Billing code 44401: Colonoscopy ablationMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports endoscopic ablation of a colonic lesion during colonoscopy performed through a stoma, when tissue is treated rather than resected.
Medicare pays $2,581.22 for 44401 nationally in the office and $213.10 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $2,231.79–$3,660.99.
Medicare rate · 44401
Colonoscopy ablation
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 4.23
- Total RVUs
- 77.28
- Global days
- 000
National rate · 2026
$2,581.22
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 44401 → · 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
What 44401 covers
A gastroenterologist or colorectal surgeon uses a colonoscope passed through a colostomy or other stoma to ablate a tumor, polyp, or other lesion in the colon. Ablation destroys the targeted tissue in place rather than removing it as a specimen; it may be selected when the lesion is not treated by a removal technique. The procedure is typically performed in a hospital outpatient or ambulatory endoscopy setting.
Report this code when the stoma is the route of access and ablation is the principal lesion treatment. The operative note should identify the stoma route, lesion location and treatment performed, and distinguish ablation from resection or injection. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When related endoscopies are performed in the same session, endoscopy family pricing applies. Modifier 50 is inappropriate; assistant-at-surgery payment is statutorily restricted, and 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 44401 pays more and less
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
109 payment localities
$2231.79 to $3660.99
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $2,271.38 | $199.27 |
| Alaska* | $2,802.39 | $280.34 |
| Arizona | $2,503.81 | $209.10 |
| Arkansas | $2,231.79 | $197.57 |
| Atlanta | $2,623.59 | $217.57 |
| Austin | $2,720.32 | $214.85 |
| Bakersfield | $2,810.49 | $215.03 |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $2,764.17 | $223.18 |
| Beaumont | $2,361.93 | $206.93 |
| Brazoria | $2,557.08 | $210.27 |
| Chicago | $2,614.66 | $234.70 |
| Chico | $2,809.07 | $213.60 |
| Colorado | $2,734.63 | $214.95 |
| Connecticut | $2,774.01 | $223.54 |
| Dallas | $2,570.57 | $211.92 |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $3,022.14 | $232.49 |
| Delaware | $2,551.25 | $211.55 |
| Detroit | $2,507.14 | $221.90 |
| East St. Louis | $2,403.20 | $224.53 |
| El Centro | $2,809.14 | $213.68 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $2,625.42 | $226.51 |
| Fort Worth | $2,546.53 | $211.56 |
| Fresno | $2,809.07 | $213.60 |
| Galveston | $2,562.68 | $211.14 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $2,809.07 | $213.60 |
| Hawaii, Guam | $2,906.73 | $214.18 |
| Houston | $2,571.28 | $219.74 |
| Idaho | $2,379.01 | $200.34 |
| Indiana | $2,396.18 | $200.93 |
| Iowa | $2,365.70 | $198.86 |
| Kansas | $2,340.71 | $199.92 |
| Kentucky | $2,310.80 | $205.53 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $3,025.38 | $223.88 |
| Madera | $2,809.07 | $213.60 |
| Manhattan | $2,992.19 | $240.43 |
| Merced | $2,809.07 | $213.60 |
| Metropolitan Boston | $3,055.59 | $228.05 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $2,432.98 | $209.31 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $2,686.19 | $220.97 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $2,464.89 | $210.44 |
| Miami | $2,704.62 | $239.40 |
| Minnesota | $2,640.47 | $203.67 |
| Mississippi | $2,240.16 | $201.20 |
| Modesto | $2,809.07 | $213.60 |
| Montana** | $2,581.19 | $213.07 |
| Napa | $3,353.31 | $232.12 |
| Nebraska | $2,384.79 | $199.01 |
| Nevada** | $2,581.02 | $210.53 |
| New Hampshire | $2,678.65 | $213.44 |
| New Mexico | $2,383.17 | $211.60 |
| New Orleans | $2,440.33 | $211.92 |
| North Carolina | $2,413.13 | $203.67 |
| North Dakota** | $2,571.90 | $203.77 |
| Northern Nj | $2,979.07 | $232.04 |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $3,061.90 | $246.20 |
| Ohio | $2,370.44 | $208.34 |
| Oklahoma | $2,318.33 | $203.59 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $3,020.47 | $221.35 |
| Portland | $2,848.55 | $217.57 |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $2,821.18 | $228.08 |
| Puerto Rico | $2,607.65 | $213.48 |
| Queens | $3,038.41 | $239.29 |
| Redding | $2,809.07 | $213.60 |
| Rest Of California | $2,809.07 | $213.60 |
| Rest Of Florida | $2,482.45 | $218.53 |
| Rest Of Georgia | $2,322.42 | $210.05 |
| Rest Of Illinois | $2,379.15 | $217.05 |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $2,301.77 | $205.99 |
| Rest Of Maine | $2,381.35 | $202.67 |
| Rest Of Maryland | $2,610.44 | $213.90 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $2,708.78 | $215.15 |
| Rest Of Michigan | $2,372.34 | $210.24 |
| Rest Of Missouri | $2,246.27 | $204.95 |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $2,811.43 | $225.43 |
| Rest Of New York | $2,455.35 | $205.63 |
| Rest Of Oregon | $2,566.86 | $208.21 |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $2,381.57 | $207.63 |
| Rest Of Texas | $2,456.06 | $208.71 |
| Rest Of Washington | $2,707.79 | $214.16 |
| Rhode Island | $2,662.21 | $215.94 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $2,814.18 | $218.72 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $2,974.17 | $220.05 |
| Salinas | $2,963.77 | $219.12 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $3,053.42 | $221.14 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $3,580.09 | $241.03 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $3,579.55 | $240.50 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $3,660.99 | $246.16 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $3,658.81 | $243.98 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $2,913.31 | $216.02 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $3,098.12 | $220.85 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $2,980.32 | $219.08 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $3,130.90 | $222.85 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $3,135.71 | $230.03 |
| South Carolina | $2,394.62 | $206.48 |
| South Dakota** | $2,570.80 | $202.67 |
| Southern Maine | $2,553.61 | $206.80 |
| Stockton | $2,809.07 | $213.60 |
| Suburban Chicago | $2,659.78 | $227.72 |
| Tennessee | $2,353.35 | $200.72 |
| Utah | $2,434.17 | $208.13 |
| Vallejo | $3,352.54 | $231.35 |
| Vermont | $2,549.22 | $204.78 |
| Virgin Islands | $2,607.65 | $213.48 |
| Virginia | $2,535.39 | $207.53 |
| Visalia | $2,809.07 | $213.60 |
| West Virginia | $2,270.41 | $212.51 |
| Wisconsin | $2,468.54 | $199.88 |
| Wyoming** | $2,577.14 | $209.02 |
| Yuba City | $2,809.07 | $213.60 |
44401 rates by state
Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.
Explore a state
Local rates. Clear comparisons.
Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.
$2,231.79
$3,235.03
Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.
View every state and territory as a table
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $2,802.39 | 1 |
| AL | $2,271.38 | 1 |
| AR | $2,231.79 | 1 |
| AZ | $2,503.81 | 1 |
| CA | $2,809.07–$3,660.99 | 29 |
| CO | $2,734.63 | 1 |
| CT | $2,774.01 | 1 |
| DC | $3,022.14 | 1 |
| DE | $2,551.25 | 1 |
| FL | $2,482.45–$2,704.62 | 3 |
| GA | $2,322.42–$2,623.59 | 2 |
| GU | $2,906.73 | 1 |
| HI | $2,906.73 | 1 |
| IA | $2,365.70 | 1 |
| ID | $2,379.01 | 1 |
| IL | $2,379.15–$2,659.78 | 4 |
| IN | $2,396.18 | 1 |
| KS | $2,340.71 | 1 |
| KY | $2,310.80 | 1 |
| LA | $2,301.77–$2,440.33 | 2 |
| MA | $2,708.78–$3,055.59 | 2 |
| MD | $2,610.44–$3,022.14 | 3 |
| ME | $2,381.35–$2,553.61 | 2 |
| MI | $2,372.34–$2,507.14 | 2 |
| MN | $2,640.47 | 1 |
| MO | $2,246.27–$2,464.89 | 3 |
| MS | $2,240.16 | 1 |
| MT | $2,581.19 | 1 |
| NC | $2,413.13 | 1 |
| ND | $2,571.90 | 1 |
| NE | $2,384.79 | 1 |
| NH | $2,678.65 | 1 |
| NJ | $2,811.43–$2,979.07 | 2 |
| NM | $2,383.17 | 1 |
| NV | $2,581.02 | 1 |
| NY | $2,455.35–$3,061.90 | 5 |
| OH | $2,370.44 | 1 |
| OK | $2,318.33 | 1 |
| OR | $2,566.86–$2,848.55 | 2 |
| PA | $2,381.57–$2,686.19 | 2 |
| PR | $2,607.65 | 1 |
| RI | $2,662.21 | 1 |
| SC | $2,394.62 | 1 |
| SD | $2,570.80 | 1 |
| TN | $2,353.35 | 1 |
| TX | $2,361.93–$2,720.32 | 8 |
| UT | $2,434.17 | 1 |
| VA | $2,535.39–$3,022.14 | 2 |
| VI | $2,607.65 | 1 |
| VT | $2,549.22 | 1 |
| WA | $2,707.79–$3,135.71 | 2 |
| WI | $2,468.54 | 1 |
| WV | $2,270.41 | 1 |
| WY | $2,577.14 | 1 |
How the 44401 rate is calculated
Each of 44401’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 · 44401
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 4.23Practice expense 72.58Malpractice 0.47
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 44401
The CMS indicators that decide how 44401 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 44401
Colonoscopy ablation
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included. |
| Multiple procedures | 3 | Endoscopy family rules apply. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
44401 without 51 · national office
$2,581.22
Colonoscopy ablation
44401-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$1,290.61
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%).
44401 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
44401 vs 45388 vs 44403 vs 44404: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 45388Colonoscopy ablation
- Both describe colonoscopic ablation, but 44401 is for access through a stoma; 45388 is used for the standard route.
- 44403Colonoscopy
- Both are stoma-route colonoscopy procedures. Choose 44401 for ablation and 44403 when the lesion is removed by endoscopic resection.
- 44404Colonoscopy
- 44404 describes injection during colonoscopy through a stoma. It is distinct from 44401, which reports ablation of a lesion.
44401 billing questions
How does this differ from 45388?
This code is for colonoscopy performed through a stoma. Code 45388 describes colonoscopic ablation through the standard route rather than through a stoma.
When should 44403 be selected instead?
Use 44403 when the lesion is treated by endoscopic resection through the stoma. Use 44401 when the documented treatment is ablation rather than removal.
Can ablation and another endoscopic service be reported together?
Related endoscopies performed in the same session are subject to CMS endoscopy family pricing. Document each service actually performed; the family-pricing rule affects payment.
Should modifier 50 be appended for multiple lesions?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code. The descriptor concerns colonoscopy through a stoma, not a bilateral procedure.
What documentation supports reporting 44401?
Document the stoma route, the lesion's location, and that the lesion was ablated. The note should make clear that treatment was ablation rather than resection or injection.
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
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