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Billing code 51570: CystectomyMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports complete removal of the urinary bladder when the operation does not include the additional lymph node or urinary diversion work represented by other cystectomy codes.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities67 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $1,304.31 for 51570 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 51570

Cystectomy

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
26.77
Total RVUs
39.05
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$1,304.31

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 51570 → · 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 51570 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 51570 covers

51570 represents removal of the entire urinary bladder, rather than resection of only a portion. Urologists typically perform the operation in an operating room, often for bladder cancer when complete removal is planned. The operative report should establish the extent of bladder removal and whether pelvic lymph node dissection or urinary diversion was performed, because those details may point to a more specific cystectomy code.

Select this code for the complete bladder excision described by the operative record; use a partial cystectomy code when bladder tissue is only partly removed. This major surgery has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. An assistant 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 51570 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

51570 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$1,217.43
Alaska*Unavailable$1,718.81
ArizonaUnavailable$1,278.57
ArkansasUnavailable$1,206.83
AtlantaUnavailable$1,334.87
AustinUnavailable$1,310.06
BakersfieldUnavailable$1,304.55
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$1,367.45
BeaumontUnavailable$1,269.58
BrazoriaUnavailable$1,283.45

51570 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
51570 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 51570 rate is calculated

Each of 51570’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 · 51570

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 26.77Practice expense 8.83Malpractice 3.45

39.0500 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$1,304.31

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 51570

51570 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 51570

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 · 51570

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

51570 without 51 · national facility

$1,304.31

Cystectomy

51570-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$652.16

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

51570 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

51570 vs 51550 vs 51575 vs 51580 vs 51590: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 51570
    Cystectomy · 26.77 wRVU
    —
  • 51550
    Partial cystectomy · 16.8 wRVU
    —
  • 51575
    Bladder removal · 33.33 wRVU
    —
  • 51580
    Complete cystectomy · 34.49 wRVU
    —
  • 51590
    Bladder removal · 35.42 wRVU
    —

How to choose

51550Partial cystectomy
51550 describes partial bladder removal; 51570 is for complete removal. Base the choice on the resection documented in the operative report.
51575Bladder removal
51575 includes bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy with complete bladder removal. Use it when that additional dissection is part of the documented operation.
51580Complete cystectomy
51580 pairs complete bladder removal with ureterosigmoidostomy or ureterostomy. 51570 describes the complete bladder excision without that specified diversion.
51590Bladder removal
51590 includes a ureteroileal conduit or sigmoid bladder with complete bladder removal. Choose by the diversion performed, rather than treating the codes as interchangeable.

Codes related to 51570

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

Codes related to 51570
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
51550Partial cystectomyUsed when the surgeon removes part, rather than all, of the bladder.No office rate
Same family
51575Bladder removalComplete bladder removal with bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy.No office rate
51580Complete cystectomyComplete bladder removal with ureterosigmoidostomy or ureterostomy.No office rate
51590Bladder removalComplete bladder removal with a ureteroileal conduit or sigmoid bladder.No office rate
51596Bladder removalComplete bladder removal with a continent urinary diversion.No office rate

51570 billing questions

How does 51570 differ from a partial cystectomy code?

51570 represents complete bladder removal. When the surgeon removes only part of the bladder, consider 51550 or another partial cystectomy code that matches the documented procedure.

Can 51570 be used when pelvic lymph nodes are also removed?

Check whether a more specific cystectomy code describes the operation, such as 51575 for complete removal with bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy. The operative report should document the extent of the node dissection.

How should urinary diversion affect code selection?

When the operation includes a urinary diversion, compare the documented diversion with the more specific cystectomy codes, including 51580, 51590, and 51596. Do not select 51570 without considering the full operative service.

Is modifier 50 appropriate for 51570?

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

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.

What postoperative care is included?

The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care for 90 days after surgery.

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 51570PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,034 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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