CPT code 44955: Appendectomy, during another major procedure2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Rhode Island
Report this add-on when a surgeon removes the appendix for a clinical indication while performing another major procedure, rather than as a separate operation.
In Rhode Island, Medicare pays $74.89 for 44955 in a facility. There’s no office rate.
Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 44955 nationwide
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
On this page 11 sections
What 44955 covers
This add-on describes removal of the appendix when it is clinically indicated during another major operation. For example, the surgeon may identify an appendix that requires treatment while operating for a separate abdominal condition. The surgeon performing the operation reports the appendectomy in addition to the code for the primary procedure; 44955 does not describe a standalone appendectomy.
The operative report should identify the primary operation, the appendectomy, and the clinical reason the appendix was removed. Report the code only when the circumstances support an indicated appendectomy during another major procedure, not simply because the appendix was encountered. CMS treats 44955 as an add-on: it is reported with a primary procedure and paid within that procedure's global period. The record should make clear that the appendectomy was performed during the same operative episode as the primary service.
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 Rhode Island compares for 44955
Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the facility rate for 44955 runs from $65.95 in Wisconsin to $95.15 in Alaska. Rhode Island pays $74.89. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.
- Rhode Island · this page$74.89
- Los Angeles, CA · California$75.20+$0.31
- Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$81.18+$6.29
- Miami, FL · Florida$93.74+$18.85
- Chicago, IL · Illinois$90.80+$15.91
- Manhattan, NY · New York$87.16+$12.27
- Alaska · Alaska$95.15+$20.26
Other areas in Rhode Island first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.
Every other payment area
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| AlabamaAlabama | — | $67.97 |
| ArkansasArkansas | — | $67.15 |
| ArizonaArizona | — | $72.68 |
| Bakersfield, CACalifornia | — | $72.31 |
| Chico, CACalifornia | — | $71.34 |
| El Centro, CACalifornia | — | $71.40 |
| Fresno, CACalifornia | — | $71.34 |
| Hanford, CACalifornia | — | $71.34 |
| Madera, CACalifornia | — | $71.34 |
| Merced, CACalifornia | — | $71.34 |
| Modesto, CACalifornia | — | $71.34 |
| Napa, CACalifornia | — | $76.18 |
| Oxnard, CACalifornia | — | $74.05 |
| Redding, CACalifornia | — | $71.34 |
| Rest of CaliforniaCalifornia | — | $71.34 |
| Riverside, CACalifornia | — | $75.20 |
| Sacramento, CACalifornia | — | $73.15 |
| Salinas, CACalifornia | — | $72.85 |
| San Diego, CACalifornia | — | $73.36 |
| Marin County, CACalifornia | — | $78.38 |
| San Francisco, CACalifornia | — | $77.97 |
| San Benito County, CACalifornia | — | $80.47 |
| Santa Clara County, CACalifornia | — | $78.80 |
| San Luis Obispo, CACalifornia | — | $71.90 |
| Santa Cruz, CACalifornia | — | $73.08 |
| Santa Maria, CACalifornia | — | $72.79 |
| Santa Rosa, CACalifornia | — | $73.70 |
| Stockton, CACalifornia | — | $71.34 |
| Vallejo, CACalifornia | — | $75.59 |
| Visalia, CACalifornia | — | $71.34 |
| Yuba City, CACalifornia | — | $71.34 |
| ColoradoColorado | — | $73.62 |
| ConnecticutConnecticut | — | $79.34 |
| DelawareDelaware | — | $73.70 |
| Fort Lauderdale, FLFlorida | — | $84.70 |
| Rest of FloridaFlorida | — | $80.29 |
| Atlanta, GAGeorgia | — | $77.59 |
| Rest of GeorgiaGeorgia | — | $75.72 |
| Hawaii, Guam, HIHawaii | — | $71.54 |
| IowaIowa | — | $66.46 |
| IdahoIdaho | — | $67.44 |
| East St. Louis, ILIllinois | — | $85.97 |
| Rest of IllinoisIllinois | — | $80.45 |
| Suburban Chicago, ILIllinois | — | $84.80 |
| IndianaIndiana | — | $67.69 |
| KansasKansas | — | $67.60 |
| KentuckyKentucky | — | $72.35 |
| New Orleans, LALouisiana | — | $75.68 |
| Rest of LouisianaLouisiana | — | $72.81 |
| Metropolitan Boston, MAMassachusetts | — | $78.06 |
| Rest of MassachusettsMassachusetts | — | $73.86 |
| Baltimore area, MDMaryland | — | $79.41 |
| Rest of MarylandMaryland | — | $74.49 |
| Rest of MaineMaine | — | $69.23 |
| Southern Maine, MEMaine | — | $70.26 |
| Detroit, MIMichigan | — | $82.61 |
| Rest of MichiganMichigan | — | $75.24 |
| MinnesotaMinnesota | — | $66.73 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MOMissouri | — | $73.75 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MOMissouri | — | $74.22 |
| Rest of MissouriMissouri | — | $72.71 |
| MississippiMississippi | — | $69.87 |
| MontanaMontana | — | $74.79 |
| North CarolinaNorth Carolina | — | $69.60 |
| North DakotaNorth Dakota | — | $67.68 |
| NebraskaNebraska | — | $66.34 |
| New HampshireNew Hampshire | — | $73.85 |
| Northern New JerseyNew Jersey | — | $80.86 |
| Rest of New JerseyNew Jersey | — | $79.17 |
| New MexicoNew Mexico | — | $76.15 |
| NevadaNevada | — | $72.82 |
| NYC suburbs and Long Island, NYNew York | — | $90.77 |
| Poughkeepsie and northern NYC suburbs, NYNew York | — | $80.82 |
| Queens, NYNew York | — | $85.69 |
| Rest of New YorkNew York | — | $70.60 |
| OhioOhio | — | $73.78 |
| OklahomaOklahoma | — | $70.74 |
| Portland, OROregon | — | $73.98 |
| Rest of OregonOregon | — | $71.19 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia, PAPennsylvania | — | $78.57 |
| Rest of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania | — | $73.09 |
| Puerto RicoPuerto Rico | — | $74.78 |
| South CarolinaSouth Carolina | — | $72.02 |
| South DakotaSouth Dakota | — | $66.83 |
| TennesseeTennessee | — | $68.07 |
| Austin, TXTexas | — | $74.30 |
| Beaumont, TXTexas | — | $72.79 |
| Brazoria, TXTexas | — | $72.45 |
| Dallas, TXTexas | — | $73.51 |
| Fort Worth, TXTexas | — | $73.53 |
| Galveston, TXTexas | — | $73.06 |
| Houston, TXTexas | — | $79.65 |
| Rest of TexasTexas | — | $72.99 |
| UtahUtah | — | $72.81 |
| VirginiaVirginia | — | $71.06 |
| Virgin Islands, VIUnited States Virgin Islands | — | $74.78 |
| VermontVermont | — | $68.75 |
| Rest of WashingtonWashington | — | $73.28 |
| King County, WAWashington | — | $78.06 |
| WisconsinWisconsin | — | $65.95 |
| West VirginiaWest Virginia | — | $78.29 |
| WyomingWyoming | — | $71.69 |
44955 rates by state
Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.
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
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | No published base rate | 1 |
| AL | No published base rate | 1 |
| AR | No published base rate | 1 |
| AZ | No published base rate | 1 |
| CA | No published base rate | 29 |
| CO | No published base rate | 1 |
| CT | No published base rate | 1 |
| DC | No published base rate | 1 |
| DE | No published base rate | 1 |
| FL | No published base rate | 3 |
| GA | No published base rate | 2 |
| GU | No published base rate | 1 |
| HI | No published base rate | 1 |
| IA | No published base rate | 1 |
| ID | No published base rate | 1 |
| IL | No published base rate | 4 |
| IN | No published base rate | 1 |
| KS | No published base rate | 1 |
| KY | No published base rate | 1 |
| LA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MD | No published base rate | 3 |
| ME | No published base rate | 2 |
| MI | No published base rate | 2 |
| MN | No published base rate | 1 |
| MO | No published base rate | 3 |
| MS | No published base rate | 1 |
| MT | No published base rate | 1 |
| NC | No published base rate | 1 |
| ND | No published base rate | 1 |
| NE | No published base rate | 1 |
| NH | No published base rate | 1 |
| NJ | No published base rate | 2 |
| NM | No published base rate | 1 |
| NV | No published base rate | 1 |
| NY | No published base rate | 5 |
| OH | No published base rate | 1 |
| OK | No published base rate | 1 |
| OR | No published base rate | 2 |
| PA | No published base rate | 2 |
| PR | No published base rate | 1 |
| RI | No published base rate | 1 |
| SC | No published base rate | 1 |
| SD | No published base rate | 1 |
| TN | No published base rate | 1 |
| TX | No published base rate | 8 |
| UT | No published base rate | 1 |
| VA | No published base rate | 2 |
| VI | No published base rate | 1 |
| VT | No published base rate | 1 |
| WA | No published base rate | 2 |
| WI | No published base rate | 1 |
| WV | No published base rate | 1 |
| WY | No published base rate | 1 |
How the 44955 rate is calculated
Each of 44955’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 · 44955
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.49
1.49 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.39
0.39 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.36
0.36 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
2.2400
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$74.82
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
The exact Rhode Island inputs and CMS source lines
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
5,455
- Code
- 44955
- Physician work
- 1.49
- Practice expense
- 0.39
- Malpractice
- 0.36
GPCI2026.csv
92
- Locality
- Rhode Island
- Physician work
- 1.019
- Practice expense
- 1.033
- Malpractice
- 0.892
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 1.49 | × 1.019 | 1.5183 |
| Practice expense | 0.39 | × 1.033 | 0.4029 |
| Malpractice | 0.36 | × 0.892 | 0.3211 |
| Total RVUs | 2.2423 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Facility rate, Rhode Island$74.89
Facility: (1.49 × 1.019 + 0.39 × 1.033 + 0.36 × 0.892) × $33.4009 = $74.89
Payment rules and modifiers for 44955
The CMS indicators that decide how 44955 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 44955
Appendectomy, during another major procedure
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | ZZZ | Add-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| 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. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 80 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
44955 without 80 · national facility
$74.82
Appendectomy, during another major procedure
44955-80 · Assistant: 16%
$11.97
A physician assistant at surgery is paid 16% of the surgeon’s fee schedule amount.
How 44955 has changed in Rhode Island
44955 · Office / nonfacility
Rate unavailable
Effective 2026-10-01
A rate is unavailable in one of these releases, so a change cannot be calculated.
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
| Effective from | Office | Facility | CMS release |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $74.89 | RVU26D |
| 2026-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $74.89 | RVU26C |
| 2026-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $74.89 | RVU26B |
| 2026-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $74.89 | RVU26A |
| 2025-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $80.90 | RVU25D |
| 2025-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $80.90 | RVU25C |
| 2025-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $80.90 | RVU25B |
| 2025-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $80.90 | RVU25A |
| 2024-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $82.91 | RVU24D |
| 2024-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $82.91 | RVU24C |
| 2024-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $82.91 | RVU24B |
| 2024-03-09 | Not available in this setting | $82.91 | RVU24AR |
| 2024-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $81.56 | RVU24A |
| 2023-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $85.16 | RVU23D |
| 2023-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $85.16 | RVU23C |
| 2023-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $85.16 | RVU23B |
| 2023-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $85.16 | RVU23A |
| 2022-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $87.02 | RVU22D |
| 2022-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $87.02 | RVU22C |
| 2022-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $87.02 | RVU22B |
| 2022-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $87.02 | RVU22A |
| 2021-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $87.40 | RVU21D |
| 2021-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $87.40 | RVU21C |
| 2021-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $87.40 | RVU21B |
| 2021-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $87.40 | RVU21A |
| 2020-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $89.93 | RVU20D |
| 2020-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $89.93 | RVU20C |
| 2020-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $89.93 | RVU20B |
| 2020-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $89.93 | RVU20A |
| 2019-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $90.82 | RVU19D |
| 2019-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $90.82 | RVU19C |
| 2019-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $90.82 | RVU19B |
| 2019-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $90.82 | RVU19A |
| 2018-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $90.36 | RVU18D |
| 2018-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $90.36 | RVU18C |
| 2018-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $90.36 | RVU18B |
| 2018-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $90.36 | RVU18AR1 |
| 2017-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $88.53 | RVU17D |
| 2017-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $88.53 | RVU17C |
| 2017-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $88.53 | RVU17B |
| 2017-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $88.53 | RVU17A |
| 2016-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $86.72 | RVU16D |
| 2016-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $86.72 | RVU16C |
| 2016-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $86.72 | RVU16B |
| 2016-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $86.72 | RVU16A |
| 2015-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $86.76 | RVU15D |
| 2015-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $86.76 | RVU15C |
| 2015-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $86.32 | RVU15B |
| 2015-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $86.32 | RVU15A |
| 2014-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $87.86 | RVU14D |
| 2014-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $87.86 | RVU14C |
| 2014-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $87.86 | RVU14B |
| 2014-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $87.86 | RVU14A |
| 2013-10-01 | Not available in this setting | Rate data unavailable | RVU13D |
| 2013-07-01 | Not available in this setting | Rate data unavailable | RVU13C |
| 2013-04-01 | Not available in this setting | Rate data unavailable | RVU13B |
| 2013-01-01 | Not available in this setting | Rate data unavailable | RVU13AR |
Where the Rhode Island rate applies
Rhode Island is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 36 cities and communities in Rhode Island. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.
- Ashaway
- Bradford
- Carolina
- Central Falls
- Charlestown
- Chepachet
- Clayville
- Cranston
44955 billing questions
When should 44955 be chosen instead of 44950?
Use 44955 when appendectomy is clinically indicated during another major procedure. Use 44950 when appendectomy is reported as the principal operation.
What primary code should accompany 44955?
Report the code for the other major procedure performed during the same operative episode. The operative report should support both the primary operation and the indicated appendectomy.
Can 44955 be billed by itself?
No. It is an add-on code and must be reported with the primary procedure; CMS pays it within that procedure's global period.
What documentation supports reporting 44955?
Document the primary operation, removal of the appendix, and the clinical reason appendectomy was indicated during that operation.
Is 44955 appropriate for a ruptured appendix with generalized peritonitis?
The clinical circumstances and whether appendectomy is performed as the principal operation determine code selection. Code 44960 describes appendectomy for a ruptured appendix with abscess or generalized peritonitis.
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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