CPT code 53852: Prostate ablation, radiofrequency thermotherapy2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Massachusetts
Reports transurethral radiofrequency thermotherapy that destroys prostate tissue, typically to treat urinary symptoms from benign prostatic enlargement.
Medicare pays $1,456.95–$1,630.26 for 53852 in the office in Massachusetts, from Rest of Massachusetts to Metropolitan Boston, MA. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
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 53852 covers
A urologist delivers radiofrequency heat through a transurethral device to destroy prostate tissue, generally to relieve lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic enlargement. The treatment is performed through the urethra and may occur in an office or facility setting. This code identifies the radiofrequency thermotherapy method, not prostate tissue treatment by microwave energy or radiofrequency-generated water vapor.
Select the code from the documented treatment method; the operative report should identify radiofrequency thermotherapy and describe the procedure performed. The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the 90-day global period. 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 not appropriate for this prostate procedure. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service, and co-surgeons and team surgery are 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 53852 pays more and less in Massachusetts
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Boston, MA | $1,630.26 | $385.18 |
| Rest of Massachusetts | $1,456.95 | $358.91 |
How the 53852 rate is calculated
Each of 53852’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 · 53852
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work5.78
5.78 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense35.28
35.28 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.75
0.75 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
41.8100
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,396.49
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 53852
53852 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 53852
Prostate ablation, radiofrequency thermotherapy
| 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) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| 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 · 53852
Prostate ablation, radiofrequency thermotherapy
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
53852 without 51 · national office
$1,396.49
Prostate ablation, radiofrequency thermotherapy
53852-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$698.25
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%).
53852 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 53850Prostate treatmentMicrowave thermotherapy
- Choose 53852 for radiofrequency thermotherapy; choose 53850 when the operative documentation identifies microwave thermotherapy.
- 53854Prostate ablationRadiofrequency water vapor
- 53854 describes prostate treatment using radiofrequency-generated water vapor, while 53852 identifies radiofrequency thermotherapy by a different method.
- 53860Prostate treatmentTransurethral radiofrequency
- 53860 is for transurethral needle ablation. Use 53852 when the documented prostate tissue treatment is radiofrequency thermotherapy.
53852 billing questions
How is this code different from 53850?
53852 identifies prostate tissue treatment using radiofrequency thermotherapy. Use 53850 when the documented method is microwave thermotherapy.
How is this different from 53854?
53854 is for radiofrequency-generated water vapor thermotherapy. Choose 53852 when the documented technique is radiofrequency thermotherapy rather than water vapor treatment.
Should modifier 50 be appended?
No. Modifier 50 is not appropriate for this prostate procedure.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
What happens if another procedure is performed in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full; other procedures 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
Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
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