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Billing code 50900: Ureter repairMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports operative suturing of a ureteral defect when the ureter can be repaired directly rather than reconstructed or reimplanted.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities52 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $761.21 for 50900 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 50900

Ureter repair

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
14.66
Total RVUs
22.79
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$761.21

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 50900 → · 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 50900 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 50900 covers

50900 represents operative closure of a ureteral defect by direct suturing, when the ureter can be repaired without replacing its course or reconnecting it to another structure. A urologist or other surgeon typically performs the repair in an operating room, often for a ureteral injury identified during surgery or a localized defect requiring primary closure.

Report the code when the surgeon actually sutures the ureter, not for inspection or exposure alone. The operative note should identify the side and site, describe the defect or injury, and document the repair performed. The code has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care for 90 days. When multiple procedures occur 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 services may be paid; co-surgeons are paid only with 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 50900 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

50900 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$707.86
Alaska*Unavailable$991.41
ArizonaUnavailable$745.69
ArkansasUnavailable$701.32
AtlantaUnavailable$778.64
AustinUnavailable$767.14
BakersfieldUnavailable$766.00
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$799.16
BeaumontUnavailable$737.96
BrazoriaUnavailable$749.43

50900 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
50900 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 50900 rate is calculated

Each of 50900’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 · 50900

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 14.66Practice expense 6.25Malpractice 1.88

22.7900 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$761.21

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 50900

50900 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 50900

Ureter repair

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 · 50900

Ureter repair

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

50900 without 50 · national facility

$761.21

Ureter repair

50900-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$1,141.82

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

50900 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

50900 vs 50700 vs 50780 vs 50920 vs 50930: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 50900
    Ureter repair · 14.66 wRVU
    —
  • 50700
    Ureter repair · 16.27 wRVU
    —
  • 50780
    Ureter reimplantation · 19.45 wRVU
    —
  • 50920
    Ureteral fistula repair · 15.41 wRVU
    —
  • 50930
    Fistula closure · 19.69 wRVU
    —

How to choose

50700Ureter repair
50900 describes direct suturing of a defect. 50700 is used for plastic reconstruction of the ureter, such as reconstruction for a stricture.
50780Ureter reimplantation
Use 50780 when the operative service reconnects the ureter to the bladder. 50900 is for direct suture repair without that reconnection.
50920Ureteral fistula repair
50920 addresses closure of a ureter-to-skin fistula. 50900 is for direct suture repair of a ureteral defect, not fistula closure.
50930Fistula closure
50930 addresses closure of a ureter-to-bowel fistula. 50900 describes direct suture repair of a ureteral defect.

Codes related to 50900

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

Codes related to 50900
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
50700Ureter repairPlastic ureteral reconstruction, such as for a stricture, differs from direct suture closure.No office rate
50780Ureter reimplantationUsed when the ureter is reconnected to the bladder rather than directly sutured.No office rate
50920Ureteral fistula repairFor closure of a ureter-to-skin fistula, rather than direct repair of a ureteral defect.No office rate
50930Fistula closureFor closure of a ureter-to-bowel fistula, rather than direct repair of a ureteral defect.No office rate

50900 billing questions

When is direct repair appropriate instead of ureteral reconstruction?

Use 50900 when the operative work is direct suturing of a ureteral defect. A plastic reconstruction or reconnection to the bladder represents a different service.

What documentation supports 50900?

Document the ureter’s side and injury or defect location, the reason for repair, and the suturing performed. The note should make clear that a repair occurred, rather than inspection or exposure alone.

How is bilateral repair reported?

CMS lists bilateral reporting with modifier 50, paid at 150%. Document the repair on each side.

How does the multiple procedure rule affect payment?

For procedures performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50%.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be paid?

Assistant-at-surgery services 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 50900PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,997 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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