CPT code 45330: Flexible sigmoidoscopy, diagnostic2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

A flexible scope examines the rectum and sigmoid colon to evaluate lower gastrointestinal symptoms when no biopsy or therapeutic procedure is performed.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities45.9K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $215.10 for 45330 nationally in the office and $53.78 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $187.26–$297.45.

Medicare rate · 45330

Flexible sigmoidoscopy, diagnostic

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
0.82
Total RVUs
6.44
Global days
000

National rate · 2026

$215.10

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 45330 →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 45330 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 45330 covers

A physician, commonly a gastroenterologist or colorectal surgeon, advances a flexible endoscope through the anus to inspect the rectum and sigmoid colon. The service is used to evaluate concerns such as rectal bleeding, altered bowel habits, or suspected distal-colon disease. Specimens collected by brushing or washing are included when performed; the code represents a diagnostic examination, not a tissue biopsy or lesion treatment.

Report 45330 when the examination is diagnostic and no separately coded intervention is performed. The report should support the indication, the portion of bowel examined, and the findings; document any brushing or washing when performed. This minor procedure has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued is paid in full and the others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service; 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 45330 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

$187.26 to $297.45

$187.26$242.35$297.45
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

45330 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$190.40$49.24
Alaska$238.94$67.12
Arizona$208.83$52.50
Arkansas$187.26$48.68
Atlanta, GA$218.93$55.02
Austin, TX$225.35$54.67
Bakersfield, CA$231.69$54.88
Baltimore area, MD$229.90$56.80
Beaumont, TX$198.28$51.48
Brazoria, TX$212.79$52.91

45330 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.

$187.26

$264.40

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

View every state and territory as a table
45330 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$238.941
AL$190.401
AR$187.261
AZ$208.831
CA$231.34–$297.4529
CO$226.311
CT$230.641
DC$249.731
DE$212.631
FL$209.03–$228.763
GA$196.03–$218.932
GU$238.581
HI$238.581
IA$197.071
ID$198.291
IL$201.38–$223.354
IN$199.631
KS$195.481
KY$194.371
LA$193.81–$204.812
MA$224.46–$251.422
MD$217.25–$249.733
ME$198.89–$211.972
MI$199.64–$211.422
MN$217.611
MO$189.65–$206.293
MS$188.521
MT$215.091
NC$201.351
ND$212.721
NE$198.461
NH$222.131
NJ$233.49–$246.492
NM$200.661
NV$214.621
NY$204.73–$255.015
OH$199.151
OK$194.551
OR$213.18–$234.912
PA$199.82–$223.902
PR$217.061
RI$221.251
SC$200.541
SD$212.441
TN$196.531
TX$198.28–$225.358
UT$203.671
VA$210.80–$249.732
VI$217.061
VT$211.281
WA$224.24–$257.442
WI$204.611
WV$192.761
WY$214.061

How the 45330 rate is calculated

Each of 45330’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 · 45330

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.82

0.82 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense5.50

5.50 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.12

0.12 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

6.4400

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$215.10

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 45330

The CMS indicators that decide how 45330 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 45330

Flexible sigmoidoscopy, diagnostic

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
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

45330 without 51 · national office

$215.10

Flexible sigmoidoscopy, diagnostic

45330-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$107.55

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

45330 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 45330

    Flexible sigmoidoscopy, diagnostic0.82 wRVU

    $215.10

  • 45331

    Sigmoidoscopy, with biopsy1.11 wRVU

    $322.99+$107.89

  • 45333

    Flexible sigmoidoscopy, hot biopsy forceps removal1.51 wRVU

    $368.08+$152.98

  • 45378

    Colonoscopy, diagnostic, no tissue removal3.18 wRVU

    $378.10+$163.00

How to choose

45331SigmoidoscopyWith biopsy
45330 is diagnostic, with brushing or washing included when performed. Use 45331 when the flexible sigmoidoscopy includes a tissue biopsy.
45333Flexible sigmoidoscopyHot biopsy forceps removal
45330 describes diagnostic inspection without lesion removal. Use 45333 when a polyp is removed during flexible sigmoidoscopy.
45378ColonoscopyDiagnostic, no tissue removal
45330 examines the rectum and sigmoid colon with a flexible scope; 45378 is a diagnostic colonoscopy with a broader colonic examination.

45330 billing questions

When should 45330 be reported instead of 45331?

Use 45330 for a diagnostic examination without tissue biopsy. When the physician obtains a biopsy during flexible sigmoidoscopy, report the biopsy service, 45331, rather than the diagnostic-only code.

Are brushing and washing separately billable?

No. Specimen collection by brushing or washing is included in 45330 when performed. A tissue biopsy or therapeutic maneuver is a different service.

Can 45330 be billed with a polypectomy code for the same examination?

When the same sigmoidoscopy includes polyp removal, report the applicable intervention code rather than separately reporting the diagnostic examination as 45330.

Should modifier 50 be appended for examination of both sides?

No. Bilateral adjustment does not apply to this code, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for the sigmoidoscopy service.

How does the multiple-procedure rule affect payment?

For procedures performed in the same session, Medicare pays the highest-valued procedure in full and pays the other procedures at 50%.

What documentation supports 45330?

Document the diagnostic reason, scope examination and extent, findings, and any brushing or washing. If biopsy or treatment is performed, document that work and report the applicable procedure code.

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 45330PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,498 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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