CPT code 25608: Distal radius repair, intra-articular, two fragments2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Reports open reduction and internal fixation of an intra-articular distal radius fracture when the surgeon treats two fragments.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 25608 in Illinois.
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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On this page 9 sections
What 25608 covers
An orthopedic or hand surgeon exposes the wrist fracture, restores the joint surface and stabilizes the distal radius, commonly with a plate and screws. This code applies when the fracture extends into the wrist joint and two fragments are treated. The operation is usually performed in an operating room for a displaced or unstable fracture that needs direct surgical reduction and fixation.
Select the code from the operative findings and report: documentation should establish intra-articular involvement, the two-fragment count, and the open reduction and fixation performed. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When other procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. For bilateral procedures reported with modifier 50, CMS payment is 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; 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 25608 pays more and less in Illinois
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | Unavailable | $869.97 |
| East St. Louis, IL | Unavailable | $818.27 |
| Rest of Illinois | Unavailable | $783.21 |
| Suburban Chicago, IL | Unavailable | $839.53 |
How the 25608 rate is calculated
Each of 25608’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 · 25608
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work10.79
10.79 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense10.15
10.15 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice2.17
2.17 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
23.1100
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$771.89
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 25608
25608 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 25608
Distal radius repair, intra-articular, two fragments
| 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 · 25608
Distal radius repair, intra-articular, two fragments
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
25608 without 50 · national facility
$771.89
Distal radius repair, intra-articular, two fragments
25608-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,157.84
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).
25608 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 25609Distal radius fixationIntra-articular, three or more fragments
- Both describe open treatment of an intra-articular distal radius fracture; choose 25608 for two treated fragments and 25609 for three or more.
- 25607Distal radius repairExtra-articular, open treatment
- Code 25607 is for an extra-articular distal radius fracture treated openly. Code 25608 requires intra-articular involvement and two treated fragments.
- 25606Distal radius fixationPercutaneous skeletal fixation
- Code 25606 describes percutaneous skeletal fixation. Use 25608 when the surgeon performs open treatment of the intra-articular fracture.
- 25605Wrist fracture treatmentWith manipulation
- Code 25605 is closed treatment with manipulation; 25608 is open treatment with fixation for an intra-articular fracture involving two fragments.
25608 billing questions
How is this distinguished from code 25609?
Use 25608 when the intra-articular distal radius fracture involves two treated fragments. Code 25609 is for three or more fragments.
When should code 25607 be used instead?
Code 25607 describes open treatment of an extra-articular distal radius fracture. This code is for an intra-articular fracture with two treated fragments.
Can this be reported for percutaneous fixation?
No. Code 25608 describes open treatment; code 25606 is the percutaneous skeletal-fixation alternative for a distal radius fracture.
What documentation supports the fragment count?
The operative report should describe the fracture’s joint involvement, the number of fragments treated, and the open reduction and fixation performed.
What is included in the global period?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How is bilateral treatment reported?
For bilateral procedures reported with modifier 50, CMS pays 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid, but co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
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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