CPT code 44390: Stomal colonoscopy, foreign body removal2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $449.24 for 44390 nationally in the office and $185.71 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $398.38–$594.92.

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

What 44390 covers

A gastroenterologist or colorectal surgeon uses a colonoscope passed through a colostomy stoma to locate and retrieve a foreign object in the colon. The service is typically performed in an endoscopy suite or hospital procedure setting when the object can be reached and removed endoscopically. The operative report should identify the route through the stoma, the foreign object, its location, and the retrieval performed.

Choose this code for endoscopic foreign-body removal through a stoma, rather than a diagnostic examination alone or treatment directed at a polyp, bleeding site, or tissue sample. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy family pricing applies. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this anatomy. Medicare does not pay for an assistant at surgery; 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 44390 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

44390 rates by state

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

How the 44390 rate is calculated

Each of 44390’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 44390

The CMS indicators that decide how 44390 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 51

44390 compared with similar codes

How to choose

45379ColonoscopyForeign body removal

Use 44390 when the colonoscope passes through a stoma; use 45379 for foreign-body removal by the usual anal route.

44388ColonoscopyDiagnostic, through stoma

Code 44388 describes colonoscopy through a stoma without the foreign-body removal service. Choose 44390 when endoscopic retrieval is performed.

44391Colonoscopy through stomaControl of bleeding

Code 44391 is for endoscopic control of bleeding through a stoma. Code 44390 is for retrieval of a foreign object.

44394Stomal colonoscopySnare lesion removal

Code 44394 describes snare removal of a polyp through a stoma; 44390 identifies foreign-body removal.

Codes related to 44390

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

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