CPT code 57550: Cervical stump removal, vaginal approach2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California

CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 57550 in California.

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

What 57550 covers

This procedure removes the remaining cervix through the vagina, typically in a patient who previously had a supracervical hysterectomy and still has a cervical stump. A gynecologic surgeon may perform it for a documented problem involving that remnant, such as persistent bleeding or cervical disease. The operative report should make clear that the target is residual cervix and that the vaginal route was used.

Report 57550 for vaginal removal of the cervical stump; an abdominal approach is represented by a different code. Documentation should identify the prior surgery, the indication, the anatomy removed, and the operative approach. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When multiple procedures occur 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 single midline structure. 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 57550 pays more and less in California

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

29 of 29 payment localities

How the 57550 rate is calculated

Each of 57550’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 57550

57550 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

57550 compared with similar codes

How to choose

57540Cervical stump removalAbdominal approach

Both concern removal of a residual cervix, but 57540 is the abdominal approach; 57550 is the vaginal approach.

57520Cervical coneNon-loop excision

57520 describes cervical conization, an excision of cervical tissue. It is not removal of a residual cervical stump.

57558D&CCervical stump

57558 describes dilation and curettage of a cervical stump; 57550 removes the stump itself through the vagina.

Codes related to 57550

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