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CPT code 39599: Diaphragm procedure, unlisted service2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

CPT 39599 reports an unlisted surgical procedure on the diaphragm when no specific CPT code describes the work, with claim-level pricing by the Medicare contractor.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities558 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare rate · 39599

Diaphragm procedure, unlisted service

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
0
Total RVUs
0.00
Global days
YYY

National rate · 2026

—

Not priced in the facility setting.

See every locality for 39599 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 39599 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 39599 covers

CPT 39599 is used for a surgical procedure on the diaphragm that no more specific CPT code describes. It does not identify a particular technique, defect, or extent of work. A surgeon may report it for a diaphragm operation that has no dedicated code. The operative report should describe the procedure performed, its clinical purpose, and the work involved so the Medicare contractor can evaluate the claim.

For Medicare physician fee schedule purposes, 39599 has status C: CMS publishes no national payment, and the Medicare Administrative Contractor prices each claim. The contractor sets the global period. 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%. Report 39599 only when a more specific diaphragm code does not describe the work.

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 39599 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

39599 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailableUnavailable
AlaskaUnavailableUnavailable
ArizonaUnavailableUnavailable
ArkansasUnavailableUnavailable
Atlanta, GAUnavailableUnavailable
Austin, TXUnavailableUnavailable
Bakersfield, CAUnavailableUnavailable
Baltimore area, MDUnavailableUnavailable
Beaumont, TXUnavailableUnavailable
Brazoria, TXUnavailableUnavailable

39599 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

View every state and territory as a table
39599 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 39599 rate is calculated

Each of 39599’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 · 39599

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

0.0000

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$0.00

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 39599

The CMS indicators that decide how 39599 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 39599

Diaphragm procedure, unlisted service

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodYYYThe Medicare contractor sets the global period.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
Team surgery (66)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

39599 without 51 · national facility

$0.00

Diaphragm procedure, unlisted service

39599-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$0.00

When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).

When to use modifier 51

39599 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

5 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 39599

    Diaphragm procedure, unlisted service0 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 39501

    Diaphragm repair, laceration repair13.63 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 39503

    Diaphragm hernia repair, including neonatal repair106.19 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 39540

    Diaphragm hernia repair, chronic traumatic hernia14.21 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 39560

    Diaphragm resection, simple resection12.73 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

39501Diaphragm repairLaceration repair
39501 describes repair of a diaphragm laceration. Use 39599 only when the operation is not that defined repair or another specific diaphragm service.
39503Diaphragm hernia repairIncluding neonatal repair
39503 is for congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair in a neonate. 39599 is for a diaphragm procedure without a matching specific code.
39540Diaphragm hernia repairChronic traumatic hernia
39540 describes acute repair of a traumatic diaphragmatic hernia; 39541 describes the chronic situation. Use 39599 when neither defined service fits.
39560Diaphragm resectionSimple resection
39560 covers diaphragm resection with simple repair, while 39561 covers complex repair. Do not substitute 39599 when one of those defined resection services applies.

Codes related to 39599

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 39599
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
39501Diaphragm repair, laceration repairUse for repair of a diaphragm laceration when that defined service describes the operation.No office rate
39503Diaphragm hernia repair, including neonatal repairUse for congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair in a neonate.No office rate
39540Diaphragm hernia repair, chronic traumatic herniaUse for acute repair of a traumatic diaphragmatic hernia.No office rate
39541Diaphragm repair, traumatic hernia, thoracic approachUse for chronic repair of a traumatic diaphragmatic hernia.No office rate
39545Diaphragm surgery, revision procedureUse for diaphragm plication when that defined service describes the procedure.No office rate
39560Diaphragm resection, simple resectionUse for diaphragm resection with simple repair when that description fits.No office rate
39561Diaphragm resection, complex repairUse for diaphragm resection with complex repair when that description fits.No office rate

39599 billing questions

When should 39599 be used instead of a specific diaphragm code?

Use 39599 when no more specific CPT code describes the diaphragm procedure performed. For a defined repair, hernia repair, or resection, use the code that matches that service.

What documentation should accompany a claim for 39599?

Describe the procedure, its purpose, and the operative work in the claim documentation. The operative report helps the Medicare contractor assess the service.

How does Medicare price 39599?

It has physician fee schedule status C. CMS publishes no national payment; the Medicare Administrative Contractor prices each claim.

How is the global period determined?

The Medicare contractor sets the global period for 39599.

How are multiple procedures in the same session treated?

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and the other procedures are paid at 50%.

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

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