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Billing code 44210: Total colectomyMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports laparoscopic removal of the entire colon while retaining the rectum, with an ileostomy or an ileal connection to the rectum.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities474 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $1,627.63 for 44210 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 44210

Total colectomy

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
29.34
Total RVUs
48.73
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$1,627.63

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 44210 → · 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 44210 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 44210 covers

A surgeon removes the colon through laparoscopic access while leaving the rectum in place. The reconstruction includes an ileostomy or a connection between the ileum and retained rectum. Colorectal and general surgeons typically perform this operation in a hospital operating room for patients who need removal of the entire colon but do not have the rectum removed. This is distinct from laparoscopic procedures that remove only part of the colon or also remove the rectum.

Report the code when the operative record supports laparoscopic removal of the entire colon, rectal preservation, and the documented reconstruction. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. 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% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this anatomy. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires 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 44210 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

44210 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$1,489.60
Alaska*Unavailable$2,064.77
ArizonaUnavailable$1,586.68
ArkansasUnavailable$1,472.77
AtlantaUnavailable$1,675.10
AustinUnavailable$1,635.38
BakersfieldUnavailable$1,618.47
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$1,720.88
BeaumontUnavailable$1,572.85
BrazoriaUnavailable$1,590.66

44210 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
44210 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 44210 rate is calculated

Each of 44210’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 · 44210

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 29.34Practice expense 13.86Malpractice 5.53

48.7300 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$1,627.63

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 44210

44210 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 44210

Total 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 · 44210

Total 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

44210 without 51 · national facility

$1,627.63

Total colectomy

44210-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$813.82

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

44210 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

44210 vs 44211 vs 44212 vs 44204: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 44210
    Total colectomy · 29.34 wRVU
    —
  • 44211
    Proctocolectomy · 36.15 wRVU
    —
  • 44212
    Proctocolectomy · 33.72 wRVU
    —
  • 44204
    Partial colectomy · 25.76 wRVU
    —

How to choose

44211Proctocolectomy
Choose 44210 when the rectum remains. Choose 44211 when the laparoscopic operation includes proctectomy.
44212Proctocolectomy
44212 describes laparoscopic total proctocolectomy with a different reconstruction. This code preserves the rectum.
44204Partial colectomy
44204 is for laparoscopic partial colectomy with anastomosis; this code requires removal of the entire colon.

Codes related to 44210

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

Codes related to 44210
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
44211ProctocolectomyLaparoscopic total colectomy with proctectomy; rectal removal distinguishes it from this code.No office rate
44212ProctocolectomyLaparoscopic total proctocolectomy with a different reconstruction.No office rate
Used instead
44150Total colectomyOpen counterpart for total abdominal colectomy with the rectum retained.No office rate
44204Partial colectomyLaparoscopic partial colectomy when the entire colon is not removed.No office rate
44207ColectomyLaparoscopic partial colectomy with coloproctostomy rather than total colon removal.No office rate

44210 billing questions

How does this differ from 44211?

This code describes total abdominal colectomy with the rectum retained. Code 44211 is for a laparoscopic operation that also removes the rectum.

Can this code be reported for a partial colectomy?

No. The operative report must support removal of the entire colon. A laparoscopic partial colectomy is reported with a code matching the resection and reconstruction performed.

What documentation supports this code?

Document laparoscopic approach, removal of the entire colon, whether the rectum was retained, and the resulting ileostomy or ileal-to-rectal connection.

Is modifier 50 appropriate?

No. The anatomy and procedure are not bilateral for Medicare payment purposes.

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.

What postoperative care is included?

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

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 44210PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,373 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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