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CPT 32673: Thoracoscopic thymectomyMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports thoracoscopic removal of the thymus, including mediastinal fat when performed, commonly for thymoma or treatment of myasthenia gravis.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities672 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $1,151.00 for 32673 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 32673

Thoracoscopic thymectomy

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
20.6
Total RVUs
34.46
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$1,151.00

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 32673 →

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 32673 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 32673 covers

A thoracic surgeon performs this video-assisted operation through small chest incisions to remove the thymus. It is commonly used when a patient with myasthenia gravis is undergoing thymectomy or when a thymic tumor requires surgical removal. The procedure takes place in an operating room, typically under general anesthesia. Resection of mediastinal fat is included when performed as part of the thymectomy.

Report the code when the operative record supports thoracoscopic thymus removal; document the indication, approach, extent of resection, and any mediastinal fat removed. 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 are subject to a 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons require supporting documentation, and team surgery is 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 32673 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

32673 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$1,039.87
Alaska*Unavailable$1,436.53
ArizonaUnavailable$1,117.17
ArkansasUnavailable$1,026.43
AtlantaUnavailable$1,192.35
AustinUnavailable$1,149.58
BakersfieldUnavailable$1,124.58
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$1,224.06
BeaumontUnavailable$1,112.61
BrazoriaUnavailable$1,115.97

32673 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
32673 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 32673 rate is calculated

Each of 32673’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 · 32673

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 20.60Practice expense 8.70Malpractice 5.16

34.4600 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$1,151.00

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 32673

32673 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 32673

Thoracoscopic thymectomy

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)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.09/0.82/0.09Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 32673

Thoracoscopic thymectomy

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 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

32673 without 51 · national facility

$1,151.00

Thoracoscopic thymectomy

32673-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$575.50

When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).

When to use modifier 51

32673 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

32673 vs 32662 vs 32674 vs 60520: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 32673
    Thoracoscopic thymectomy · 20.6 wRVU
    —
  • 32662
    Mediastinal excision · 14.62 wRVU
    —
  • 32674
    Node dissection · 4.02 wRVU
    —
  • 60520
    Thymectomy · 16.73 wRVU
    —

How to choose

32662Mediastinal excision
Choose 32673 for thoracoscopic removal of the thymus. Choose 32662 when excising a mediastinal cyst, tumor, or mass without performing a thymectomy.
32674Node dissection
This code represents thymectomy. Code 32674 is for thoracoscopic mediastinal and regional lymphadenectomy, not thymus removal.
60520Thymectomy
Both involve thymectomy, but 60520 describes a transcervical or transthoracic approach; 32673 is the thoracoscopic approach.

Codes related to 32673

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

Codes related to 32673
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
32662Mediastinal excisionFor thoracoscopic excision of a mediastinal mass when the operation is not a thymectomy.No office rate
32674Node dissectionFor thoracoscopic mediastinal and regional lymphadenectomy when lymph node removal is the operative service.No office rate
60520ThymectomyThymectomy by a transcervical or transthoracic approach rather than the thoracoscopic procedure.No office rate

32673 billing questions

How is this different from thoracoscopic mediastinal mass excision?

Use this code when the operation is a thymectomy. A mediastinal lesion excision code is for removal of a mediastinal mass when the procedure is not a thymectomy.

Does the code include removal of mediastinal fat?

Mediastinal fat removal is included when performed as part of the thymectomy. The operative report should make clear what tissue was removed.

Should modifier 50 be appended for bilateral work?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.

Can an assistant surgeon be reported?

CMS indicates that an assistant at surgery may be paid for this procedure. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation.

What documentation supports reporting this code?

Document the thoracoscopic approach, thymus removal, indication, and extent of resection. Note mediastinal fat removal when performed.

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 32673PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 3,770 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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