CPT code 45303: Proctosigmoidoscopy, dilation of a narrowing2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Report rigid proctosigmoidoscopy with dilation when the endoscopist treats a narrowing in the rectum or distal sigmoid under direct visualization.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities536 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $1,025.41 for 45303 nationally in the office and $80.16 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $884.63–$1,456.49.

Medicare rate · 45303

Proctosigmoidoscopy, dilation of a narrowing

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
1.37
Total RVUs
30.70
Global days
000

National rate · 2026

$1,025.41

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 45303 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

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

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 45303 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 45303 covers

This service combines examination of the rectum and distal sigmoid with dilation of a narrowing seen during rigid proctosigmoidoscopy. A gastroenterologist, colorectal surgeon, or other qualified endoscopist may perform it when a stricture limits passage through the examined segment. The clinician uses a dilation method suited to the narrowing and the patient; the procedure is therapeutic, not simply an inspection of the area.

Report the service when the record supports both rigid proctosigmoidoscopic examination and dilation. Document the narrowing’s location, the treatment performed, and the findings. 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 service. 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 45303 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 payment localities

$884.63 to $1456.49

$884.63$1170.56$1456.49
One dot per payment locality, office / nonfacility. Hover a dot to see the locality; select it to open that rate.

109 of 109 payment localities

45303 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$900.58$73.49
Alaska$1,108.02$101.33
Arizona$994.17$78.23
Arkansas$884.63$72.67
Atlanta, GA$1,042.64$82.27
Austin, TX$1,081.00$80.93
Bakersfield, CA$1,116.58$80.59
Baltimore area, MD$1,098.91$84.67
Beaumont, TX$937.39$77.21
Brazoria, TX$1,015.34$78.60

45303 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.

$884.63

$1,286.21

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

View every state and territory as a table
45303 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$1,108.021
AL$900.581
AR$884.631
AZ$994.171
CA$1,115.93–$1,456.4929
CO$1,086.481
CT$1,102.781
DC$1,201.761
DE$1,013.201
FL$986.51–$1,077.003
GA$921.91–$1,042.642
GU$1,155.331
HI$1,155.331
IA$938.161
ID$943.601
IL$945.17–$1,057.904
IN$950.511
KS$928.291
KY$916.871
LA$913.31–$969.112
MA$1,076.09–$1,215.002
MD$1,036.90–$1,201.763
ME$944.75–$1,013.832
MI$941.84–$996.662
MN$1,048.191
MO$891.08–$978.773
MS$888.301
MT$1,025.391
NC$957.511
ND$1,020.841
NE$945.791
NH$1,064.301
NJ$1,117.40–$1,184.332
NM$946.281
NV$1,025.101
NY$974.53–$1,218.625
OH$940.911
OK$919.691
OR$1,019.24–$1,132.062
PA$945.28–$1,067.562
PR$1,035.981
RI$1,057.521
SC$950.391
SD$1,020.311
TN$933.401
TX$937.39–$1,081.008
UT$966.311
VA$1,006.63–$1,201.762
VI$1,035.981
VT$1,011.891
WA$1,075.68–$1,246.932
WI$979.271
WV$901.391
WY$1,023.411

How the 45303 rate is calculated

Each of 45303’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 · 45303

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.37

1.37 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense29.10

29.10 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.23

0.23 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

30.7000

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$1,025.41

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 45303

The CMS indicators that decide how 45303 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 45303

Proctosigmoidoscopy, dilation of a narrowing

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

45303 without 51 · national office

$1,025.41

Proctosigmoidoscopy, dilation of a narrowing

45303-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$512.71

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

45303 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 45303

    Proctosigmoidoscopy, dilation of a narrowing1.37 wRVU

    $1,025.41

  • 45300

    Proctosigmoidoscopy, rigid, diagnostic0.78 wRVU

    $148.63−$876.78

  • 45305

    Proctosigmoidoscopy, rigid scope with biopsy1.12 wRVU

    $198.40−$827.01

  • 45340

    Sigmoidoscopy dilation, transendoscopic balloon1.22 wRVU

    $507.36−$518.05

How to choose

45300ProctosigmoidoscopyRigid, diagnostic
Use 45300 for diagnostic rigid proctosigmoidoscopy without dilation. Use 45303 when the endoscopist dilates a narrowing during the examination.
45305ProctosigmoidoscopyRigid scope with biopsy
45305 includes biopsy with rigid proctosigmoidoscopy. It describes tissue sampling, while 45303 describes dilation of a narrowing.
45340Sigmoidoscopy dilationTransendoscopic balloon
45340 describes dilation with flexible sigmoidoscopy. Choose between it and 45303 based on the scope type used for the procedure.

45303 billing questions

How does this differ from 45300?

45300 describes rigid proctosigmoidoscopy for diagnostic examination alone. Report 45303 when the examination includes dilation of a narrowing.

How does this differ from 45340?

45303 is for dilation performed with rigid proctosigmoidoscopy. 45340 describes dilation performed with flexible sigmoidoscopy.

What documentation supports this code?

Document the rigid examination, the narrowing’s location, and the dilation performed. The record should make clear that treatment occurred, not just diagnostic inspection.

Can modifier 50 be used?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.

How are related endoscopies priced when performed together?

CMS applies endoscopy-family pricing when related endoscopies are performed together. The code has a 0-day global period, which includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care.

Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be billed?

Medicare does not pay an assistant-at-surgery claim for this service. Co-surgeon and team-surgery billing are 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
RVUs for 45303PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,488 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

Did this answer your question about what 45303 pays?

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

Fee sheets

Put 45303 and the rest of your codes on one sheet

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

Build my fee sheet