Billing code 23545: AC joint treatmentMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports physician-performed closed reduction of an acromioclavicular joint dislocation when manipulation is used, rather than treatment without manipulation or open reconstruction.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities80 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $502.02 for 23545 nationally in the office and $426.20 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $437.42–$661.75.

Medicare rate · 23545

AC joint treatment

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
3.34
Total RVUs
15.03
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$502.02

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 23545 → · Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

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

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 23545 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 23545 covers

This service treats a dislocation of the acromioclavicular joint, where the clavicle meets the acromion, by manipulating the joint to restore alignment without open repair. An orthopedic surgeon commonly performs it in an acute-care or surgical setting. The patient may then be immobilized, for example in a sling, as part of the treatment plan.

Choose this code when the physician performs manipulation as part of closed treatment; treatment without manipulation is represented by a different code. Document the dislocation, the side, the manipulation and reduction performed, and the resulting treatment plan. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued is paid in full and the others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; 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 23545 pays more and less

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

109 payment localities

$437.42 to $661.75

$437.42$549.59$661.75
One dot per payment locality, office / nonfacility. Hover a dot to see the locality; select it to open that rate.

109 of 109 payment localities

23545 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$444.64$378.30
Alaska*$568.93$488.18
Arizona$486.78$413.31
Arkansas$437.42$372.30
Atlanta$513.73$436.69
Austin$520.12$439.90
Bakersfield$528.12$445.02
Baltimore/Surr. Cntys$536.85$455.50
Beaumont$467.40$398.40
Brazoria$493.54$418.41

23545 rates by state

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

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

$437.42

$593.81

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
23545 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$568.931
AL$444.641
AR$437.421
AZ$486.781
CA$525.87–$661.7529
CO$520.501
CT$538.001
DC$575.741
DE$495.421
FL$500.00–$559.283
GA$468.16–$513.732
GU$540.041
HI$540.041
IA$454.471
ID$458.391
IL$486.07–$540.514
IN$461.291
KS$453.441
KY$459.401
LA$459.14–$484.382
MA$517.40–$573.912
MD$505.21–$575.743
ME$462.52–$488.522
MI$474.03–$508.342
MN$493.021
MO$451.24–$484.663
MS$444.361
MT$501.961
NC$467.701
ND$485.551
NE$456.841
NH$513.421
NJ$542.54–$568.972
NM$477.481
NV$497.751
NY$475.65–$601.475
OH$470.681
OK$457.021
OR$492.33–$536.972
PA$470.75–$524.252
PR$505.591
RI$513.111
SC$470.291
SD$483.611
TN$456.171
TX$467.40–$520.128
UT$477.421
VA$487.70–$575.742
VI$505.591
VT$484.691
WA$516.06–$584.862
WI$467.601
WV$466.451
WY$494.811

How the 23545 rate is calculated

Each of 23545’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 · 23545

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 3.34Practice expense 10.86Malpractice 0.83

15.0300 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$502.02

All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 23545

23545 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 23545

AC joint treatment

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period090Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.10/0.69/0.21Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 23545

AC joint treatment

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.

  • 24 Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79 Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58 Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78 Unplanned return to the operating room for a related complication
SurgeryVisit
Sep 23, 2026Jan 10, 2027

Pre-op dayGlobal period

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

23545 without 50 · national office

$502.02

AC joint treatment

23545-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$753.03

Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).

When to use modifier 50

23545 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

23545 vs 23540 vs 23550 vs 23552 vs 23525: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 23545
    AC joint treatment · 3.34 wRVU
    $502.02
  • 23540
    AC joint dislocation · 2.3 wRVU
    $276.56−$225.46
  • 23550
    AC joint repair · 7.4 wRVU
    —
  • 23552
    AC joint reconstruction · 8.6 wRVU
    —
  • 23525
    Joint reduction · 3.7 wRVU
    $446.24−$55.78

How to choose

23540AC joint dislocation
Both describe closed treatment of an AC dislocation; choose 23545 when manipulation is performed and 23540 when it is not.
23550AC joint repair
This code is for closed treatment with manipulation. Code 23550 is for open treatment of the AC dislocation.
23552AC joint reconstruction
This code describes closed manipulation. Code 23552 is used for open treatment involving a graft.
23525Joint reduction
Both involve closed treatment with manipulation, but 23525 concerns a sternoclavicular dislocation, not an AC joint dislocation.

23545 billing questions

How does this differ from 23540?

Use 23545 when manipulation is performed as part of closed treatment of the AC dislocation. Code 23540 represents closed treatment without manipulation.

When would an open-treatment code be more appropriate?

Use an open-treatment code when the surgeon treats the AC dislocation through an open approach, rather than by closed manipulation. Code 23550 covers open treatment without the graft distinction found in 23552.

What documentation supports reporting this code?

Document the AC dislocation, laterality, the manipulation performed to reduce it, and the post-treatment plan. The record should make clear that manipulation was part of the closed treatment.

How is bilateral treatment handled?

For bilateral procedures, CMS specifies modifier 50 and payment at 150%. Document the treatment performed on each side.

What postoperative care is included?

The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. Related routine follow-up during that period is included in the global service.

Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment is allowed only when medical necessity is documented. CMS does not permit co-surgeons or team surgery for this code.

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
RVUs for 23545PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,226 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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