CPT code 25320: Wrist stabilization, carpal instability2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Michigan
Reports operative repair or reconstruction of the wrist joint’s stabilizing structures when carpal instability requires surgical restoration of joint stability.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 25320 in Michigan.
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 25320 covers
Code 25320 represents operative stabilization of the wrist for carpal instability. An orthopedic hand or upper-extremity surgeon repairs or reconstructs supporting joint structures, such as the capsule or ligaments, to restore stability and control abnormal carpal motion. This procedure may be performed in a hospital operating room or another surgical setting when instability is significant enough to require reconstruction rather than nonsurgical management.
Report the code when the operative objective is wrist-joint stabilization, not replacement of the joint or correction of radius or ulna length. The operative report should identify the instability, the structures addressed, the repair or reconstruction performed, and the treated side. The service has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; 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 25320 pays more and less in Michigan
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | Unavailable | $967.65 |
| Rest of Michigan | Unavailable | $900.35 |
How the 25320 rate is calculated
Each of 25320’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 · 25320
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work12.43
12.43 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense12.93
12.93 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice2.41
2.41 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
27.7700
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$927.54
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 25320
25320 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 25320
Wrist stabilization, carpal instability
| 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) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| 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 · 25320
Wrist stabilization, carpal instability
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
25320 without 50 · national facility
$927.54
Wrist stabilization, carpal instability
25320-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,391.31
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).
25320 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 25332Wrist arthroplastyWith or without interposition
- Choose 25320 for wrist-joint stabilization due to carpal instability. Choose 25332 when the procedure is wrist arthroplasty.
- 25337Joint reconstructionDistal radioulnar joint
- 25320 addresses carpal instability generally; 25337 specifically reconstructs the distal radioulnar joint.
- 25335Wrist centralizationCarpus positioned over ulna
- 25335 describes centralization of the wrist on the ulna, not a general repair or reconstruction for carpal instability.
25320 billing questions
When is 25320 preferable to 25332?
Use 25320 when the operative goal is to stabilize a wrist with carpal instability. Code 25332 describes wrist arthroplasty, which addresses a different operative objective.
Does 25320 include routine postoperative care?
Yes. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How is 25320 reported when both wrists are treated?
For a bilateral procedure, report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted for this code.
How does the multiple-procedure reduction affect 25320?
When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the other procedures are paid at 50%.
What documentation supports reporting 25320?
Document the carpal instability, the wrist structures repaired or reconstructed, the stabilization performed, and the side treated.
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
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