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CPT code 46050: Perianal abscess drainage, superficial abscess2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Los Angeles, CA

Reports incision and drainage of a superficial abscess beside the anus, rather than drainage of a deeper perirectal or ischiorectal collection.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality3.4K Medicare services in 2024

In Los Angeles, CA, Medicare pays $306.21 for 46050 in the office and $112.59 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$306.21Office (non-facility)
$112.59Hospital or facility
+14.6%vs the national office rate ($267.21)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 46050 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 46050 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Los Angeles, CA
  2. What 46050 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 46050 covers

This service drains a superficial collection in the perianal tissues through an incision, allowing the abscess contents to escape. It is typically performed by a surgeon or other qualified clinician in an office or outpatient setting. The key distinction is the abscess location and depth: a collection confined to superficial perianal tissue differs from a deeper ischiorectal or perirectal abscess, or one drained through a transanal approach under anesthesia.

Report the code when the operative or procedure note identifies a superficial perianal abscess and documents incision and drainage. Related postoperative visits are included in the 10-day global period. If another procedure subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction is performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure 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.

How Los Angeles, CA compares for 46050

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 46050 runs from $232.47 in Arkansas to $364.63 in San Benito County, CA. Los Angeles, CA pays $306.21. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

46050 in Los Angeles, CA vs other payment areas
  1. Los Angeles, CA · this page$306.21
  2. Bakersfield, CA · California$285.84−$20.37
  3. Chico, CA · California$285.18−$21.03
  4. El Centro, CA · California$285.22−$20.99
  5. Fresno, CA · California$285.18−$21.03
  6. Hanford, CA · California$285.18−$21.03
  7. Madera, CA · California$285.18−$21.03

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

Every other payment area

46050 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Merced, CACalifornia$285.18$105.80
Modesto, CACalifornia$285.18$105.80
Napa, CACalifornia$335.38$119.67
Oxnard, CACalifornia$305.13$111.68
Redding, CACalifornia$285.18$105.80
Rest of CaliforniaCalifornia$285.18$105.80
Riverside, CACalifornia$287.76$108.38
Sacramento, CACalifornia$300.60$110.26

46050 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.

$232.47

$324.91

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

View every state and territory as a table
46050 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$298.041
AL$236.381
AR$232.471
AZ$259.271
CA$285.18–$364.6329
CO$279.941
CT$286.541
DC$309.241
DE$263.971
FL$261.61–$288.433
GA$245.12–$272.442
GU$293.801
HI$293.801
IA$243.781
ID$245.481
IL$252.69–$279.594
IN$247.121
KS$242.231
KY$242.241
LA$241.71–$255.392
MA$277.82–$310.422
MD$269.58–$309.243
ME$246.67–$262.282
MI$249.21–$265.052
MN$267.911
MO$236.81–$256.723
MS$234.711
MT$267.191
NC$249.661
ND$262.451
NE$245.381
NH$275.171
NJ$289.73–$305.302
NM$250.661
NV$266.091
NY$253.89–$318.015
OH$248.241
OK$242.011
OR$263.95–$290.092
PA$248.83–$278.452
PR$269.491
RI$274.331
SC$249.381
SD$261.881
TN$243.591
TX$246.95–$279.068
UT$253.261
VA$261.13–$309.242
VI$269.491
VT$261.061
WA$277.41–$317.422
WI$252.471
WV$242.001
WY$265.121

See 46050 in every payment locality

How the 46050 rate is calculated

Each of 46050’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 · 46050

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.21

1.21 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense6.55

6.55 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.24

0.24 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

8.0000

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$267.21

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

The exact Los Angeles, CA inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

5,574

Code
46050
Physician work
1.21
Practice expense
6.55
Malpractice
0.24

GPCI2026.csv

13

Locality
Los Angeles, CA
Physician work
1.041
Practice expense
1.183
Malpractice
0.664
Office calculation for 46050 in Los Angeles, CA
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.21× 1.0411.2596
Practice expense6.55× 1.1837.7487
Malpractice0.24× 0.6640.1594
Total RVUs9.1676
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Los Angeles, CA$306.21

Office: (1.21 × 1.041 + 6.55 × 1.183 + 0.24 × 0.664) × $33.4009 = $306.21

Facility: (1.21 × 1.041 + 1.65 × 1.183 + 0.24 × 0.664) × $33.4009 = $112.59

Open 46050 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 46050

46050 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 46050

Perianal abscess drainage, superficial abscess

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period010Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 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)0.10/0.80/0.10Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 46050

Perianal abscess drainage, superficial abscess

10-day global period ends

Oct 11, 2026

Covers Oct 1, 2026 through Oct 11, 2026 (11 days).

Visit on Oct 31, 2026

After the global period ends: visits and procedures are billed normally.

SurgeryVisit
Sep 28, 2026Oct 14, 2026

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

46050 without 51 · national office

$267.21

Perianal abscess drainage, superficial abscess

46050-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$133.61

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 46050

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

Codes related to 46050
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Los Angeles, CA
Used instead
46040Abscess drainage, ischiorectal or intramuralFor drainage of an ischiorectal or perirectal abscess rather than a superficial perianal collection.$699.96
46045Abscess drainage, perirectal, under anesthesiaDescribes transanal abscess drainage under anesthesia, a different approach from superficial perianal drainage.No office rate
46060Abscess drainage, with fistula treatmentFor ischiorectal or intramural abscess drainage, not a superficial perianal abscess.No office rate

How 46050 has changed in Los Angeles, CA

46050 · Office / nonfacility

$306.21

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $44.32 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $261.89 to $306.21 (16.9%).

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

    $261.89changed to$306.21

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.24 changed to 1.21
    • Practice expense RVU 5.56 changed to 6.55
    • Work GPCI 1.042 changed to 1.041
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.194 changed to 1.183
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.690 changed to 0.664

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $272.69changed to$261.89

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 5.64 changed to 5.56

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $268.24changed to$272.69

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $277.33changed to$268.24

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 5.66 changed to 5.64
    • Malpractice RVU 0.25 changed to 0.24
    • Work GPCI 1.045 changed to 1.042
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.185 changed to 1.194
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.724 changed to 0.690

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $283.44changed to$277.33

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 5.71 changed to 5.66
    • Malpractice RVU 0.24 changed to 0.25
    • Work GPCI 1.048 changed to 1.045
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.175 changed to 1.185
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.757 changed to 0.724

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $279.49changed to$283.44

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 5.55 changed to 5.71
    • Malpractice RVU 0.25 changed to 0.24

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $256.27changed to$279.49

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 4.78 changed to 5.55
    • Work GPCI 1.047 changed to 1.048
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.176 changed to 1.175
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.725 changed to 0.757

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $243.80changed to$256.27

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 4.51 changed to 4.78
    • Malpractice RVU 0.23 changed to 0.25
    • Work GPCI 1.046 changed to 1.047
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.177 changed to 1.176
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.694 changed to 0.725

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $237.18changed to$243.80

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 4.36 changed to 4.51

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $232.77changed to$237.18

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 4.28 changed to 4.36
    • Work GPCI 1.047 changed to 1.046
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.169 changed to 1.177
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.801 changed to 0.694

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $231.46changed to$232.77

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 4.27 changed to 4.28
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.161 changed to 1.169
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.908 changed to 0.801

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $233.13changed to$231.46

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 4.29 changed to 4.27

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $231.97changed to$233.13

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $228.14changed to$231.97

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 4.23 changed to 4.29
    • Work GPCI 1.042 changed to 1.047
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.158 changed to 1.161
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.775 changed to 0.908

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $236.62changed to$228.14

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 4.78 changed to 4.23
    • Malpractice RVU 0.24 changed to 0.23
    • Work GPCI 1.036 changed to 1.042
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.154 changed to 1.158
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.642 changed to 0.775

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. October 1, 2013

    RVU13D

    No ratechanged to$236.62

  17. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$306.21$112.59RVU26D
2026-07-01$306.21$112.59RVU26C
2026-04-01$306.21$112.59RVU26B
2026-01-01$306.21$112.59RVU26A
2025-10-01$261.89$109.72RVU25D
2025-07-01$261.89$109.72RVU25C
2025-04-01$261.89$109.72RVU25B
2025-01-01$261.89$109.72RVU25A
2024-10-01$272.69$111.72RVU24D
2024-07-01$272.69$111.72RVU24C
2024-04-01$272.69$111.72RVU24B
2024-03-09$272.69$111.72RVU24AR
2024-01-01$268.24$109.89RVU24A
2023-10-01$277.33$112.29RVU23D
2023-07-01$277.33$112.29RVU23C
2023-04-01$277.33$112.29RVU23B
2023-01-01$277.33$112.29RVU23A
2022-10-01$283.44$112.25RVU22D
2022-07-01$283.44$112.25RVU22C
2022-04-01$283.44$112.25RVU22B
2022-01-01$283.44$112.25RVU22A
2021-10-01$279.49$111.81RVU21D
2021-07-01$279.49$111.81RVU21C
2021-04-01$279.49$111.81RVU21B
2021-01-01$279.49$111.81RVU21A
2020-10-01$256.27$111.12RVU20D
2020-07-01$256.27$111.12RVU20C
2020-04-01$256.27$111.12RVU20B
2020-01-01$256.27$111.12RVU20A
2019-10-01$243.80$109.76RVU19D
2019-07-01$243.80$109.76RVU19C
2019-04-01$243.80$109.76RVU19B
2019-01-01$243.80$109.76RVU19A
2018-10-01$237.18$109.22RVU18D
2018-07-01$237.18$109.22RVU18C
2018-04-01$237.18$109.22RVU18B
2018-01-01$237.18$109.22RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$232.77$109.42RVU17D
2017-07-01$232.77$109.42RVU17C
2017-04-01$232.77$109.42RVU17B
2017-01-01$232.77$109.42RVU17A
2016-10-01$231.46$109.25RVU16D
2016-07-01$231.46$109.25RVU16C
2016-04-01$231.46$109.25RVU16B
2016-01-01$231.46$109.25RVU16A
2015-10-01$233.13$110.06RVU15D
2015-07-01$233.13$110.06RVU15C
2015-04-01$231.97$109.51RVU15B
2015-01-01$231.97$109.51RVU15A
2014-10-01$228.14$107.84RVU14D
2014-07-01$228.14$107.84RVU14C
2014-04-01$228.14$107.84RVU14B
2014-01-01$228.14$107.84RVU14A
2013-10-01$236.62$107.45RVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 46050 for an earlier date of service

Where the Los Angeles, CA rate applies

Los Angeles, CA is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 189 cities and communities in California. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Anaheim
  • Long Beach
  • Los Angeles
  • Orange
  • Acton
  • Agoura Hills
  • Agua Dulce
  • Alhambra

Browse all communities in California

46050 billing questions

How does this differ from drainage of an ischiorectal abscess?

Use 46050 for a superficial perianal collection. A deeper ischiorectal or perirectal abscess points to a different drainage code, such as 46040 or 46060, depending on the documented site and procedure.

When is 46045 a better fit?

46045 describes transanal drainage of an abscess under anesthesia. Code 46050 is for incision and drainage of a superficial perianal abscess, not the transanal approach.

Are postoperative visits included?

Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in the procedure payment.

Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral abscesses?

No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply to 46050, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code.

How are other procedures in the same session paid?

Under the standard multiple procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other affected procedures are paid at 50%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for 46050, and co-surgeons and team surgery 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 46050PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,574 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Los Angeles, CAGPCI2026.csv, line 13 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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