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Billing code 50715: UreterolysisMedicare rate & RVUs

Surgical freeing of a ureter encased or restricted by retroperitoneal fibrosis, reported when the operation releases the ureter from that fibrotic tissue.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities2.5K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $1,119.60 for 50715 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 50715

Ureterolysis

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
20.12
Total RVUs
33.52
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$1,119.60

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 50715 → · 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 50715 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 50715 covers

This operation frees a ureter tethered or compressed by retroperitoneal fibrotic tissue, restoring its mobility and relieving external restriction. A urologist typically performs the dissection during abdominal or retroperitoneal surgery in a facility setting. The operative work centers on identifying the affected ureter and separating it from surrounding fibrosis; the code is specific to this clinical indication, rather than ureteral narrowing treated by dilation or reconstruction.

Report the code when the operative note supports ureterolysis for retroperitoneal fibrosis, including the affected side and the release performed. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; 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 50715 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

50715 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$1,019.68
Alaska*Unavailable$1,411.57
ArizonaUnavailable$1,089.64
ArkansasUnavailable$1,007.54
AtlantaUnavailable$1,155.10
AustinUnavailable$1,122.43
BakersfieldUnavailable$1,106.04
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$1,186.36
BeaumontUnavailable$1,082.02
BrazoriaUnavailable$1,090.92

50715 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

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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.

View every state and territory as a table
50715 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 50715 rate is calculated

Each of 50715’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 · 50715

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 20.12Practice expense 9.14Malpractice 4.26

33.5200 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$1,119.60

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 50715

50715 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 50715

Ureterolysis

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 · 50715

Ureterolysis

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

50715 without 50 · national facility

$1,119.60

Ureterolysis

50715-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$1,679.40

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

50715 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

50715 vs 50722 vs 50706 vs 50700 vs 50780: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 50715
    Ureterolysis · 20.12 wRVU
    —
  • 50722
    Ureteral release · 17.5 wRVU
    —
  • 50706
    Ureteral dilation · 3.71 wRVU
    $792.94
  • 50700
    Ureter repair · 16.27 wRVU
    —
  • 50780
    Ureter reimplantation · 19.45 wRVU
    —

How to choose

50722Ureteral release
Both involve ureterolysis, but 50722 is associated with a different clinical indication. Select based on the documented reason for releasing the ureter.
50706Ureteral dilation
50706 treats an intrinsic ureteral stricture endoscopically with balloon dilation; this code describes surgical release from external retroperitoneal fibrosis.
50700Ureter repair
50700 is ureteroplasty, used when the ureter itself needs plastic reconstruction. This code is for freeing the ureter from surrounding fibrosis.
50780Ureter reimplantation
50780 reconstructs the ureter by reimplanting it into the bladder. This code releases the ureter from fibrosis without defining that reconstructive procedure.

Codes related to 50715

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

Codes related to 50715
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
50722Ureteral releaseA related ureterolysis code for a different indication.No office rate
Used instead
50700Ureter repairUreteroplasty addresses a ureter requiring plastic reconstruction rather than release from fibrosis.No office rate
50760Ureter repairUreteroureterostomy reconnects ureteral segments when reconstruction is needed.No office rate
50780Ureter reimplantationUreteral reimplantation reconstructs the ureter's connection to the bladder.No office rate

50715 billing questions

When is this code selected instead of another ureterolysis code?

Use this code for ureterolysis performed for retroperitoneal fibrosis. A different ureterolysis code may apply when the operative indication is a distinct condition, such as ovarian vein syndrome.

How does this differ from ureteral dilation?

This operation frees the ureter from external fibrotic tissue. Code 50706 describes endoscopic balloon dilation of an intrinsic ureteral stricture.

What documentation supports reporting it?

Document retroperitoneal fibrosis as the indication, the ureter and side involved, and the operative dissection that frees the ureter from the fibrotic tissue.

Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral work?

CMS identifies this as a bilateral procedure; bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%.

How are multiple procedures in the same session paid?

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures in the same session are paid at 50% under the standard multiple procedure reduction.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. 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 50715PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,975 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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