CPT code 56440: Cyst marsupialization, bartholin gland2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Reports surgical creation of a lasting drainage opening for a Bartholin gland cyst, commonly selected for a symptomatic or recurrent cyst.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 56440 in Texas.
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 56440 covers
CPT 56440 covers opening a Bartholin gland cyst and suturing its edges to the nearby mucosa to leave a persistent drainage opening. An obstetrician-gynecologist or other qualified clinician typically performs the procedure for a symptomatic cyst, including one that has recurred after prior treatment. It may be performed in an office procedure room or an outpatient facility.
Report 56440 when the documented treatment is marsupialization of a Bartholin gland cyst, rather than simple drainage of an abscess or removal of the cyst. The note should identify the Bartholin gland cyst and describe creation of the drainage opening. Medicare includes related postoperative visits during the 10-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 multiple procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code; Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery, 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 56440 pays more and less in Texas
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | Unavailable | $165.12 |
| Beaumont, TX | Unavailable | $157.72 |
| Brazoria, TX | Unavailable | $160.41 |
| Dallas, TX | Unavailable | $162.02 |
| Fort Worth, TX | Unavailable | $161.70 |
| Galveston, TX | Unavailable | $161.29 |
| Houston, TX | Unavailable | $170.07 |
| Rest of Texas | Unavailable | $159.38 |
How the 56440 rate is calculated
Each of 56440’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 · 56440
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work2.82
2.82 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense1.60
1.60 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.48
0.48 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
4.9000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$163.66
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 56440
56440 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 56440
Cyst marsupialization, bartholin gland
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 010 | Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 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) | 0.10/0.80/0.10 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 56440
Cyst marsupialization, bartholin gland
10-day global period ends
Oct 11, 2026
Covers Oct 1, 2026 through Oct 11, 2026 (11 days).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
After the global period ends: visits and procedures are billed normally.
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
56440 without 51 · national facility
$163.66
Cyst marsupialization, bartholin gland
56440-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$81.83
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%).
56440 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 56420Abscess drainageBartholin gland
- Choose 56440 when the clinician marsupializes a Bartholin gland cyst by creating a persistent drainage opening. Choose 56420 for incision and drainage of a Bartholin gland abscess.
- 56740Bartholin excisionGland or cyst removal
- 56740 represents excision of a Bartholin gland cyst. 56440 leaves the cyst wall opening sutured to nearby mucosa for ongoing drainage rather than removing the cyst.
- 56405Abscess drainageVulva or perineum
- 56405 is for drainage of a vulvar or perineal abscess. 56440 is specific to marsupialization of a Bartholin gland cyst.
56440 billing questions
How is 56440 different from 56420?
56440 is for marsupialization of a Bartholin gland cyst, creating a lasting drainage opening. 56420 describes incision and drainage of a Bartholin gland abscess.
Can 56420 also be reported for the opening made during marsupialization?
Do not separately report 56420 for the incision and drainage that are part of marsupialization of the same lesion.
What documentation supports 56440?
Document the Bartholin gland cyst and describe the marsupialization, including creation of the persistent drainage opening. A note describing only abscess drainage supports a different service.
Are postoperative visits separately reportable during the global period?
Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in 56440.
How does Medicare handle other procedures performed in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction.
Can modifier 50 or an assistant-at-surgery claim be used?
Modifier 50 is inappropriate for 56440. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service.
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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