CPT code 59871: Cerclage removal, nonlocal anesthesia2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Removal of a cervical cerclage under anesthesia beyond local anesthesia, commonly performed when labor begins or the stitch must be removed during pregnancy.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 59871 in Florida.
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 59871 covers
This service removes a cervical stitch placed to support the cervix during pregnancy, with anesthesia other than local anesthesia. An obstetrician or other qualified physician may perform it in a labor-and-delivery unit, operating room, or other procedural setting. Typical situations include planned removal near the end of pregnancy or removal when labor or another clinical issue makes the stitch unsafe to leave in place.
Report the service when the cerclage is actually removed and the anesthesia meets the code’s requirement; routine office removal using local anesthesia alone is not this service. Document the indication, removal performed, and anesthesia used. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in one 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 service. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity; co-surgeon and team-surgery payment 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 59871 pays more and less in Florida
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | Unavailable | $138.77 |
| Miami, FL | Unavailable | $155.47 |
| Rest of Florida | Unavailable | $130.39 |
How the 59871 rate is calculated
Each of 59871’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 · 59871
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work2.08
2.08 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.87
0.87 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.66
0.66 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
3.6100
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$120.58
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 59871
The CMS indicators that decide how 59871 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 59871
Cerclage removal, nonlocal anesthesia
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is 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) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
59871 without 51 · national facility
$120.58
Cerclage removal, nonlocal anesthesia
59871-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$60.29
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%).
59871 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
59871 vs 59320 vs 59325: Medicare rates
How to choose
- 59320Cervical cerclageVaginal approach
- Code 59320 is for placing a vaginal cerclage during pregnancy; 59871 is for removing a cerclage under anesthesia other than local.
- 59325Cervical revisionAbdominal approach
- Code 59325 describes abdominal cerclage placement during pregnancy, not removal of an existing cerclage.
59871 billing questions
Does this code include removal under local anesthesia alone?
No. This service is for cerclage removal under anesthesia other than local anesthesia; routine removal with local anesthesia alone does not meet that distinction.
How is this different from code 59320?
Code 59871 reports removal of a cervical cerclage under qualifying anesthesia. Code 59320 describes placing a vaginal cerclage during pregnancy.
Can cerclage removal be reported on the same date as delivery?
It may be reported when removal and delivery are both performed in the same encounter. Document the removal separately and select the delivery code for the delivery performed.
Is modifier 50 appropriate?
No. The anatomy and service do not support bilateral reporting with modifier 50.
What does the 0-day global period include?
Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in the procedure. The global period does not extend beyond the day of service.
When can an assistant-at-surgery be paid?
Only when documentation establishes the medical necessity of the assistant. CMS does not permit co-surgeon or team-surgery payment 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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