CPT code 51800: Bladder outlet reconstruction, bladder neck and urethra2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $931.22 for 51800 nationally in a facility.

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

What 51800 covers

A urologist uses this code for reconstructive surgery at the bladder neck and adjoining urethral outlet, which may include removing a wedge of bladder-neck tissue. The procedure is performed in an operating room to correct an outlet abnormality requiring reconstruction, rather than to suspend the bladder neck for support or simply close a bladder wound.

Select the code from the operative report’s description of the reconstructed anatomy and technique. Documentation should identify the indication, the bladder-neck and urethral work performed, and any wedge resection. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period: the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included. For multiple procedures 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 not appropriate for this code. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; 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 51800 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

51800 rates by state

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

How the 51800 rate is calculated

Each of 51800’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 51800

51800 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 51

51800 compared with similar codes

How to choose

51820Outlet reconstructionComplicated plastic repair

This code addresses bladder-neck and adjoining urethral reconstruction. Compare the operative extent documented for 51820, which describes a different urinary-tract reconstruction.

51840Bladder suspensionAbdominal approach

Use 51800 for reconstructive work at the bladder outlet; 51840 describes a bladder-neck suspension intended to provide support.

51841Bladder suspensionComplicated repair

51841 is a suspension procedure with a sling. Choose 51800 when the operative report describes reconstruction of the outlet rather than sling-based support.

51860Bladder repairSimple wound suture

51860 is for repair of a bladder wound. It is not the same as reconstructing the bladder neck and adjoining urethral outlet.

Codes related to 51800

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

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates