CPT code 44210: Total colectomy, laparoscopic, rectum retained2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
Reports laparoscopic removal of the entire colon while retaining the rectum, with an ileostomy or an ileal connection to the rectum.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 44210 in California.
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 44210 covers
A surgeon removes the colon through laparoscopic access while leaving the rectum in place. The reconstruction includes an ileostomy or a connection between the ileum and retained rectum. Colorectal and general surgeons typically perform this operation in a hospital operating room for patients who need removal of the entire colon but do not have the rectum removed. This is distinct from laparoscopic procedures that remove only part of the colon or also remove the rectum.
Report the code when the operative record supports laparoscopic removal of the entire colon, rectal preservation, and the documented reconstruction. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this anatomy. An assistant at surgery may be paid; 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 44210 pays more and less in California
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
29 of 29 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | Unavailable | $1,618.47 |
| Chico, CA | Unavailable | $1,603.02 |
| El Centro, CA | Unavailable | $1,603.95 |
| Fresno, CA | Unavailable | $1,603.02 |
| Hanford, CA | Unavailable | $1,603.02 |
| Los Angeles, CA | Unavailable | $1,690.46 |
| Madera, CA | Unavailable | $1,603.02 |
| Marin County, CA | Unavailable | $1,810.60 |
| Merced, CA | Unavailable | $1,603.02 |
| Modesto, CA | Unavailable | $1,603.02 |
| Napa, CA | Unavailable | $1,745.70 |
| Oxnard, CA | Unavailable | $1,669.69 |
| Redding, CA | Unavailable | $1,603.02 |
| Rest of California | Unavailable | $1,603.02 |
| Riverside, CA | Unavailable | $1,662.56 |
| Sacramento, CA | Unavailable | $1,652.66 |
| Salinas, CA | Unavailable | $1,645.91 |
| San Benito County, CA | Unavailable | $1,854.34 |
| San Diego, CA | Unavailable | $1,663.17 |
| San Francisco, CA | Unavailable | $1,804.32 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | Unavailable | $1,622.93 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | Unavailable | $1,828.66 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | Unavailable | $1,662.03 |
| Santa Maria, CA | Unavailable | $1,646.21 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | Unavailable | $1,676.87 |
| Stockton, CA | Unavailable | $1,603.02 |
| Vallejo, CA | Unavailable | $1,736.65 |
| Visalia, CA | Unavailable | $1,603.02 |
| Yuba City, CA | Unavailable | $1,603.02 |
How the 44210 rate is calculated
Each of 44210’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 · 44210
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work29.34
29.34 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense13.86
13.86 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice5.53
5.53 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
48.7300
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,627.63
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 44210
44210 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 44210
Total colectomy, laparoscopic, rectum retained
| 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) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| 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) | 0.09/0.81/0.10 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 44210
Total colectomy, laparoscopic, rectum retained
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 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
44210 without 51 · national facility
$1,627.63
Total colectomy, laparoscopic, rectum retained
44210-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$813.82
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%).
44210 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 44211ProctocolectomyIleoanal pouch reconstruction
- Choose 44210 when the rectum remains. Choose 44211 when the laparoscopic operation includes proctectomy.
- 44212ProctocolectomyIleoanal pouch with loop ileostomy
- 44212 describes laparoscopic total proctocolectomy with a different reconstruction. This code preserves the rectum.
- 44204Partial colectomyLaparoscopic with anastomosis
- 44204 is for laparoscopic partial colectomy with anastomosis; this code requires removal of the entire colon.
44210 billing questions
How does this differ from 44211?
This code describes total abdominal colectomy with the rectum retained. Code 44211 is for a laparoscopic operation that also removes the rectum.
Can this code be reported for a partial colectomy?
No. The operative report must support removal of the entire colon. A laparoscopic partial colectomy is reported with a code matching the resection and reconstruction performed.
What documentation supports this code?
Document laparoscopic approach, removal of the entire colon, whether the rectum was retained, and the resulting ileostomy or ileal-to-rectal connection.
Is modifier 50 appropriate?
No. The anatomy and procedure are not bilateral for Medicare payment purposes.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
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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