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Billing code 25320: Wrist stabilizationMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports operative repair or reconstruction of the wrist joint’s stabilizing structures when carpal instability requires surgical restoration of joint stability.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities1K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $927.54 for 25320 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 25320

Wrist stabilization

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
12.43
Total RVUs
27.77
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$927.54

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 25320 → · 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 25320 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 25320 covers

Code 25320 represents operative stabilization of the wrist for carpal instability. An orthopedic hand or upper-extremity surgeon repairs or reconstructs supporting joint structures, such as the capsule or ligaments, to restore stability and control abnormal carpal motion. This procedure may be performed in a hospital operating room or another surgical setting when instability is significant enough to require reconstruction rather than nonsurgical management.

Report the code when the operative objective is wrist-joint stabilization, not replacement of the joint or correction of radius or ulna length. The operative report should identify the instability, the structures addressed, the repair or reconstruction performed, and the treated side. The service has a 90-day global period, including 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%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; 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 25320 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

25320 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$838.62
Alaska*Unavailable$1,127.06
ArizonaUnavailable$902.56
ArkansasUnavailable$827.61
AtlantaUnavailable$951.88
AustinUnavailable$944.25
BakersfieldUnavailable$945.42
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$984.79
BeaumontUnavailable$882.96
BrazoriaUnavailable$909.27

25320 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
25320 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 25320 rate is calculated

Each of 25320’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 · 25320

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 12.43Practice expense 12.93Malpractice 2.41

27.7700 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$927.54

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 25320

25320 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 25320

Wrist stabilization

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 · 25320

Wrist stabilization

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

25320 without 50 · national facility

$927.54

Wrist stabilization

25320-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$1,391.31

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

25320 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

25320 vs 25332 vs 25337 vs 25335: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 25320
    Wrist stabilization · 12.43 wRVU
    —
  • 25332
    Wrist arthroplasty · 11.45 wRVU
    —
  • 25337
    Joint reconstruction · 11.44 wRVU
    —
  • 25335
    Wrist centralization · 13.06 wRVU
    —

How to choose

25332Wrist arthroplasty
Choose 25320 for wrist-joint stabilization due to carpal instability. Choose 25332 when the procedure is wrist arthroplasty.
25337Joint reconstruction
25320 addresses carpal instability generally; 25337 specifically reconstructs the distal radioulnar joint.
25335Wrist centralization
25335 describes centralization of the wrist on the ulna, not a general repair or reconstruction for carpal instability.

Codes related to 25320

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

Codes related to 25320
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
25332Wrist arthroplastyWrist arthroplasty addresses joint replacement rather than repair or reconstruction for carpal instability.No office rate
25337Joint reconstructionReconstructs the distal radioulnar joint when that specific joint is the operative focus.No office rate
25335Wrist centralizationCentralizes the wrist on the ulna for a distinct alignment problem.No office rate

25320 billing questions

When is 25320 preferable to 25332?

Use 25320 when the operative goal is to stabilize a wrist with carpal instability. Code 25332 describes wrist arthroplasty, which addresses a different operative objective.

Does 25320 include routine postoperative care?

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

How is 25320 reported when both wrists are treated?

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

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted for this code under the stated CMS rules.

How does the multiple-procedure reduction affect 25320?

When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the other procedures are paid at 50%.

What documentation supports reporting 25320?

Document the carpal instability, the wrist structures repaired or reconstructed, the stabilization performed, and the side treated.

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 25320PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,434 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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