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CPT code 46050: Perianal abscess drainage, superficial abscess2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

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 Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $309.24 for 46050 in the office and $116.44 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$309.24Office (non-facility)
$116.44Hospital or facility
+15.7%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 Washington, DC area
  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 Washington, DC area 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. Washington, DC area pays $309.24. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

46050 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$309.24
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$306.21−$3.03
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$288.43−$20.81
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$278.96−$30.28
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$309.93+$0.69
  6. Alaska · Alaska$298.04−$11.20
  7. Alabama · Alabama$236.38−$72.86

Other areas in District of Columbia first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

46050 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$232.47$91.88
ArizonaArizona$259.27$100.68
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$285.84$106.47
Chico, CACalifornia$285.18$105.80
El Centro, CACalifornia$285.22$105.84
Fresno, CACalifornia$285.18$105.80
Hanford, CACalifornia$285.18$105.80
Madera, CACalifornia$285.18$105.80

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 Washington, DC area 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

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 46050 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.21× 1.0541.2753
Practice expense6.55× 1.1787.7159
Malpractice0.24× 1.1130.2671
Total RVUs9.2584
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$309.24

Office: (1.21 × 1.054 + 6.55 × 1.178 + 0.24 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $309.24

Facility: (1.21 × 1.054 + 1.65 × 1.178 + 0.24 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $116.44

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, Washington, DC area
Used instead
46040Abscess drainage, ischiorectal or intramuralFor drainage of an ischiorectal or perirectal abscess rather than a superficial perianal collection.$718.16
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 Washington, DC area

46050 · Office / nonfacility

$309.24

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $43.40 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $265.84 to $309.24 (16.3%).

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

    $265.84changed to$309.24

    • 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 1.057 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.192 changed to 1.178
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.168 changed to 1.113

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $276.75changed to$265.84

    • 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

    $272.23changed to$276.75

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $287.65changed to$272.23

    • 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 1.056 changed to 1.057
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.214 changed to 1.192
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.231 changed to 1.168

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $300.21changed to$287.65

    • 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 1.054 changed to 1.056
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.236 changed to 1.214
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.294 changed to 1.231

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $296.25changed to$300.21

    • 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

    $269.10changed to$296.25

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 4.78 changed to 5.55
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.221 changed to 1.236
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.277 changed to 1.294

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $253.01changed to$269.10

    • 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 1.045 changed to 1.049
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.221
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.261 changed to 1.277

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $246.22changed to$253.01

    • 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

    $242.22changed to$246.22

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 4.28 changed to 4.36
    • Work GPCI 1.048 changed to 1.045
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.271 changed to 1.261

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $241.43changed to$242.22

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 4.27 changed to 4.28
    • Work GPCI 1.051 changed to 1.048
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.280 changed to 1.271

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $243.17changed to$241.43

    • 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

    $241.96changed to$243.17

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $238.71changed to$241.96

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 4.23 changed to 4.29
    • Work GPCI 1.050 changed to 1.051
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.202 changed to 1.205
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.280

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $248.31changed to$238.71

    • 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 1.049 changed to 1.050
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.198 changed to 1.202
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.130 changed to 1.205

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $248.31

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$309.24$116.44RVU26D
2026-07-01$309.24$116.44RVU26C
2026-04-01$309.24$116.44RVU26B
2026-01-01$309.24$116.44RVU26A
2025-10-01$265.84$113.93RVU25D
2025-07-01$265.84$113.93RVU25C
2025-04-01$265.84$113.93RVU25B
2025-01-01$265.84$113.93RVU25A
2024-10-01$276.75$116.05RVU24D
2024-07-01$276.75$116.05RVU24C
2024-04-01$276.75$116.05RVU24B
2024-03-09$276.75$116.05RVU24AR
2024-01-01$272.23$114.16RVU24A
2023-10-01$287.65$118.57RVU23D
2023-07-01$287.65$118.57RVU23C
2023-04-01$287.65$118.57RVU23B
2023-01-01$287.65$118.57RVU23A
2022-10-01$300.21$120.14RVU22D
2022-07-01$300.21$120.14RVU22C
2022-04-01$300.21$120.14RVU22B
2022-01-01$300.21$120.14RVU22A
2021-10-01$296.25$119.86RVU21D
2021-07-01$296.25$119.86RVU21C
2021-04-01$296.25$119.86RVU21B
2021-01-01$296.25$119.86RVU21A
2020-10-01$269.10$118.39RVU20D
2020-07-01$269.10$118.39RVU20C
2020-04-01$269.10$118.39RVU20B
2020-01-01$269.10$118.39RVU20A
2019-10-01$253.01$115.78RVU19D
2019-07-01$253.01$115.78RVU19C
2019-04-01$253.01$115.78RVU19B
2019-01-01$253.01$115.78RVU19A
2018-10-01$246.22$115.22RVU18D
2018-07-01$246.22$115.22RVU18C
2018-04-01$246.22$115.22RVU18B
2018-01-01$246.22$115.22RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$242.22$115.08RVU17D
2017-07-01$242.22$115.08RVU17C
2017-04-01$242.22$115.08RVU17B
2017-01-01$242.22$115.08RVU17A
2016-10-01$241.43$114.58RVU16D
2016-07-01$241.43$114.58RVU16C
2016-04-01$241.43$114.58RVU16B
2016-01-01$241.43$114.58RVU16A
2015-10-01$243.17$115.43RVU15D
2015-07-01$243.17$115.43RVU15C
2015-04-01$241.96$114.86RVU15B
2015-01-01$241.96$114.86RVU15A
2014-10-01$238.71$113.84RVU14D
2014-07-01$238.71$113.84RVU14C
2014-04-01$238.71$113.84RVU14B
2014-01-01$238.71$113.84RVU14A
2013-10-01$248.31$114.21RVU13D
2013-07-01$248.31$114.21RVU13C
2013-04-01$248.31$114.21RVU13B
2013-01-01$248.31$114.21RVU13AR

Price 46050 for an earlier date of service

Where the Washington, DC area rate applies

Washington, DC area is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1 cities and communities in District of Columbia. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Washington

Browse all communities in District of Columbia

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 Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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