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Billing code 51550: Partial cystectomyMedicare rate & RVUs

A urologist removes a limited portion of the bladder wall, typically to excise a localized lesion while preserving the rest of the bladder.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities410 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $871.43 for 51550 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 51550

Partial cystectomy

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
16.8
Total RVUs
26.09
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$871.43

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 51550 → · 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 51550 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 51550 covers

A urologist removes a portion of the bladder wall and closes the remaining bladder. This operation may be selected for a localized bladder lesion that can be excised while preserving the rest of the organ, such as a tumor unsuitable for endoscopic removal. It is generally performed in a hospital operating room. The operative report should identify the lesion and the portion of bladder removed.

Report 51550 for a simple partial cystectomy. A more complicated partial excision, including one affected by prior radiation or surgery, is distinguished by 51555; partial cystectomy with ureteral reimplantation is 51565. The 90-day global period includes 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%. 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 51550 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

51550 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$806.94
Alaska*Unavailable$1,129.42
ArizonaUnavailable$852.41
ArkansasUnavailable$799.07
AtlantaUnavailable$893.46
AustinUnavailable$876.24
BakersfieldUnavailable$871.38
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$916.70
BeaumontUnavailable$845.08
BrazoriaUnavailable$855.58

51550 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
51550 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 51550 rate is calculated

Each of 51550’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 · 51550

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 16.80Practice expense 6.80Malpractice 2.49

26.0900 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$871.43

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 51550

51550 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 51550

Partial cystectomy

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 · 51550

Partial cystectomy

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

51550 without 51 · national facility

$871.43

Partial cystectomy

51550-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$435.72

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

51550 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

51550 vs 51555 vs 51565 vs 51570 vs 51530: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 51550
    Partial cystectomy · 16.8 wRVU
    —
  • 51555
    Partial cystectomy · 22.6 wRVU
    —
  • 51565
    Bladder surgery · 23.09 wRVU
    —
  • 51570
    Cystectomy · 26.77 wRVU
    —
  • 51530
    Bladder tumor excision · 13.37 wRVU
    —

How to choose

51555Partial cystectomy
Choose 51550 for a simple partial cystectomy; 51555 is for a complicated partial excision, such as one affected by prior radiation or surgery.
51565Bladder surgery
Use 51565 when partial cystectomy includes reimplantation of a ureter; 51550 describes the simple partial excision.
51570Cystectomy
51570 is for removal of the entire bladder, while 51550 removes only a portion.
51530Bladder tumor excision
51530 describes tumor excision through cystotomy; 51550 describes removal of a portion of the bladder wall.

Codes related to 51550

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

Codes related to 51550
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
51555Partial cystectomyComplicated partial cystectomy, including cases affected by prior radiation or surgery.No office rate
51565Bladder surgeryPartial cystectomy that includes ureteral reimplantation.No office rate
Used instead
51530Bladder tumor excisionBladder tumor excision through cystotomy rather than partial cystectomy.No office rate
51570CystectomyComplete bladder removal rather than removal of only a portion.No office rate
51575Bladder removalComplete bladder removal with pelvic lymphadenectomy.No office rate
51590Bladder removalComplete bladder removal with ileal conduit diversion.No office rate

51550 billing questions

How is 51550 different from 51555?

51550 describes a simple partial cystectomy. Use 51555 for a complicated partial excision, with examples including cases affected by prior radiation or surgery.

When is 51565 used instead?

51565 describes partial cystectomy with ureteral reimplantation. The operative report should establish that the ureter was reimplanted.

Does 51550 have a 90-day global period?

Yes. The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included.

Can modifier 50 be used for 51550?

No. CMS identifies the bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.

How are assistant and co-surgeon services handled?

An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons are paid only when supporting documentation is provided.

How does CMS handle another procedure performed in the same session?

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

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 51550PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,031 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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