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Billing code 25020: Forearm fasciotomyMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports surgical release of one forearm or wrist compartment to relieve pressure, commonly for acute compartment syndrome after injury or impaired circulation.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities1.9K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $721.79 for 25020 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 25020

Forearm fasciotomy

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
5.91
Total RVUs
21.61
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$721.79

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 25020 → · 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 25020 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 25020 covers

This code describes a fasciotomy that releases one fascial space in the forearm and/or wrist to reduce pressure on muscle, nerves, and blood vessels. Orthopedic and hand surgeons commonly perform it for acute compartment syndrome, such as after a crush injury, fracture, or return of circulation to an ischemic limb. The work is generally performed in an operating room or other facility setting.

Select the code based on the operative report’s documented site and number of spaces released; a diagnosis of compartment syndrome alone does not establish the extent of the procedure. The record should identify the involved compartment and describe the release performed. This major surgery has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. When other procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service; 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 25020 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

25020 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$644.48
Alaska*Unavailable$835.01
ArizonaUnavailable$701.23
ArkansasUnavailable$634.76
AtlantaUnavailable$737.82
AustinUnavailable$746.05
BakersfieldUnavailable$757.34
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$769.48
BeaumontUnavailable$675.32
BrazoriaUnavailable$710.62

25020 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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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
25020 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 25020 rate is calculated

Each of 25020’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 · 25020

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 5.91Practice expense 14.56Malpractice 1.14

21.6100 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$721.79

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 25020

25020 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 25020

Forearm fasciotomy

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)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 · 25020

Forearm fasciotomy

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

25020 without 50 · national facility

$721.79

Forearm fasciotomy

25020-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$1,082.69

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

25020 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

25020 vs 25023 vs 25024 vs 25028: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 25020
    Forearm fasciotomy · 5.91 wRVU
    —
  • 25023
    Forearm decompression · 13.48 wRVU
    —
  • 25024
    Forearm decompression · 10.52 wRVU
    —
  • 25028
    Collection drainage · 5.26 wRVU
    —

How to choose

25023Forearm decompression
Both entries have a single-space forearm decompression short descriptor. Check the full code descriptor and operative details to distinguish the procedure variant.
25024Forearm decompression
The CMS short descriptor identifies 25024 as a two-space decompression; 25020 represents release of one space.
25028Collection drainage
25028 describes incision and drainage of a deep forearm or wrist abscess or hematoma; 25020 is a compartment release for pressure decompression.

Codes related to 25020

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

Codes related to 25020
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
25023Forearm decompressionNeighboring single-space forearm decompression variant; confirm the full procedure details in the operative report.No office rate
25024Forearm decompressionForearm decompression family code identified for two spaces rather than one.No office rate
25025Forearm fasciotomyAnother two-space forearm decompression family entry; distinguish by the documented procedure.No office rate

25020 billing questions

When is 25020 appropriate instead of a two-space decompression code?

Use 25020 when the operative report documents release of one forearm or wrist space. A two-space procedure is represented by a different code in the family, so base selection on the documented operative extent.

Does the diagnosis of compartment syndrome support reporting 25020 by itself?

No. The operative documentation should establish that a single space was released and identify the site and work performed.

How is bilateral 25020 reported?

For bilateral procedures, report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.

What postoperative care is included?

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

Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be paid for 25020?

CMS does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service. Co-surgeons and team surgery are 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 25020PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,370 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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