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Billing code 24800: Elbow fusionMedicare rate & RVUs

Elbow fusion using bone taken locally during the operation, reported for selected salvage cases requiring a stable, fixed elbow.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities

Medicare pays $780.91 for 24800 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 24800

Elbow fusion

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
11.12
Total RVUs
23.38
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$780.91

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 24800 → · 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 24800 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 24800 covers

An orthopedic surgeon fuses the elbow by preparing the joint surfaces and stabilizing the bones in a functional position, using bone obtained locally during the operation. This is a reconstructive or salvage option when the treatment plan calls for a permanently fixed elbow rather than retained joint motion. The procedure is generally performed in an operating room, with the operative report identifying the fusion technique, fixation, and local graft use.

Choose this code when the documented technique uses local bone graft; distinguish it from 24802 when the procedure uses the autogenous graft approach described by that code. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; 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 24800 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

24800 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$705.27
Alaska*Unavailable$952.55
ArizonaUnavailable$759.27
ArkansasUnavailable$695.94
AtlantaUnavailable$803.22
AustinUnavailable$791.79
BakersfieldUnavailable$788.73
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$829.73
BeaumontUnavailable$745.56
BrazoriaUnavailable$763.50

24800 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
24800 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 24800 rate is calculated

Each of 24800’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 · 24800

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 11.12Practice expense 9.89Malpractice 2.37

23.3800 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$780.91

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 24800

24800 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 24800

Elbow fusion

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 · 24800

Elbow fusion

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

24800 without 50 · national facility

$780.91

Elbow fusion

24800-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$1,171.37

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

24800 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

24800 vs 24802 vs 24360 vs 24363: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 24800
    Elbow fusion · 11.12 wRVU
    —
  • 24802
    Elbow fusion · 13.96 wRVU
    —
  • 24360
    Elbow arthroplasty · 12.35 wRVU
    —
  • 24363
    Elbow arthroplasty · 21.45 wRVU
    —

How to choose

24802Elbow fusion
Both describe elbow arthrodesis. Select based on the graft technique documented: local bone graft for 24800 versus the autogenous graft approach represented by 24802.
24360Elbow arthroplasty
This is an elbow arthroplasty approach, not fusion. It is considered when the operative plan reconstructs the joint rather than permanently fixing it.
24363Elbow arthroplasty
This code describes elbow arthroplasty with an implant. Use 24800 for a fusion using local bone graft, not an implant-based joint replacement.

Codes related to 24800

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

Codes related to 24800
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
24802Elbow fusionElbow arthrodesis code for the autogenous bone graft approach.No office rate
Used instead
24360Elbow arthroplastyElbow arthroplasty option when reconstruction preserves or restores joint function rather than fusing it.No office rate
24363Elbow arthroplastyElbow arthroplasty with an implant, unlike permanent fusion under 24800.No office rate

24800 billing questions

How is 24800 distinguished from 24802?

Use 24800 when the operative technique uses local bone graft. Code 24802 describes the elbow fusion approach with autogenous bone graft; the operative report should identify the graft technique.

Can the local graft be reported separately?

The local graft is part of the service represented by 24800. The documentation should describe its use as part of the fusion rather than treating it as a separate service.

What documentation supports 24800?

The operative report should establish that an elbow arthrodesis was performed and identify the use of local bone graft, along with the fixation and operative technique.

How does the global period affect postoperative billing?

The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.

How is bilateral elbow fusion paid?

When reported bilaterally with modifier 50, CMS pays 24800 at 150%.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons are paid 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 24800PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,358 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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