CPT code 44322: Colostomy, with biopsies2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Georgia
Reports creation of a colostomy during an operation that also obtains colonic tissue biopsies, such as sampling abnormal bowel for diagnosis.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 44322 in Georgia.
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 44322 covers
The surgeon creates an opening from the colon to the abdominal surface for fecal diversion and takes one or more colonic tissue samples during the same operation. A colorectal or general surgeon may perform this in an operating room when diversion is needed and tissue sampling is also part of the operative plan, such as when abnormal bowel requires diagnostic assessment. The biopsies are included in this service rather than representing a separate colostomy-only procedure.
Report this code when the operative record supports both creation of the colostomy and colonic biopsy sampling. Document the reason for diversion, the bowel segment used, stoma creation, and biopsy sites or specimens. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this anatomy. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons require 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 44322 pays more and less in Georgia
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | Unavailable | $1,014.80 |
| Rest of Georgia | Unavailable | $958.65 |
How the 44322 rate is calculated
Each of 44322’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 · 44322
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work12.99
12.99 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense12.99
12.99 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice3.46
3.46 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
29.4400
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$983.32
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 44322
44322 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 44322
Colostomy, with biopsies
| 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 · 44322
Colostomy, with biopsies
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
44322 without 51 · national facility
$983.32
Colostomy, with biopsies
44322-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$491.66
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%).
44322 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 44320ColostomyOpen creation
- Choose 44322 when colonic biopsies are obtained during colostomy creation. Choose 44320 for colostomy creation without that biopsy component.
- 44310Small-bowel stomaNon-tube creation
- 44310 describes an ileostomy or jejunostomy, using small bowel for the stoma; 44322 involves the colon and includes biopsy sampling.
- 44143Partial colectomyEnd colostomy, closed distal segment
- 44143 is for partial colectomy with an end colostomy. It represents bowel resection along with diversion, rather than colostomy creation with biopsies.
44322 billing questions
When should this be reported instead of 44320?
Use 44322 when the surgeon creates a colostomy and also obtains colonic biopsies during that operation. 44320 describes colostomy creation without the biopsy distinction.
Can the biopsy be billed separately?
The biopsy sampling is part of 44322 when performed with the colostomy. Document the sampled site and specimen in the operative record.
Does the code describe an ileostomy?
No. It describes a colostomy with biopsy sampling; 44310 is the related option for an ileostomy or jejunostomy.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, with other procedures subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this anatomy.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons require supporting documentation, and team surgery is 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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