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Billing code 25078: Tumor resectionMedicare rate & RVUs

Report this service for radical removal of a soft tissue tumor in the forearm or wrist when the tumor measures 3 cm or larger.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities317 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $1,082.19 for 25078 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 25078

Tumor resection

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
17.25
Total RVUs
32.40
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$1,082.19

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 25078 → · 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 25078 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 25078 covers

This code describes extensive removal of a soft tissue tumor in the forearm or wrist, generally with surrounding tissue as needed for the planned resection. An orthopedic surgeon, hand surgeon, or orthopedic oncologist may perform it in an operating room, including a hospital outpatient or inpatient setting. A tumor measuring exactly 3 cm meets the size threshold; the smaller-size resection code is for tumors under 3 cm.

Document the forearm or wrist site, tumor dimensions, and the operative extent of removal. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. For multiple procedures in one 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 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 25078 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

25078 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$978.79
Alaska*Unavailable$1,336.38
ArizonaUnavailable$1,051.82
ArkansasUnavailable$966.14
AtlantaUnavailable$1,116.05
AustinUnavailable$1,090.34
BakersfieldUnavailable$1,078.44
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$1,149.66
BeaumontUnavailable$1,039.12
BrazoriaUnavailable$1,054.83

25078 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
25078 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 25078 rate is calculated

Each of 25078’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 · 25078

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 17.25Practice expense 11.26Malpractice 3.89

32.4000 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$1,082.19

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 25078

25078 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 25078

Tumor resection

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 · 25078

Tumor resection

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

25078 without 50 · national facility

$1,082.19

Tumor resection

25078-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$1,623.29

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

25078 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

25078 vs 25077 vs 25073 vs 25071: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 25078
    Tumor resection · 17.25 wRVU
    —
  • 25077
    Tumor resection · 12.61 wRVU
    —
  • 25073
    Tumor excision · 6.95 wRVU
    —
  • 25071
    Forearm mass excision · 5.76 wRVU
    —

How to choose

25077Tumor resection
Use 25077 when the forearm or wrist tumor is under 3 cm. This code is the corresponding resection code for tumors 3 cm or larger.
25073Tumor excision
25073 describes excision of a deep tumor measuring 3 cm or larger; this code describes a more extensive tumor resection. Match the code to the operative service documented.
25071Forearm mass excision
25071 is for excision of a subcutaneous forearm lesion measuring 3 cm or larger. This code is for radical tumor resection in the forearm or wrist.

Codes related to 25078

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

Codes related to 25078
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
25077Tumor resectionForearm or wrist tumor resection for a tumor under 3 cm.No office rate
Used instead
25073Tumor excisionExcision of a deep forearm or wrist tumor measuring 3 cm or larger.No office rate
25071Forearm mass excisionExcision of a subcutaneous forearm lesion measuring 3 cm or larger.No office rate
25076Forearm tumor excisionExcision of a deep forearm or wrist tumor under 3 cm.No office rate
25065Soft-tissue biopsyBiopsy of forearm or wrist soft tissue when sampling, rather than resection, is performed.$231.10–$347.07
25066Soft-tissue biopsyBiopsy of deep forearm or wrist soft tissue when sampling, rather than resection, is performed.No office rate

25078 billing questions

How is this code distinguished from 25077?

The key distinction is tumor size: this code is for a tumor 3 cm or larger, while 25077 is for one under 3 cm. Document the measured tumor size.

When would 25073 be more appropriate?

25073 describes excision of a deep forearm or wrist tumor measuring 3 cm or larger. This code describes a more extensive tumor resection; select based on the operation performed, not size alone.

What documentation supports reporting this code?

Record the tumor's forearm or wrist location, its dimensions, and the extent of the resection. The operative report should support that the service was a tumor resection rather than a limited excision or biopsy.

How should bilateral procedures be reported?

For bilateral performance, CMS lists modifier 50 and payment at 150%. Document the separately treated sites and the work performed on each side.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

CMS permits assistant-at-surgery payment for this code. Co-surgeon and team-surgery billing 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 25078PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,385 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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