.09 |
| Rest of Texas | Unavailable | $559.57 |
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.
How the rate is built · 25215
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work7.94
7.94 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense7.85
7.85 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.51
1.51 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
17.3000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$577.84
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 25215
25215 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 25215
Carpectomy, entire proximal carpal row
| 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 · 25215
Carpectomy, entire proximal carpal row
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
25215 without 50 · national facility
$577.84
Carpectomy, entire proximal carpal row
25215-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$866.76
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).
25215 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
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.
25215 billing questions
How does 25215 differ from 25210?
25215 is for removal of the entire proximal carpal row: the scaphoid, lunate, and triquetrum. 25210 describes removal of one carpal bone, not the full row.
What documentation supports 25215?
Document the wrist side, the indication, and removal of all three proximal-row bones. The operative report should also identify any separate procedures performed during the session.
Does the 90-day global period include postoperative care?
Yes. CMS includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care for 90 days in the global period.
How is bilateral 25215 paid?
CMS pays a bilateral procedure reported with modifier 50 at 150%. The operative documentation should support that the procedure was performed on both wrists.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
CMS may pay for an assistant at surgery. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.
How does CMS handle other procedures in the same session?
Under the standard multiple procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50% when performed in the same session.
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
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