FeeBase
Log inGet started
Menu

CPT code 44392: Stoma colonoscopy, hot biopsy forceps removal2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Montana

Reports therapeutic colonoscopy performed through a stoma when a lesion is removed using hot biopsy forceps.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality214 Medicare services in 2024

In Montana, Medicare pays $432.17 for 44392 in the office and $179.66 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$432.17Office (non-facility)
$179.66Hospital or facility
−0.0%vs the national office rate ($432.21)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 44392 nationwide

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

We’ll open 44392 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Montana
  2. What 44392 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 44392 covers

A gastroenterologist or colorectal surgeon performs this therapeutic examination by passing a colonoscope through a colostomy or other bowel stoma to inspect the colon and remove a lesion with hot biopsy forceps. It is used when the stoma is the route of access and forceps removal is the technique documented; a snare removal or biopsy-only procedure is coded differently. These procedures are commonly performed in a hospital outpatient endoscopy unit or ambulatory surgery setting.

The report should identify the stoma route, the lesion treated, and removal with hot biopsy forceps. This is a minor procedure with 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 and procedure. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery, and co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted for this code.

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.

How Montana compares for 44392

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 44392 runs from $380.69 in Arkansas to $567.24 in San Benito County, CA. Montana pays $432.17. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

44392 in Montana vs other payment areas
  1. Montana · this page$432.17
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$484.76+$52.59
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$493.61+$61.44
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$474.54+$42.37
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$460.02+$27.85
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$499.32+$67.15
  7. Alaska · Alaska$500.15+$67.98

Other areas in Montana first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

44392 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$386.45$165.51
ArkansasArkansas$380.69$163.78
ArizonaArizona$420.14$175.46
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$455.26$178.50
Chico, CACalifornia$453.59$176.84
El Centro, CACalifornia$453.69$176.93
Fresno, CACalifornia$453.59$176.84
Hanford, CACalifornia$453.59$176.84

44392 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.

$380.69

$510.41

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
44392 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$500.151
AL$386.451
AR$380.691
AZ$420.141
CA$453.59–$567.2429
CO$448.321
CT$461.561
DC$493.611
DE$427.221
FL$429.03–$474.543
GA$403.85–$441.272
GU$464.681
HI$464.681
IA$395.031
ID$398.011
IL$417.41–$460.024
IN$400.351
KS$393.861
KY$397.501
LA$397.16–$417.332
MA$445.82–$492.492
MD$435.31–$493.613
ME$400.95–$422.262
MI$408.86–$435.312
MN$426.961
MO$390.63–$417.963
MS$385.701
MT$432.171
NC$405.151
ND$420.501
NE$397.031
NH$441.951
NJ$466.09–$488.402
NM$411.471
NV$429.211
NY$411.47–$512.705
OH$406.471
OK$395.971
OR$425.16–$462.032
PA$406.72–$450.282
PR$435.191
RI$442.081
SC$406.631
SD$419.121
TN$396.001
TX$404.02–$447.458
UT$412.341
VA$421.35–$493.612
VI$435.191
VT$419.501
WA$444.76–$501.902
WI$406.071
WV$401.721
WY$427.081

See 44392 in every payment locality

How the 44392 rate is calculated

Each of 44392’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 · 44392

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work3.44

3.44 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense8.91

8.91 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.59

0.59 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

12.9400

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$432.21

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

The exact Montana inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

5,414

Code
44392
Physician work
3.44
Practice expense
8.91
Malpractice
0.59

GPCI2026.csv

71

Locality
Montana
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
1.000
Malpractice
0.998
Office calculation for 44392 in Montana
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work3.44× 1.0003.4400
Practice expense8.91× 1.0008.9100
Malpractice0.59× 0.9980.5888
Total RVUs12.9388
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Montana$432.17

Office: (3.44 × 1 + 8.91 × 1 + 0.59 × 0.998) × $33.4009 = $432.17

Facility: (3.44 × 1 + 1.35 × 1 + 0.59 × 0.998) × $33.4009 = $179.66

Open 44392 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 44392

The CMS indicators that decide how 44392 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 44392

Stoma colonoscopy, hot biopsy forceps removal

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included.
Multiple procedures3Endoscopy family rules apply.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

44392 without 51 · national office

$432.21

Stoma colonoscopy, hot biopsy forceps removal

44392-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$216.11

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

Codes related to 44392

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

Codes related to 44392
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Montana
Same family
44388Colonoscopy, diagnostic, through stomaColonoscopy through a stoma without the forceps-removal service.$353.69
44389Colonoscopy, through stoma, with biopsyStoma-route colonoscopy with biopsy rather than hot-forceps lesion removal.$457.57
44394Stomal colonoscopy, snare lesion removalStoma-route lesion removal using a snare.$483.61
44390Stomal colonoscopy, foreign body removalStoma-route colonoscopy for removal of a foreign body.$449.21
Used instead
45384Colonoscopy polyp removal, hot biopsy or bipolar cauteryHot-forceps lesion removal by colonoscopy when access is not through a stoma.$539.38

How 44392 has changed in Montana

44392 · Office / nonfacility

$432.17

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $57.38 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $374.79 to $432.17 (15.3%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $374.79changed to$432.17

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 3.53 changed to 3.44
    • Practice expense RVU 7.47 changed to 8.91
    • Malpractice RVU 0.60 changed to 0.59
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.978 changed to 0.998

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $388.36changed to$374.79

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 7.55 changed to 7.47

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $382.02changed to$388.36

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $394.03changed to$382.02

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Malpractice RVU 0.56 changed to 0.60

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $405.85changed to$394.03

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 7.67 changed to 7.55
    • Malpractice RVU 0.54 changed to 0.56
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.977 changed to 0.978

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $404.37changed to$405.85

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 7.58 changed to 7.67
    • Malpractice RVU 0.49 changed to 0.54

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $387.64changed to$404.37

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 6.52 changed to 7.58
    • Malpractice RVU 0.53 changed to 0.49
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.304 changed to 0.977

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $382.14changed to$387.64

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 6.16 changed to 6.52
    • Malpractice RVU 0.56 changed to 0.53
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.631 changed to 1.304

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $374.29changed to$382.14

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 5.97 changed to 6.16
    • Malpractice RVU 0.55 changed to 0.56

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $365.61changed to$374.29

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 5.90 changed to 5.97
    • Malpractice RVU 0.53 changed to 0.55
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.429 changed to 1.631

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $430.16changed to$365.61

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Work RVU 3.63 changed to 3.53
    • Practice expense RVU 7.71 changed to 5.90
    • Malpractice RVU 0.55 changed to 0.53
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.226 changed to 1.429

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $454.44changed to$430.16

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Work RVU 3.81 changed to 3.63
    • Practice expense RVU 8.15 changed to 7.71
    • Malpractice RVU 0.56 changed to 0.55

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $452.17changed to$454.44

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $449.90changed to$452.17

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 8.05 changed to 8.15
    • Malpractice RVU 0.60 changed to 0.56
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.165 changed to 1.226

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $468.32changed to$449.90

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 9.26 changed to 8.05
    • Malpractice RVU 0.63 changed to 0.60
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.103 changed to 1.165

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $468.32

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$432.17$179.66RVU26D
2026-07-01$432.17$179.66RVU26C
2026-04-01$432.17$179.66RVU26B
2026-01-01$432.17$179.66RVU26A
2025-10-01$374.79$191.71RVU25D
2025-07-01$374.79$191.71RVU25C
2025-04-01$374.79$191.71RVU25B
2025-01-01$374.79$191.71RVU25A
2024-10-01$388.36$196.29RVU24D
2024-07-01$388.36$196.29RVU24C
2024-04-01$388.36$196.29RVU24B
2024-03-09$388.36$196.29RVU24AR
2024-01-01$382.02$193.09RVU24A
2023-10-01$394.03$198.50RVU23D
2023-07-01$394.03$198.50RVU23C
2023-04-01$394.03$198.50RVU23B
2023-01-01$394.03$198.50RVU23A
2022-10-01$405.85$201.67RVU22D
2022-07-01$405.85$201.67RVU22C
2022-04-01$405.85$201.67RVU22B
2022-01-01$405.85$201.67RVU22A
2021-10-01$404.37$201.29RVU21D
2021-07-01$404.37$201.29RVU21C
2021-04-01$404.37$201.29RVU21B
2021-01-01$404.37$201.29RVU21A
2020-10-01$387.64$214.41RVU20D
2020-07-01$387.64$214.41RVU20C
2020-04-01$387.64$214.41RVU20B
2020-01-01$387.64$214.41RVU20A
2019-10-01$382.14$222.48RVU19D
2019-07-01$382.14$222.48RVU19C
2019-04-01$382.14$222.48RVU19B
2019-01-01$382.14$222.48RVU19A
2018-10-01$374.29$222.73RVU18D
2018-07-01$374.29$222.73RVU18C
2018-04-01$374.29$222.73RVU18B
2018-01-01$374.29$222.73RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$365.61$217.03RVU17D
2017-07-01$365.61$217.03RVU17C
2017-04-01$365.61$217.03RVU17B
2017-01-01$365.61$217.03RVU17A
2016-10-01$430.16$218.56RVU16D
2016-07-01$430.16$218.56RVU16C
2016-04-01$430.16$218.56RVU16B
2016-01-01$430.16$218.56RVU16A
2015-10-01$454.44$230.21RVU15D
2015-07-01$454.44$230.21RVU15C
2015-04-01$452.17$229.06RVU15B
2015-01-01$452.17$229.06RVU15A
2014-10-01$449.90$229.59RVU14D
2014-07-01$449.90$229.59RVU14C
2014-04-01$449.90$229.59RVU14B
2014-01-01$449.90$229.59RVU14A
2013-10-01$468.32$226.76RVU13D
2013-07-01$468.32$226.76RVU13C
2013-04-01$468.32$226.76RVU13B
2013-01-01$468.32$226.76RVU13AR

Price 44392 for an earlier date of service

Where the Montana rate applies

Montana is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 497 cities and communities in Montana. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Absarokee
  • Acton
  • Alberton
  • Alder
  • Alzada
  • Amsterdam
  • Anaconda-Deer Lodge County
  • Antelope

Browse all communities in Montana

44392 billing questions

When should this code be chosen over 44394?

Use this code when the lesion is removed through the stoma with hot biopsy forceps. Code 44394 describes removal using a snare.

How does this differ from 44389?

This code is for forceps removal of a lesion through the stoma. Code 44389 represents colonoscopy through a stoma with biopsy rather than this therapeutic removal technique.

Can modifier 50 be appended?

No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate because the anatomy and procedure do not represent a bilateral service.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

What same-day care is included?

The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. When related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy family pricing applies.

What should the procedure note establish?

Document that the colonoscope passed through a stoma, identify the lesion treated, and specify removal with hot biopsy forceps.

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
RVUs for 44392PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,414 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for MontanaGPCI2026.csv, line 71 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

Did this answer your question about what 44392 pays in Montana?

Tell us what you were actually trying to work out. We’ll answer you directly, or build the page that does.

Fee sheets

Put 44392 and the rest of your codes on one sheet

Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.

Build my fee sheet