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Billing code 51060: UreterolithotomyMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports open surgical incision into the ureter to remove a ureteral calculus, rather than endoscopic extraction or fragmentation.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities

Medicare pays $533.08 for 51060 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 51060

Ureterolithotomy

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
9.7
Total RVUs
15.96
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$533.08

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 51060 → · 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 51060 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 51060 covers

This code represents an open operation in which the surgeon exposes the ureter, makes an incision in it, and removes a calculus. It is used by urologists and other surgeons when the documented procedure is ureterolithotomy, not a cystoscopic or ureteroscopic stone procedure. The operative report should identify the ureter treated, describe the open approach and ureteral incision, and document removal of the calculus.

Select this code based on the operation performed; a stone’s location alone does not distinguish open removal from endoscopic treatment. The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery services 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 51060 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

51060 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$494.04
Alaska*Unavailable$687.20
ArizonaUnavailable$521.88
ArkansasUnavailable$489.23
AtlantaUnavailable$545.12
AustinUnavailable$538.67
BakersfieldUnavailable$538.97
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$560.37
BeaumontUnavailable$515.05
BrazoriaUnavailable$524.98

51060 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
51060 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 51060 rate is calculated

Each of 51060’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 · 51060

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 9.70Practice expense 5.01Malpractice 1.25

15.9600 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$533.08

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 51060

51060 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 51060

Ureterolithotomy

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)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
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 · 51060

Ureterolithotomy

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 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

51060 without 51 · national facility

$533.08

Ureterolithotomy

51060-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$266.54

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%).

When to use modifier 51

51060 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

51060 vs 51065 vs 52320 vs 52352 vs 52353: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 51060
    Ureterolithotomy · 9.7 wRVU
    —
  • 51065
    Ureteral stone removal · 9.7 wRVU
    —
  • 52320
    Ureteral stone removal · 4.57 wRVU
    —
  • 52352
    Ureteroscopy · 6.58 wRVU
    —
  • 52353
    Stone lithotripsy · 7.31 wRVU
    —

How to choose

51065Ureteral stone removal
Both describe open ureterolithotomy. 51065 is the related code for a complicated procedure; select based on the documented circumstances and billing code distinction.
52320Ureteral stone removal
Use 52320 for endoscopic removal of a ureteral calculus. 51060 is for open ureterolithotomy involving an incision in the ureter.
52352Ureteroscopy
52352 describes ureteroscopic calculus removal or manipulation. It is distinct from the open surgical approach represented by 51060.
52353Stone lithotripsy
52353 describes ureteroscopic calculus treatment with lithotripsy; 51060 describes open incision and removal.

Codes related to 51060

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

Codes related to 51060
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
51065Ureteral stone removalRelated code for complicated ureterolithotomy; distinguish by the documented operative circumstances.No office rate
Used instead
52320Ureteral stone removalEndoscopic removal of a ureteral calculus, rather than open ureterolithotomy.No office rate
52352UreteroscopyUreteroscopic calculus removal or manipulation, rather than open incision and extraction.No office rate
52353Stone lithotripsyUreteroscopic calculus treatment with lithotripsy, rather than open ureterolithotomy.No office rate

51060 billing questions

How does this differ from ureteroscopic stone removal?

51060 describes open ureterolithotomy with an incision in the ureter. Ureteroscopic codes describe endoscopic treatment through the urinary tract.

When would 51065 be considered instead?

51065 is the related complicated ureterolithotomy code. Use the code that matches the documented operative circumstances and the applicable billing code distinction.

Can modifier 50 be used for stones in both ureters?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code, so modifier 50 should not be used.

What documentation supports reporting 51060?

The operative report should show an open approach, an incision into the ureter, and removal of a ureteral calculus, including the treated side and site.

How is another procedure in the same session paid?

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

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

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 51060PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,020 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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