CPT code 51596: Bladder removal, continent urinary diversion2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Missouri
Reports complete bladder removal combined with construction of a continent urinary reservoir using bowel, such as a catheterizable pouch or neobladder.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 51596 in Missouri.
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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What 51596 covers
A urologist removes the entire urinary bladder and creates a continent urinary reservoir using a segment of intestine, including the required intestinal anastomosis. The diversion may be a catheterizable pouch, such as an Indiana pouch, or an orthotopic neobladder connected to the urethra. The operation is generally performed in a hospital operating room, often for bladder cancer, and may be part of a larger pelvic operation.
Select this code when the record supports complete cystectomy and a continent diversion; document the reservoir configuration and bowel work. The code includes the intestinal anastomosis involved in creating the diversion. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this procedure. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires 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 51596 pays more and less in Missouri
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MO | Unavailable | $2,055.98 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MO | Unavailable | $2,066.67 |
| Rest of Missouri | Unavailable | $2,020.23 |
How the 51596 rate is calculated
Each of 51596’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 · 51596
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work43.15
43.15 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense13.68
13.68 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice5.69
5.69 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
62.5200
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$2,088.22
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 51596
51596 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 51596
Bladder removal, continent urinary diversion
| 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) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| 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 · 51596
Bladder removal, continent urinary diversion
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 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
51596 without 51 · national facility
$2,088.22
Bladder removal, continent urinary diversion
51596-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$1,044.11
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%).
51596 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 51590Bladder removalCutaneous urinary diversion
- 51596 describes a continent reservoir. 51590 describes a different diversion, such as a ureteroileal conduit or sigmoid bladder.
- 51595Bladder removalContinent intestinal reservoir
- 51595 combines complete cystectomy, pelvic lymphadenectomy, and a ureteroileal conduit or sigmoid bladder; 51596 is distinguished by the continent diversion.
- 51570CystectomyComplete excision, separate procedure
- 51570 reports complete cystectomy without the specified continent diversion. Choose 51596 when the operation also creates a continent reservoir.
- 51585CystectomyNodes and ureteral diversion
- 51585 describes complete cystectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy and ureterosigmoidostomy or sigmoid bladder, rather than a continent reservoir.
51596 billing questions
When should this code be selected instead of 51590?
Use 51596 for a continent reservoir, such as a catheterizable pouch or orthotopic neobladder. Code 51590 describes a different diversion approach, such as a ureteroileal conduit or sigmoid bladder.
Does the code include the bowel anastomosis?
Yes. The intestinal anastomosis involved in creating the continent diversion is included in 51596.
Does 51596 include pelvic lymphadenectomy?
The code description centers on complete cystectomy with continent diversion and does not specify pelvic lymphadenectomy. Document any lymph node dissection performed and assess it separately under applicable coding guidance.
Can modifier 50 be reported?
No. Bilateral adjustment is inappropriate for this procedure because the descriptor and anatomy do not support modifier 50.
What documentation supports reporting 51596?
The operative report should establish complete bladder removal and describe the continent diversion, including its configuration and intestinal work. Document any associated procedures separately.
How does the global period affect postoperative billing?
The 90-day global includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction.
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
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