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Billing code 24155: Elbow resectionMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports operative removal of the elbow joint for a condition requiring resection of the joint itself, rather than treatment limited to bone or synovium.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities

Medicare pays $791.27 for 24155 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 24155

Elbow resection

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
11.79
Total RVUs
23.69
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$791.27

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 24155 → · 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 24155 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 24155 covers

An orthopedic surgeon performs this operation when treatment requires resection of the elbow joint itself, such as in a severely damaged or infected joint selected for resection as a salvage procedure. The operative work is directed at the joint, not just the synovial lining, an isolated bone lesion, or the radial head. The code describes a substantial elbow operation, not a diagnostic arthrotomy or biopsy.

Report it when the operative note supports resection of the joint and identifies the indication and structures addressed. Distinguish it from limited procedures such as synovectomy or isolated radial-head excision, and from radical resection for a tumor. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued is paid in full and others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; co-surgeons require 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 24155 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

24155 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$715.68
Alaska*Unavailable$970.91
ArizonaUnavailable$769.47
ArkansasUnavailable$706.38
AtlantaUnavailable$814.32
AustinUnavailable$800.69
BakersfieldUnavailable$796.08
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$840.33
BeaumontUnavailable$757.09
BrazoriaUnavailable$773.15

24155 rates by state

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

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Local rates. Clear comparisons.

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

View every state and territory as a table
24155 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 24155 rate is calculated

Each of 24155’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 · 24155

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 11.79Practice expense 9.39Malpractice 2.51

23.6900 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$791.27

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 24155

24155 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 24155

Elbow resection

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)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
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 · 24155

Elbow resection

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

24155 without 50 · national facility

$791.27

Elbow resection

24155-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$1,186.91

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

24155 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

24155 vs 24149 vs 24130 vs 24160 vs 24102: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 24155
    Elbow resection · 11.79 wRVU
    —
  • 24149
    Elbow resection · 15.81 wRVU
    —
  • 24130
    Radial head excision · 6.26 wRVU
    —
  • 24160
    Elbow prosthesis removal · 18.16 wRVU
    —
  • 24102
    Elbow synovectomy · 8.05 wRVU
    —

How to choose

24149Elbow resection
24149 is for radical resection of the elbow. Select this code when the documented procedure is resection of the joint, not a radical resection.
24130Radial head excision
24130 describes excision of the radial head alone. It does not represent resection of the elbow joint.
24160Elbow prosthesis removal
24160 addresses removal of humeral and ulnar prosthetic components. This code describes resection of the elbow joint, not removal of those components.
24102Elbow synovectomy
24102 describes elbow arthrotomy with synovectomy. Choose this code when the operative work resects the joint itself, rather than focusing on synovial tissue.

Codes related to 24155

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 24155
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
24149Elbow resectionRadical elbow resection; distinguishes a radical operation from joint resection.No office rate
Used instead
24130Radial head excisionFor excision limited to the radial head rather than resection of the elbow joint.No office rate
24160Elbow prosthesis removalRemoval of humeral and ulnar prosthetic components, not resection of the native joint.No office rate
24164Prosthesis removalRemoval of a prosthetic radial head rather than resection of the elbow joint.No office rate

24155 billing questions

How is this different from radical resection of the elbow?

This code describes resection of the elbow joint. Use 24149 when the documented operation is a radical resection, rather than a resection of the joint as described here.

Does removal of the radial head support this code?

Not by itself. An operation limited to excision of the radial head is represented by 24130; this code requires resection of the elbow joint.

What documentation supports reporting this procedure?

The operative report should describe the indication and the joint resection performed, including the structures addressed. A note describing only biopsy, synovectomy, or isolated bone excision does not establish joint resection.

How is bilateral surgery reported?

For resection of both elbows in the same session, report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons are paid only when supporting documentation is submitted; team surgery is not permitted.

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 24155PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,286 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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