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Billing code 44160: ColectomyMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports open resection of part of the colon that includes terminal ileum, followed by reconnection of the remaining bowel through an ileocolic anastomosis.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities11.2K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $1,157.34 for 44160 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 44160

Colectomy

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
20.37
Total RVUs
34.65
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$1,157.34

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 44160 → · 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 44160 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 44160 covers

A surgeon removes a segment of colon together with the terminal ileum and reconnects the remaining bowel. The operation is commonly performed as an open abdominal procedure for conditions such as a right-sided colon cancer or Crohn disease affecting the ileocecal region. General and colorectal surgeons typically perform it in a hospital operating room. The amount of colon removed can vary; the defining feature is the terminal ileum resection and ileocolic reconstruction.

Choose this code when the operative report supports that resection and reconstruction, rather than a partial colectomy that leaves the terminal ileum in place or a more extensive colectomy. Documentation should identify the bowel removed, the anastomosis, and the operative approach. The code has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care for 90 days. When multiple procedures occur in one 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. Modifier 50 is inappropriate, 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 44160 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

44160 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$1,047.15
Alaska*Unavailable$1,444.41
ArizonaUnavailable$1,124.06
ArkansasUnavailable$1,033.79
AtlantaUnavailable$1,197.29
AustinUnavailable$1,158.22
BakersfieldUnavailable$1,136.35
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$1,229.89
BeaumontUnavailable$1,117.52
BrazoriaUnavailable$1,123.96

44160 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
44160 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 44160 rate is calculated

Each of 44160’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 · 44160

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 20.37Practice expense 9.38Malpractice 4.90

34.6500 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$1,157.34

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 44160

44160 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 44160

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 · 44160

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

44160 without 51 · national facility

$1,157.34

Colectomy

44160-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$578.67

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

44160 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

44160 vs 44140 vs 44150 vs 44205: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 44160
    Colectomy · 20.37 wRVU
    —
  • 44140
    Partial colectomy · 22.03 wRVU
    —
  • 44150
    Total colectomy · 29.43 wRVU
    —
  • 44205
    Colectomy · 22.38 wRVU
    —

How to choose

44140Partial colectomy
44140 describes partial colectomy with anastomosis without the terminal-ileum resection that distinguishes 44160. Confirm the resection anatomy in the operative report.
44150Total colectomy
44150 is for total abdominal colectomy; 44160 removes only part of the colon along with the terminal ileum.
44205Colectomy
44205 is the laparoscopic alternative for this resection pattern. Use 44160 for the open approach.

Codes related to 44160

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

Codes related to 44160
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
44140Partial colectomyPartial colectomy with anastomosis when terminal ileum removal is not part of the procedure.No office rate
44150Total colectomyTotal abdominal colectomy, a more extensive colon resection.No office rate
44155ColectomyColectomy with proctectomy and ileostomy rather than ileocolic reconstruction.No office rate
Used instead
44205ColectomyLaparoscopic approach for partial colectomy that includes terminal ileum removal and ileocolostomy.No office rate

44160 billing questions

How is this distinguished from 44140?

This operation includes removal of the terminal ileum and an ileocolic anastomosis. Use 44140 for a partial colectomy with anastomosis when that terminal-ileum resection is not part of the documented procedure.

Does the code include the ileocolic anastomosis?

Yes. The anastomosis is part of the resection and reconstruction represented by this code, not a separate service to report on its own.

What operative details support code selection?

The report should identify the colon and terminal ileum removed, describe the ileocolic reconstruction, and establish that the procedure was performed through an open approach.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.

How does the global period affect postoperative billing?

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

Should modifier 50 be used for resection involving both sides of the bowel?

No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code; the anatomy and procedure are not treated as a bilateral service.

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 44160PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,361 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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