CPT code 50205: Renal biopsy, open surgical exposure2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Reports kidney tissue sampling performed after surgical exposure, rather than percutaneous needle biopsy, when an open approach is used to obtain tissue.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 50205 in Florida.
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 50205 covers
A surgeon, commonly a urologist, exposes the kidney surgically and obtains tissue for diagnostic examination. This approach is distinct from passing a biopsy needle through the skin; it is reported when the kidney is accessed through an operative exposure to collect the sample. The service is typically performed in a hospital operating room when a surgical approach is chosen to obtain renal tissue.
Report 50205 for the biopsy performed through surgical exposure, not for a percutaneous biopsy or removal of kidney tissue as treatment. The operative report should support the surgical exposure and tissue sampling, including the side treated. The code has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When performed in the same session with other procedures, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation. Team surgery 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 50205 pays more and less in Florida
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | Unavailable | $796.31 |
| Miami, FL | Unavailable | $874.05 |
| Rest of Florida | Unavailable | $753.78 |
How the 50205 rate is calculated
Each of 50205’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 · 50205
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work11.98
11.98 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense6.39
6.39 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice2.98
2.98 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
21.3500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$713.11
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 50205
50205 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 50205
Renal biopsy, open surgical exposure
| 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 · 50205
Renal biopsy, open surgical exposure
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
50205 without 50 · national facility
$713.11
Renal biopsy, open surgical exposure
50205-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,069.67
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).
50205 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 50200Renal biopsyPercutaneous
- 50200 is for renal tissue obtained percutaneously with a biopsy needle; 50205 is for tissue obtained after surgical exposure of the kidney.
- 50220Kidney removalOpen, nonradical removal
- 50220 reports open removal of a kidney, not diagnostic tissue sampling with the kidney retained.
- 50240Kidney surgeryOpen partial resection
- 50240 reports partial nephrectomy, removing part of the kidney; 50205 reports a biopsy obtained through surgical exposure.
50205 billing questions
How do I choose between 50205 and 50200?
Use 50205 when the kidney is surgically exposed to obtain the biopsy. Use 50200 for a percutaneous renal biopsy.
Is the pathology examination included in 50205?
The surgeon’s code reports obtaining the tissue. The pathology laboratory may separately report the examination, such as 88305, when performed and appropriately documented.
Can I report modifier 50 for biopsies of both kidneys?
CMS identifies 50205 as bilateral; modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Document the operative work on both sides.
What documentation supports 50205?
The operative report should describe surgical exposure of the kidney, tissue sampling, and the side or sides involved.
Does 50205 have a global period?
Yes. It has a 90-day global period that includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
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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