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Billing code 44155: ColectomyMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports open removal of the colon and rectum with creation of an ileostomy, commonly for extensive colorectal disease when intestinal continuity is not restored.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities262 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $1,920.22 for 44155 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 44155

Colectomy

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
33.56
Total RVUs
57.49
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$1,920.22

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 44155 → · 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 44155 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 44155 covers

This code describes an abdominal operation removing the colon and rectum and creating an ileostomy, rather than connecting the remaining small bowel to the anus. Colorectal or general surgeons may perform it in a hospital for conditions such as severe ulcerative colitis, familial adenomatous polyposis, or colorectal disease requiring removal of both organs. The ileostomy provides the route for intestinal waste after the resection.

Report the code when the operative record supports total colectomy, proctectomy, and ileostomy creation as part of the same operation. Documentation should identify the organs removed and the reconstruction performed; an ileoanal anastomosis or pouch points to a different code. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation. 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 44155 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

44155 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$1,743.21
Alaska*Unavailable$2,404.39
ArizonaUnavailable$1,867.25
ArkansasUnavailable$1,721.69
AtlantaUnavailable$1,982.53
AustinUnavailable$1,925.90
BakersfieldUnavailable$1,896.74
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$2,037.42
BeaumontUnavailable$1,853.02
BrazoriaUnavailable$1,869.35

44155 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
44155 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 44155 rate is calculated

Each of 44155’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 · 44155

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 33.56Practice expense 16.46Malpractice 7.47

57.4900 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$1,920.22

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 44155

44155 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 44155

Colectomy

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)0.09/0.81/0.10Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 44155

Colectomy

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

44155 without 51 · national facility

$1,920.22

Colectomy

44155-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$960.11

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

44155 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

44155 vs 44150 vs 44151 vs 44156 vs 44157: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 44155
    Colectomy · 33.56 wRVU
    —
  • 44150
    Total colectomy · 29.43 wRVU
    —
  • 44151
    Total colectomy · 34.05 wRVU
    —
  • 44156
    Colectomy · 36.48 wRVU
    —
  • 44157
    Proctocolectomy · 34.81 wRVU
    —

How to choose

44150Total colectomy
44150 includes total colectomy with ileostomy or ileoproctostomy without proctectomy. Choose 44155 when the rectum is also removed and an ileostomy is created.
44151Total colectomy
44151 is total colectomy without proctectomy with a continent ileostomy. 44155 includes proctectomy and describes an ileostomy rather than a continent reservoir.
44156Colectomy
44156 includes an ileoanal anastomosis after total colectomy and proctectomy. 44155 describes ileostomy creation instead of ileoanal continuity.
44157Proctocolectomy
44157 includes ileoanal reconstruction with a J-pouch. 44155 is the choice when the operation creates an ileostomy rather than that pouch reconstruction.

Codes related to 44155

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

Codes related to 44155
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
44150Total colectomyTotal colectomy with ileostomy, but without proctectomy.No office rate
44151Total colectomyTotal colectomy without proctectomy with a continent ileostomy.No office rate
44156ColectomyTotal colectomy with proctectomy and ileoanal anastomosis.No office rate
44157ProctocolectomyTotal colectomy with proctectomy and ileoanal reconstruction including a J-pouch.No office rate
44158ColectomyTotal colectomy with proctectomy and ileoanal reconstruction including an S-pouch.No office rate

44155 billing questions

How is this different from 44150?

44150 describes total abdominal colectomy without proctectomy. Use 44155 when the operation also removes the rectum and creates an ileostomy.

When would 44151 be the better choice?

44151 describes total colectomy without proctectomy with a continent ileostomy. This code describes proctectomy with ileostomy creation, not a continent reservoir.

Can an ileoanal anastomosis be reported with 44155?

No. An ileoanal reconstruction is a distinguishing feature of codes such as 44156 through 44158; 44155 describes an ileostomy.

What supports reporting 44155?

The operative report should document removal of the colon and rectum and creation of an ileostomy. It should distinguish this reconstruction from an ileoanal anastomosis or pouch.

How do the global period and assistant rules affect billing?

The 90-day global includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation.

Should modifier 50 be used?

No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this operation; report the procedure based on the documented resection and reconstruction.

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 44155PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,357 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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