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Billing code 25073: Tumor excisionMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports surgical removal of a deep forearm or wrist soft-tissue tumor measuring at least 3 cm, with the operative note establishing depth and size.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities897 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $508.03 for 25073 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 25073

Tumor excision

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
6.95
Total RVUs
15.21
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$508.03

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 25073 → · 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 25073 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 25073 covers

This service covers removing a soft-tissue tumor in the forearm or wrist that lies beneath the superficial fascia, such as within muscle, and measures 3 cm or more. It is typically performed by an orthopedic or hand surgeon, general surgeon, or surgical oncologist in an operating room or appropriately equipped outpatient setting. The operative work is excision of the tumor, not merely sampling it for diagnosis.

Choose this code when the tumor’s documented location is deep to the fascia and its size meets the 3 cm threshold. The operative report should identify the forearm or wrist site, the tissue plane, tumor dimensions, and the excision performed. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. For bilateral reporting with modifier 50, payment is at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; 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 25073 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

25073 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$458.37
Alaska*Unavailable$616.79
ArizonaUnavailable$493.93
ArkansasUnavailable$452.24
AtlantaUnavailable$522.22
AustinUnavailable$516.05
BakersfieldUnavailable$515.01
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$539.93
BeaumontUnavailable$484.13
BrazoriaUnavailable$497.04

25073 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
25073 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 25073 rate is calculated

Each of 25073’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 · 25073

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 6.95Practice expense 6.79Malpractice 1.47

15.2100 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$508.03

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 25073

25073 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 25073

Tumor excision

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)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 · 25073

Tumor excision

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

25073 without 50 · national facility

$508.03

Tumor excision

25073-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$762.05

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

25073 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

25073 vs 25076 vs 25071 vs 25078 vs 25066: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 25073
    Tumor excision · 6.95 wRVU
    —
  • 25076
    Forearm tumor excision · 6.57 wRVU
    —
  • 25071
    Forearm mass excision · 5.76 wRVU
    —
  • 25078
    Tumor resection · 17.25 wRVU
    —
  • 25066
    Soft-tissue biopsy · 4.16 wRVU
    —

How to choose

25076Forearm tumor excision
Both cover deep forearm or wrist tumor excision; choose 25076 when the tumor is under 3 cm, and 25073 at 3 cm or larger.
25071Forearm mass excision
This code applies to a deep tumor measuring at least 3 cm. Code 25071 applies when the tumor is subcutaneous at that size.
25078Tumor resection
Code 25078 describes radical resection of a forearm or wrist soft-tissue tumor measuring at least 3 cm; 25073 describes excision of a deep tumor.
25066Soft-tissue biopsy
Code 25066 is for biopsy of deep forearm soft tissue. Use 25073 when the qualifying tumor is excised rather than sampled.

Codes related to 25073

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

Codes related to 25073
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
25076Forearm tumor excisionDeep forearm or wrist tumor excision for tumors under 3 cm.No office rate
25071Forearm mass excisionForearm or wrist tumor excision in subcutaneous tissue, 3 cm or larger.No office rate
Used instead
25078Tumor resectionRadical resection of a forearm or wrist soft-tissue tumor, 3 cm or larger.No office rate
25066Soft-tissue biopsyDeep soft-tissue biopsy when sampling, rather than tumor excision, is performed.No office rate

25073 billing questions

How is this distinguished from code 25076?

Both describe deep forearm or wrist soft-tissue tumor excision, but 25073 is for a tumor measuring 3 cm or more; 25076 is for one under 3 cm.

When would 25071 be more appropriate?

Use 25071 for a tumor in the subcutaneous tissue measuring 3 cm or more. This code is for a tumor beneath the superficial fascia.

Does a diagnostic biopsy support this code?

No. A limited tissue sample for diagnosis is a biopsy service; this code describes excision of a qualifying deep tumor.

What should the operative report document?

Document the forearm or wrist site, the tumor’s relationship to the fascia, its dimensions, and the excision performed.

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

With modifier 50, bilateral payment is at 150%. For multiple procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. 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 25073PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,381 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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