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Billing code 25023: Forearm decompressionMedicare rate & RVUs

Emergency fasciotomy with removal of nonviable tissue in one forearm or wrist compartment, reported for acute compartment syndrome or comparable pressure-related compromise.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities203 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $1,263.89 for 25023 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 25023

Forearm decompression

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
13.48
Total RVUs
37.84
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$1,263.89

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 25023 → · 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 25023 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 25023 covers

This service opens one pressure-affected compartment in the forearm and/or wrist and includes debridement of nonviable muscle and/or nerve tissue. It is typically performed by an orthopedic, hand, or trauma surgeon in an operating room for acute compartment syndrome, such as after a forearm injury or another cause of rising compartment pressure. The operative work addresses one space; treatment of additional spaces belongs to the corresponding multiple-space code family.

Select this code when the surgeon documents decompression of one space and removal of nonviable muscle and/or nerve. The operative report should identify the site and space treated, the decompression performed, and the tissue debrided. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures 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 25023 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

25023 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$1,133.91
Alaska*Unavailable$1,494.86
ArizonaUnavailable$1,228.33
ArkansasUnavailable$1,117.68
AtlantaUnavailable$1,295.19
AustinUnavailable$1,296.24
BakersfieldUnavailable$1,305.99
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$1,345.50
BeaumontUnavailable$1,192.40
BrazoriaUnavailable$1,240.86

25023 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
25023 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 25023 rate is calculated

Each of 25023’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 · 25023

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 13.48Practice expense 21.62Malpractice 2.74

37.8400 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$1,263.89

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 25023

25023 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 25023

Forearm decompression

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 · 25023

Forearm decompression

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

25023 without 50 · national facility

$1,263.89

Forearm decompression

25023-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$1,895.84

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

25023 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

25023 vs 25020 vs 25024 vs 25025 vs 25028: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 25023
    Forearm decompression · 13.48 wRVU
    —
  • 25020
    Forearm fasciotomy · 5.91 wRVU
    —
  • 25024
    Forearm decompression · 10.52 wRVU
    —
  • 25025
    Forearm fasciotomy · 17.49 wRVU
    —
  • 25028
    Collection drainage · 5.26 wRVU
    —

How to choose

25020Forearm fasciotomy
Both cover one-space forearm or wrist decompression. Choose 25023 when nonviable muscle and/or nerve is debrided; choose 25020 when it is not.
25024Forearm decompression
This is the two-space decompression code without debridement. Code 25023 is for one space with debridement.
25025Forearm fasciotomy
This is the two-space decompression code with debridement. Code 25023 covers one space with debridement.
25028Collection drainage
Use 25028 for drainage of a deep forearm or wrist abscess; use 25023 for one-space decompression with debridement of nonviable tissue.

Codes related to 25023

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

Codes related to 25023
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
25020Forearm fasciotomyOne-space decompression when nonviable muscle or nerve is not debrided.No office rate
25028Collection drainageDeep forearm or wrist abscess drainage addresses an abscess rather than compartment pressure.No office rate
Same family
25024Forearm decompressionTwo-space decompression without debridement.No office rate
25025Forearm fasciotomyTwo-space decompression with debridement.No office rate

25023 billing questions

How is this code different from 25020?

Both describe decompression of one forearm or wrist space. Use 25023 when the service includes debridement of nonviable muscle and/or nerve; 25020 is the corresponding one-space service without that debridement.

When should a two-space code be considered?

Use the two-space code family when the surgeon decompresses two spaces. Code 25025 is the with-debridement counterpart; 25024 is the without-debridement counterpart.

What operative documentation supports 25023?

Document the forearm or wrist site, the single space decompressed, and the removal of nonviable muscle and/or nerve. The report should make clear that the debridement occurred as part of the decompression.

How does Medicare handle bilateral reporting and other procedures in the same session?

Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Under the standard multiple-procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures in the same session are paid at 50%.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment is allowed only when medical necessity is documented. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted 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 25023PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,371 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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