Billing code 23077: Shoulder tumor surgeryMedicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $1,051.46 for 23077 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 23077 covers

This code describes definitive, en bloc removal of a tumor from the shoulder soft tissues using a radical approach, when the tumor measures less than 5 cm. An orthopedic oncologist or another surgeon treating musculoskeletal tumors typically performs the operation in a surgical setting, often for a suspected or confirmed malignancy such as a soft-tissue sarcoma. The resection includes surrounding tissue as needed for oncologic clearance, making it more extensive than simply removing a superficial mass or excising a deep tumor without a radical approach.

Select the code based on the radical extent of the resection and the tumor size, not size alone. The operative report should identify the shoulder site, tumor dimensions, tissue planes removed, and en bloc technique. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care for 90 days. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. 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 23077 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

23077 rates by state

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

How the 23077 rate is calculated

Each of 23077’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 23077

23077 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 50

23077 compared with similar codes

How to choose

23078Shoulder tumor resection

Both describe radical resection of a shoulder tumor; 23078 is selected for tumors 5 cm or larger, while 23077 is for tumors under 5 cm.

23076Shoulder tumor excision

Code 23076 is for deep tumor excision under 5 cm without the radical-resection distinction. Choose 23077 when the documented procedure is a radical, en bloc resection.

23066Shoulder biopsy

Code 23066 represents biopsy of deep shoulder tissue for diagnosis. Code 23077 represents definitive radical removal of the tumor.

Codes related to 23077

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