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Billing code 50548: NephroureterectomyMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports laparoscopic removal of a kidney with the entire ureter, commonly performed for upper urinary tract cancer requiring nephroureterectomy.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities2.7K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $1,191.08 for 50548 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 50548

Nephroureterectomy

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
24.73
Total RVUs
35.66
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$1,191.08

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 50548 → · 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 50548 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 50548 covers

The surgeon uses laparoscopic access to remove a kidney together with the full ureter on that side. Urologists most often perform this operation for upper tract urothelial cancer involving the renal pelvis or ureter. It is typically done in an operating room with facility support; the operative report should establish the laparoscopic approach and the extent of the tissue removed.

Report this code when the kidney and entire ureter are removed laparoscopically, rather than when only part of the ureter is removed with a nephrectomy. The procedure has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons require 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 50548 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

50548 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$1,112.21
Alaska*Unavailable$1,572.53
ArizonaUnavailable$1,167.61
ArkansasUnavailable$1,102.60
AtlantaUnavailable$1,219.29
AustinUnavailable$1,195.40
BakersfieldUnavailable$1,189.44
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$1,248.58
BeaumontUnavailable$1,160.26
BrazoriaUnavailable$1,171.71

50548 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
50548 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 50548 rate is calculated

Each of 50548’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 · 50548

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 24.73Practice expense 7.71Malpractice 3.22

35.6600 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$1,191.08

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 50548

50548 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 50548

Nephroureterectomy

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 · 50548

Nephroureterectomy

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 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

50548 without 50 · national facility

$1,191.08

Nephroureterectomy

50548-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$1,786.62

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

50548 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

50548 vs 50545 vs 50546 vs 50547: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 50548
    Nephroureterectomy · 24.73 wRVU
    —
  • 50545
    Radical nephrectomy · 24.43 wRVU
    —
  • 50546
    Nephrectomy · 21.32 wRVU
    —
  • 50547
    Donor nephrectomy · 25.68 wRVU
    —

How to choose

50545Radical nephrectomy
Use 50548 when the entire ureter is removed with the kidney. Use 50545 for laparoscopic radical nephrectomy when the ureter is removed only in part.
50546Nephrectomy
50546 describes laparoscopic nephrectomy with partial ureter removal. 50548 is distinguished by removal of the entire ureter.
50547Donor nephrectomy
50547 is for laparoscopic kidney removal from a living donor. 50548 is for kidney and total ureter removal, not donor nephrectomy.

Codes related to 50548

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

Codes related to 50548
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
50545Radical nephrectomyLaparoscopic radical nephrectomy with partial rather than total ureter removal.No office rate
50546NephrectomyLaparoscopic nephrectomy with partial rather than total ureter removal.No office rate
50547Donor nephrectomyLaparoscopic kidney removal specifically performed for living-donor transplantation.No office rate

50548 billing questions

How is this code distinguished from laparoscopic radical nephrectomy?

This code represents removal of the kidney with the entire ureter. The radical nephrectomy code is used when the ureter is only partially removed as part of the kidney operation.

What operative documentation supports reporting this code?

Document the laparoscopic approach, removal of the kidney, and removal of the entire ureter. Include the clinical indication, such as upper tract urothelial cancer, when applicable.

Does this code have a 90-day global period?

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

How are other procedures in the same session paid?

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures in that session are paid at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons are paid only with 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 50548PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,938 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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