CPT code 50081: Kidney stone removal, stone burden over 2 cm2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Michigan
Percutaneous nephrolithotomy for renal or pelvic stones larger than 2 cm, reported when the surgeon fragments and removes stones through a kidney access tract.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 50081 in Michigan.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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On this page 9 sections
What 50081 covers
A urologist uses an access tract through the flank to reach the kidney or renal pelvis, then fragments and removes a stone burden larger than 2 cm. The operation is typically performed in an operating room, often for large or complex renal stones that require percutaneous rather than ureteroscopic treatment. The procedure may involve nephroscopic inspection and stone extraction as well as lithotripsy.
Select this code when the documented stone size exceeds 2 cm; code 50080 is the related choice for stones up to 2 cm. The operative report should establish stone size, location, laterality, the percutaneous approach, and the fragmentation or removal performed. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. In a same-session multiple-procedure claim, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures at 50%. Modifier 50 identifies bilateral surgery and is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery services may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team-surgery billing is 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 50081 pays more and less in Michigan
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | Unavailable | $1,053.32 |
| Rest of Michigan | Unavailable | $992.63 |
How the 50081 rate is calculated
Each of 50081’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 · 50081
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work20.39
20.39 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense6.99
6.99 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice2.61
2.61 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
29.9900
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,001.69
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 50081
50081 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 50081
Kidney stone removal, stone burden over 2 cm
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 1 | Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.08/0.83/0.09 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 50081
Kidney stone removal, stone burden over 2 cm
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.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
50081 without 50 · national facility
$1,001.69
Kidney stone removal, stone burden over 2 cm
50081-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,502.54
Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).
50081 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 50080Percutaneous stone removalSimple, up to 2 cm
- Both describe percutaneous kidney stone treatment; 50081 is for stones larger than 2 cm, while 50080 is for stones up to 2 cm.
- 50075Kidney stone removalLarge staghorn calculus
- 50075 describes open removal of a large staghorn calculus; 50081 uses a percutaneous access tract for stones larger than 2 cm.
- 50060Kidney stone surgeryOpen nephrotomy approach
- 50060 is nephrolithotomy for calculus removal by an open approach. Choose 50081 when the surgeon treats a stone larger than 2 cm percutaneously.
- 52356Ureteroscopic lithotripsyWith ureteral stent
- 52356 treats stones through ureteroscopy or pyeloscopy and includes lithotripsy with ureteral stent insertion; 50081 uses percutaneous access to the kidney.
50081 billing questions
When should 50081 be chosen over 50080?
Use 50081 for a stone burden larger than 2 cm treated by the percutaneous approach. Code 50080 is the related code for stones up to 2 cm.
What documentation supports 50081?
Document stone size, kidney or renal-pelvis location, laterality, the percutaneous approach, and the fragmentation or removal performed.
How does the 90-day global period affect billing?
The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period.
How is bilateral surgery reported?
Report bilateral surgery with modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery services may be paid. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team-surgery billing is not permitted.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
CMS pays the highest-valued procedure in full and other procedures at 50% when multiple procedures are performed in the same session.
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
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