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Billing code 51596: Bladder removalMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports complete bladder removal combined with construction of a continent urinary reservoir using bowel, such as a catheterizable pouch or neobladder.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities184 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $2,088.22 for 51596 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 51596

Bladder removal

Work RVUs
43.15
Total RVUs
62.52
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$2,088.22

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 51596 →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 51596 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 51596 covers

A urologist removes the entire urinary bladder and creates a continent urinary reservoir using a segment of intestine, including the required intestinal anastomosis. The diversion may be a catheterizable pouch, such as an Indiana pouch, or an orthotopic neobladder connected to the urethra. The operation is generally performed in a hospital operating room, often for bladder cancer, and may be part of a larger pelvic operation.

Select this code when the record supports complete cystectomy and a continent diversion; document the reservoir configuration and bowel work. The code includes the intestinal anastomosis involved in creating the diversion. 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 the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this procedure. An assistant at surgery 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 51596 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

51596 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$1,948.63
Alaska*Unavailable$2,753.22
ArizonaUnavailable$2,046.69
ArkansasUnavailable$1,931.62
AtlantaUnavailable$2,138.06
AustinUnavailable$2,095.94
BakersfieldUnavailable$2,085.16
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$2,189.68
BeaumontUnavailable$2,033.61
BrazoriaUnavailable$2,053.83

51596 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
51596 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 51596 rate is calculated

Each of 51596’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 · 51596

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Work43.15

43.15 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense13.68

13.68 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice5.69

5.69 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

62.5200

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$2,088.22

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 51596

51596 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 51596

Bladder removal

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 · 51596

Bladder removal

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.

  • 24Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78Unplanned 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

51596 without 51 · national facility

$2,088.22

Bladder removal

51596-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$1,044.11

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

51596 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

5 codes, side by side

  • 51596

    Bladder removal43.15 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 51590

    Bladder removal35.42 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 51595

    Bladder removal40.29 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 51570

    Cystectomy26.77 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 51585

    Cystectomy38.65 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

51590Bladder removal
51596 describes a continent reservoir. 51590 describes a different diversion, such as a ureteroileal conduit or sigmoid bladder.
51595Bladder removal
51595 combines complete cystectomy, pelvic lymphadenectomy, and a ureteroileal conduit or sigmoid bladder; 51596 is distinguished by the continent diversion.
51570Cystectomy
51570 reports complete cystectomy without the specified continent diversion. Choose 51596 when the operation also creates a continent reservoir.
51585Cystectomy
51585 describes complete cystectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy and ureterosigmoidostomy or sigmoid bladder, rather than a continent reservoir.

Codes related to 51596

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

Codes related to 51596
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
51570CystectomyComplete cystectomy without a specified urinary diversion.No office rate
51575Bladder removalComplete cystectomy with bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy, without the continent diversion described here.No office rate
Used instead
51590Bladder removalComplete cystectomy with a different diversion approach, such as a ureteroileal conduit.No office rate
51595Bladder removalComplete cystectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy and a ureteroileal conduit or sigmoid bladder.No office rate
51585CystectomyComplete cystectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy and ureterosigmoidostomy or sigmoid bladder.No office rate

51596 billing questions

When should this code be selected instead of 51590?

Use 51596 for a continent reservoir, such as a catheterizable pouch or orthotopic neobladder. Code 51590 describes a different diversion approach, such as a ureteroileal conduit or sigmoid bladder.

Does the code include the bowel anastomosis?

Yes. The intestinal anastomosis involved in creating the continent diversion is included in 51596.

Does 51596 include pelvic lymphadenectomy?

The code description centers on complete cystectomy with continent diversion and does not specify pelvic lymphadenectomy. Document any lymph node dissection performed and assess it separately under applicable coding guidance.

Can modifier 50 be reported?

No. Bilateral adjustment is inappropriate for this procedure because the descriptor and anatomy do not support modifier 50.

What documentation supports reporting 51596?

The operative report should establish complete bladder removal and describe the continent diversion, including its configuration and intestinal work. Document any associated procedures separately.

How does the global period affect postoperative billing?

The 90-day global includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction.

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 51596PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,040 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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