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Billing code 24160: Elbow prosthesis removalMedicare rate & RVUs

Removal of the humeral and ulnar components of an elbow prosthesis, such as for infection or loosening when the procedure is explantation rather than revision.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities93 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $1,148.32 for 24160 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 24160

Elbow prosthesis removal

Work RVUs
18.16
Total RVUs
34.38
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$1,148.32

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 24160 →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 24160 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 24160 covers

An orthopedic surgeon removes the prosthetic humeral and ulnar components from an elbow joint. The procedure may be performed when an elbow replacement is infected, loose, or otherwise requires removal without the work being a component revision. It is typically performed in a hospital or other surgical facility; Medicare recorded facility services for this code in 2024.

Report the code when the operative documentation supports removal of both specified components. If the surgeon revises the elbow replacement, distinguish that work from removal alone and select the applicable revision code based on the components revised. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. In a session with multiple procedures, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery; 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 24160 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

24160 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$1,040.56
Alaska*Unavailable$1,420.21
ArizonaUnavailable$1,116.88
ArkansasUnavailable$1,027.35
AtlantaUnavailable$1,182.79
AustinUnavailable$1,158.67
BakersfieldUnavailable$1,148.74
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$1,218.83
BeaumontUnavailable$1,102.03
BrazoriaUnavailable$1,120.95

24160 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
24160 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 24160 rate is calculated

Each of 24160’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 · 24160

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Work18.16

18.16 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense12.34

12.34 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice3.88

3.88 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

34.3800

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$1,148.32

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 24160

24160 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 24160

Elbow prosthesis removal

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)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
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 · 24160

Elbow prosthesis removal

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.

  • 24Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78Unplanned 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

24160 without 50 · national facility

$1,148.32

Elbow prosthesis removal

24160-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$1,722.48

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

24160 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

  • 24160

    Elbow prosthesis removal18.16 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 24164

    Prosthesis removal9.75 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 24370

    Elbow revision22.96 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 24371

    Elbow revision26.81 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

24164Prosthesis removal
Use 24164 for removal of a radial head prosthesis. This code is for removal of the humeral and ulnar components of an elbow prosthesis.
24370Elbow revision
Use 24370 when the work is revision of both humeral and ulnar components of a total elbow arthroplasty, rather than removal alone.
24371Elbow revision
Use 24371 for revision involving one component of a total elbow arthroplasty. This code describes removal of the humeral and ulnar components.

Codes related to 24160

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

Codes related to 24160
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
24164Prosthesis removalRemoval code for a radial head prosthesis rather than humeral and ulnar elbow components.No office rate
Used instead
24370Elbow revisionRevision of a total elbow arthroplasty involving the humeral and ulnar components.No office rate
24371Elbow revisionRevision of a total elbow arthroplasty involving one component.No office rate

24160 billing questions

How is this different from removal of a radial head prosthesis?

This code covers removal of the humeral and ulnar components of an elbow prosthesis. Code 24164 is for removal of a radial head prosthesis.

Should this be reported with a total elbow revision code?

When the surgeon revises the prosthesis, choose the revision code that matches the components revised. Do not treat removal of the old components as automatically separately reportable.

What documentation supports reporting this code?

The operative report should identify the elbow prosthesis components removed and describe the removal performed. Include the clinical reason, such as infection or loosening, when documented.

How does Medicare handle bilateral reporting?

For bilateral procedures reported with modifier 50, Medicare pays this code at 150%.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeon payment is allowed only with supporting documentation; 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 24160PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,287 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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