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CPT code 50544: Pyeloplasty, laparoscopic approach2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports laparoscopic reconstruction of the renal pelvis and proximal ureter to relieve an obstructed ureteropelvic junction while preserving the kidney.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities1.1K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $1,103.23 for 50544 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 50544

Pyeloplasty, laparoscopic approach

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
22.79
Total RVUs
33.03
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$1,103.23

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 50544 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 50544 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 50544 covers

A urologist uses laparoscopic access to repair narrowing where the renal pelvis joins the ureter, a common cause of impaired urine drainage and hydronephrosis. The reconstruction reshapes or reconnects the renal pelvis and proximal ureter to create a more open passage; the narrowed segment may be removed. The operation is generally performed in a hospital operating room for a patient whose kidney can be preserved.

Report 50544 when the operative work is laparoscopic pyeloplasty, rather than kidney removal or tumor excision. The operative report should support the ureteropelvic junction obstruction, laparoscopic approach, and reconstruction performed. This major surgery has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures at 50%. For bilateral surgery, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons require supporting documentation, and 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 50544 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

50544 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$1,030.03
AlaskaUnavailable$1,455.42
ArizonaUnavailable$1,081.49
ArkansasUnavailable$1,021.11
Atlanta, GAUnavailable$1,129.22
Austin, TXUnavailable$1,107.64
Bakersfield, CAUnavailable$1,102.54
Baltimore area, MDUnavailable$1,156.54
Beaumont, TXUnavailable$1,074.32
Brazoria, TXUnavailable$1,085.45

50544 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

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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.

View every state and territory as a table
50544 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 50544 rate is calculated

Each of 50544’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 · 50544

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work22.79

22.79 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense7.29

7.29 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice2.95

2.95 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

33.0300

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$1,103.23

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 50544

50544 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 50544

Pyeloplasty, laparoscopic approach

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)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.08/0.83/0.09Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 50544

Pyeloplasty, laparoscopic approach

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 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

50544 without 50 · national facility

$1,103.23

Pyeloplasty, laparoscopic approach

50544-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$1,654.85

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).

When to use modifier 50

50544 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 50544

    Pyeloplasty, laparoscopic approach22.79 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 50543

    Partial nephrectomy, laparoscopic approach26.72 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 50546

    Nephrectomy, laparoscopic, partial ureterectomy21.32 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 50549

    Renal laparoscopy, unlisted procedure0 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

50543Partial nephrectomyLaparoscopic approach
50543 describes laparoscopic partial nephrectomy, typically removing renal tissue such as a tumor. 50544 repairs the renal pelvis-to-ureter junction to improve drainage.
50546NephrectomyLaparoscopic, partial ureterectomy
50546 is laparoscopic nephrectomy; it removes the kidney. Use 50544 when the operation reconstructs the junction and preserves the kidney.
50549Renal laparoscopyUnlisted procedure
50549 is an unlisted laparoscopic renal procedure code. 50544 specifically describes laparoscopic pyeloplasty, so it is the more specific choice for that reconstruction.

Codes related to 50544

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

Codes related to 50544
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
50400Pyeloplasty, simple open reconstructionOpen pyeloplasty is the approach alternative when the repair is performed through an open operation.No office rate
50546Nephrectomy, laparoscopic, partial ureterectomyLaparoscopic kidney removal may be chosen when reconstruction is not the operative objective and the kidney is removed.No office rate
50549Renal laparoscopy, unlisted procedureUnlisted laparoscopic renal procedure code for a renal laparoscopic service without a specific code.No office rate

50544 billing questions

How is 50544 different from laparoscopic nephrectomy?

50544 reconstructs the renal pelvis-to-ureter junction to preserve the kidney. Nephrectomy codes describe removing a kidney, not repairing its drainage junction.

What documentation supports 50544?

Document the ureteropelvic junction obstruction, the laparoscopic approach, and the repair or reconstruction performed. The operative note should make clear that the kidney was preserved.

Is routine operative work separately reported?

The reconstruction and its routine operative steps are represented by 50544. Do not assume that an additional service is separately payable solely because it is described in the operative note; evaluate distinct services under applicable coding and claim edits.

How is bilateral pyeloplasty reported?

For bilateral procedures, report modifier 50; CMS pays this code at 150% under the bilateral rule.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons are paid only with supporting documentation; team surgery is 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 50544PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,934 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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