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CPT code 46040: Abscess drainage, ischiorectal or intramural2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Delaware

Reports external incision and drainage of an ischiorectal or intramural abscess, where the abscess location distinguishes it from superficial perianal drainage.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality3.3K Medicare services in 2024

In Delaware, Medicare pays $622.12 for 46040 in the office and $429.07 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$622.12Office (non-facility)
$429.07Hospital or facility
−1.3%vs the national office rate ($630.27)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 46040 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 46040 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Delaware
  2. What 46040 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 46040 covers

This operation drains an abscess in the ischiorectal space or within the rectal wall through an external incision. A general or colorectal surgeon typically performs it in an operating room or, when clinically appropriate, another procedure setting. The surgeon opens the infected cavity, evacuates its contents, and provides drainage; the operative note should identify the abscess location and approach.

Select the code based on the documented site and procedure, not simply the diagnosis of anorectal abscess. A superficial perianal collection or a transanal drainage approach points to a different code; when fistula surgery accompanies drainage, consider the code that includes that work. Medicare treats this as major surgery with a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this service. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery, and co-surgeon and team-surgery billing 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.

How Delaware compares for 46040

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 46040 runs from $552.30 in Arkansas to $814.44 in San Benito County, CA. Delaware pays $622.12. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

46040 in Delaware vs other payment areas
  1. Delaware · this page$622.12
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$699.96+$77.84
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$718.16+$96.04
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$708.58+$86.46
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$685.48+$63.36
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$732.22+$110.10
  7. Alaska · Alaska$726.78+$104.66

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

Every other payment area

46040 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$560.98$390.01
ArkansasArkansas$552.30$384.45
ArizonaArizona$611.63$422.29
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$657.79$443.63
Chico, CACalifornia$654.51$440.36
El Centro, CACalifornia$654.71$440.56
Fresno, CACalifornia$654.51$440.36
Hanford, CACalifornia$654.51$440.36

46040 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.

$552.30

$734.48

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

View every state and territory as a table
46040 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$726.781
AL$560.981
AR$552.301
AZ$611.631
CA$654.51–$814.4429
CO$650.171
CT$674.161
DC$718.161
DE$622.121
FL$632.17–$708.583
GA$593.13–$645.502
GU$670.281
HI$670.281
IA$570.821
ID$575.941
IL$616.72–$685.484
IN$579.371
KS$570.541
KY$580.781
LA$580.85–$611.232
MA$646.94–$713.592
MD$633.72–$718.163
ME$581.91–$611.752
MI$599.33–$643.242
MN$614.101
MO$571.94–$610.433
MS$562.101
MT$630.191
NC$587.991
ND$606.471
NE$573.381
NH$642.291
NJ$679.36–$710.452
NM$603.871
NV$624.001
NY$597.61–$754.295
OH$594.481
OK$576.911
OR$616.71–$668.902
PA$594.03–$658.182
PR$634.241
RI$642.971
SC$592.711
SD$603.661
TN$573.941
TX$590.06–$650.148
UT$601.281
VA$611.43–$718.162
VI$634.241
VT$606.321
WA$644.98–$725.942
WI$585.101
WV$593.161
WY$619.851

See 46040 in every payment locality

How the 46040 rate is calculated

Each of 46040’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 · 46040

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work5.24

5.24 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense12.43

12.43 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice1.20

1.20 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

18.8700

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$630.27

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

The exact Delaware inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

5,572

Code
46040
Physician work
5.24
Practice expense
12.43
Malpractice
1.20

GPCI2026.csv

40

Locality
Delaware
Physician work
1.005
Practice expense
0.988
Malpractice
0.899
Office calculation for 46040 in Delaware
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work5.24× 1.0055.2662
Practice expense12.43× 0.98812.2808
Malpractice1.20× 0.8991.0788
Total RVUs18.6258
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Delaware$622.12

Office: (5.24 × 1.005 + 12.43 × 0.988 + 1.2 × 0.899) × $33.4009 = $622.12

Facility: (5.24 × 1.005 + 6.58 × 0.988 + 1.2 × 0.899) × $33.4009 = $429.07

Open 46040 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 46040

46040 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 46040

Abscess drainage, ischiorectal or intramural

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period090Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are 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.
Split (54/55/56)0.09/0.81/0.10Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 46040

Abscess drainage, ischiorectal or intramural

90-day global period ends

Dec 30, 2026

Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).

Visit on Oct 31, 2026

Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.

  • 24Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78Unplanned return to the operating room for a related complication
SurgeryVisit
Sep 23, 2026Jan 10, 2027

Pre-op dayGlobal period

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

46040 without 51 · national office

$630.27

Abscess drainage, ischiorectal or intramural

46040-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$315.14

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 46040

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

Codes related to 46040
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Delaware
Used instead
46045Abscess drainage, perirectal, under anesthesiaFor transanal drainage of a perirectal abscess under anesthesia rather than an external approach.No office rate
46050Perianal abscess drainage, superficial abscessFor drainage of a superficial perianal abscess, rather than a deeper ischiorectal or intramural collection.$263.97
46060Abscess drainage, with fistula treatmentIncludes abscess drainage with fistulectomy or fistulotomy when fistula surgery is performed.No office rate

How 46040 has changed in Delaware

46040 · Office / nonfacility

$622.12

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $79.45 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $542.67 to $622.12 (14.6%).

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

    $542.67changed to$622.12

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 5.37 changed to 5.24
    • Practice expense RVU 10.35 changed to 12.43
    • Malpractice RVU 1.15 changed to 1.20
    • Work GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.005
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.992 changed to 0.988
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.949 changed to 0.899

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $554.47changed to$542.67

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 10.21 changed to 10.35
    • Malpractice RVU 1.17 changed to 1.15

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $545.42changed to$554.47

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $567.58changed to$545.42

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Malpractice RVU 1.13 changed to 1.17
    • Work GPCI 1.007 changed to 1.009
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.007 changed to 0.992
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.938 changed to 0.949

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $586.85changed to$567.58

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 10.26 changed to 10.21
    • Malpractice RVU 1.16 changed to 1.13
    • Work GPCI 1.005 changed to 1.007
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.022 changed to 1.007
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.927 changed to 0.938

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $587.57changed to$586.85

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 10.18 changed to 10.26
    • Malpractice RVU 1.12 changed to 1.16

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $576.79changed to$587.57

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 9.23 changed to 10.18
    • Malpractice RVU 1.13 changed to 1.12
    • Work GPCI 1.006 changed to 1.005
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.021 changed to 1.022
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.023 changed to 0.927

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $570.93changed to$576.79

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 9.01 changed to 9.23
    • Malpractice RVU 1.12 changed to 1.13
    • Work GPCI 1.007 changed to 1.006
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.019 changed to 1.021
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.119 changed to 1.023

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $568.47changed to$570.93

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 8.96 changed to 9.01

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $564.09changed to$568.47

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 8.84 changed to 8.96
    • Work GPCI 1.010 changed to 1.007
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.025 changed to 1.019
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.101 changed to 1.119

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $564.35changed to$564.09

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 8.83 changed to 8.84
    • Malpractice RVU 1.13 changed to 1.12
    • Work GPCI 1.012 changed to 1.010
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.031 changed to 1.025
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.083 changed to 1.101

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $567.09changed to$564.35

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 8.87 changed to 8.83
    • Malpractice RVU 1.11 changed to 1.13

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $564.26changed to$567.09

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $548.14changed to$564.26

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 8.66 changed to 8.87
    • Malpractice RVU 1.00 changed to 1.11
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.038 changed to 1.031
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.878 changed to 1.083

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $555.22changed to$548.14

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 9.75 changed to 8.66
    • Malpractice RVU 1.05 changed to 1.00
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.044 changed to 1.038
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.672 changed to 0.878

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $555.22

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$622.12$429.07RVU26D
2026-07-01$622.12$429.07RVU26C
2026-04-01$622.12$429.07RVU26B
2026-01-01$622.12$429.07RVU26A
2025-10-01$542.67$420.42RVU25D
2025-07-01$542.67$420.42RVU25C
2025-04-01$542.67$420.42RVU25B
2025-01-01$542.67$420.42RVU25A
2024-10-01$554.47$427.34RVU24D
2024-07-01$554.47$427.34RVU24C
2024-04-01$554.47$427.34RVU24B
2024-03-09$554.47$427.34RVU24AR
2024-01-01$545.42$420.36RVU24A
2023-10-01$567.58$433.47RVU23D
2023-07-01$567.58$433.47RVU23C
2023-04-01$567.58$433.47RVU23B
2023-01-01$567.58$433.47RVU23A
2022-10-01$586.85$443.26RVU22D
2022-07-01$586.85$443.26RVU22C
2022-04-01$586.85$443.26RVU22B
2022-01-01$586.85$443.26RVU22A
2021-10-01$587.57$440.64RVU21D
2021-07-01$587.57$440.64RVU21C
2021-04-01$587.57$440.64RVU21B
2021-01-01$587.57$440.64RVU21A
2020-10-01$576.79$445.24RVU20D
2020-07-01$576.79$445.24RVU20C
2020-04-01$576.79$445.24RVU20B
2020-01-01$576.79$445.24RVU20A
2019-10-01$570.93$443.87RVU19D
2019-07-01$570.93$443.87RVU19C
2019-04-01$570.93$443.87RVU19B
2019-01-01$570.93$443.87RVU19A
2018-10-01$568.47$441.55RVU18D
2018-07-01$568.47$441.55RVU18C
2018-04-01$568.47$441.55RVU18B
2018-01-01$568.47$441.55RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$564.09$439.39RVU17D
2017-07-01$564.09$439.39RVU17C
2017-04-01$564.09$439.39RVU17B
2017-01-01$564.09$439.39RVU17A
2016-10-01$564.35$439.58RVU16D
2016-07-01$564.35$439.58RVU16C
2016-04-01$564.35$439.58RVU16B
2016-01-01$564.35$439.58RVU16A
2015-10-01$567.09$440.38RVU15D
2015-07-01$567.09$440.38RVU15C
2015-04-01$564.26$438.19RVU15B
2015-01-01$564.26$438.19RVU15A
2014-10-01$548.14$425.81RVU14D
2014-07-01$548.14$425.81RVU14C
2014-04-01$548.14$425.81RVU14B
2014-01-01$548.14$425.81RVU14A
2013-10-01$555.22$422.38RVU13D
2013-07-01$555.22$422.38RVU13C
2013-04-01$555.22$422.38RVU13B
2013-01-01$555.22$422.38RVU13AR

Price 46040 for an earlier date of service

Where the Delaware rate applies

Delaware is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 79 cities and communities in Delaware. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Arden
  • Ardencroft
  • Ardentown
  • Bear
  • Bellefonte
  • Bethany Beach
  • Bethel
  • Blades

Browse all communities in Delaware

46040 billing questions

How is 46040 distinguished from superficial perianal abscess drainage?

Use 46040 for an ischiorectal-space or intramural abscess drained through an external incision. A superficial perianal collection is described by 46050.

When is 46045 a better choice?

46045 describes transanal drainage of a perirectal abscess under anesthesia. For 46040, the operative documentation should support an external approach to an ischiorectal or intramural abscess.

Can 46040 be reported with 46060?

When the surgeon treats an associated fistula with fistulectomy or fistulotomy during abscess drainage, consider 46060, which includes that additional work. Do not report both codes for the same drainage service.

What documentation supports 46040?

The operative report should identify the abscess as ischiorectal or intramural and describe the external incision, drainage, and cavity findings. A generic diagnosis of anorectal abscess alone does not establish the site or approach.

Can modifier 50 or an assistant-at-surgery claim be used?

Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this service. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for 46040.

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 46040PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,572 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for DelawareGPCI2026.csv, line 40 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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