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Billing code 50545: Radical nephrectomyMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports laparoscopic removal of a kidney with surrounding tissue, typically as an oncologic operation for renal cancer.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities7.6K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $1,186.40 for 50545 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 50545

Radical nephrectomy

Work RVUs
24.43
Total RVUs
35.52
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$1,186.40

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 50545 →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 50545 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 50545 covers

A urologist typically performs this operation in a hospital operating room, using laparoscopic access to remove the kidney and surrounding perinephric tissue as a radical procedure. It is commonly used for renal cancer when the planned operation removes the whole kidney rather than preserving part of it. The operative report should establish the laparoscopic approach and the extent of tissue removed.

Select this code for the radical operation actually performed, not solely because the diagnosis is cancer. A partial kidney resection, simple nephrectomy, or operation that also removes the ureter may point to a different code. This major surgery has a 90-day global period, including 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 others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. 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 50545 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

50545 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$1,107.28
Alaska*Unavailable$1,563.87
ArizonaUnavailable$1,162.91
ArkansasUnavailable$1,097.63
AtlantaUnavailable$1,214.42
AustinUnavailable$1,191.25
BakersfieldUnavailable$1,185.74
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$1,243.92
BeaumontUnavailable$1,155.08
BrazoriaUnavailable$1,167.18

50545 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
50545 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 50545 rate is calculated

Each of 50545’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 · 50545

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Work24.43

24.43 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense7.91

7.91 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice3.18

3.18 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

35.5200

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$1,186.40

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 50545

50545 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 50545

Radical nephrectomy

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)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
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)0.08/0.83/0.09Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 50545

Radical nephrectomy

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.

  • 24Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78Unplanned 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 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

50545 without 50 · national facility

$1,186.40

Radical nephrectomy

50545-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$1,779.60

Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).

When to use modifier 50

50545 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

5 codes, side by side

  • 50545

    Radical nephrectomy24.43 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 50543

    Partial nephrectomy26.72 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 50546

    Nephrectomy21.32 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 50548

    Nephroureterectomy24.73 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 50542

    Renal mass ablation20.83 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

50543Partial nephrectomy
50543 describes laparoscopic removal of part of the kidney. Use 50545 when the operative report supports radical removal of the whole kidney and surrounding tissue.
50546Nephrectomy
Both codes describe laparoscopic kidney removal, but 50545 identifies a radical operation. Choose based on the documented extent and nature of the procedure.
50548Nephroureterectomy
50548 is for laparoscopic removal of the kidney with the ureter. Use 50545 when the documented procedure is radical nephrectomy without that nephroureterectomy scope.
50542Renal mass ablation
50542 reports laparoscopic ablation of a renal mass; 50545 reports removal of the kidney and surrounding tissue.

Codes related to 50545

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

Codes related to 50545
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
50543Partial nephrectomyLaparoscopic partial nephrectomy when the surgeon preserves part of the kidney.No office rate
50546NephrectomyLaparoscopic nephrectomy code to compare when the procedure is not documented as radical.No office rate
Used instead
50548NephroureterectomyLaparoscopic kidney and ureter removal when the documented operation includes the ureter.No office rate
50542Renal mass ablationLaparoscopic ablation of a renal mass rather than removal of the kidney.No office rate

50545 billing questions

How does this differ from laparoscopic partial nephrectomy?

This code is for a radical operation that removes the whole kidney with surrounding tissue. Use the partial nephrectomy code when the surgeon removes only part of the kidney.

When would laparoscopic nephrectomy be a better match?

Compare the operative extent: this code represents radical nephrectomy, while 50546 represents laparoscopic nephrectomy without the radical designation. The operative report should support the procedure actually performed.

Can the ureter removal be reported with this code?

When the operation removes the kidney and ureter, compare the documentation with 50548, the laparoscopic nephroureterectomy code. Report the procedure that matches the operative extent rather than treating ureter removal as an automatic separate service.

What does the 90-day global period include?

It includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. The period is attached to this major surgery.

How is bilateral surgery handled?

For a bilateral procedure, modifier 50 is paid at 150% under the CMS rule supplied for this code.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be paid?

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

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 50545PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,935 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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