No office rate
49000 describes abdominal exploration. When exploration is performed to reach and drain the abscess, it is part of the operative service rather than a separate report with 49020.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
49020 in Delaware
Office / nonfacility
Not available in this setting
Base rate per service
Facility setting
$1466.07
Base rate per service
Amounts below use the non-QP conversion factor for participating physicians. These are base physician payments before claim-level adjustments, not patient costs or total hospital charges.
General surgery
About 49020: Open drainage of peritoneal abscess
Reports open surgical drainage of a peritoneal abscess or localized peritonitis, excluding an abscess arising from the appendix.
The surgeon opens the abdomen to reach and drain a peritoneal abscess or area of localized peritonitis. The service may involve evacuating infected material, irrigating the cavity, and placing a drain as clinically indicated. General surgeons commonly perform it in a hospital operating room for a localized intra-abdominal infection requiring open treatment; it is not the code for an appendiceal abscess or a retroperitoneal collection.
Choose the code based on the documented infection site and open approach. The operative report should identify the abscess or localized peritonitis and describe its drainage. This major surgery has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. For multiple procedures 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 service. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeon and team-surgery billing are not permitted.
CMS billing rules for 49020
- Global period
- Major surgery with a 90-day global period: the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included.
- Multiple procedures
- Standard multiple procedure reduction: the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50% when performed in the same session.
- Bilateral procedures
- Bilateral adjustment does not apply; the descriptor or anatomy makes modifier 50 inappropriate.
- Assistant at surgery
- Assistant at surgery may be paid.
- Co-surgeons
- Co-surgeons not permitted.
- Team surgery
- Team surgery not permitted.
Where the value comes from
- Work RVU26.00 · 58%
- Practice expense (office) RVU12.21 · 27%
- Malpractice RVU6.34 · 14%
3.2K
Medicare services in 2024 · #2133 by national volume
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.
49020 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Delaware, from the same CMS release.
No office rate
Choose 49040 for an open-drained subphrenic or subdiaphragmatic abscess; 49020 covers a peritoneal abscess or localized peritonitis.
No office rate
Choose 49060 when the abscess is retroperitoneal. A peritoneal abscess or localized peritonitis treated through an open approach is described by 49020.
$281.31
49083 is image-guided paracentesis for abdominal fluid, not open surgical drainage of a localized peritoneal abscess.
The same code, a different location
How does Delaware compare?
49020 across payment areas
Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0
Delaware · This locality
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Other payment areas listed in Delaware appear first, followed by selected cross-country examples. The chart compares amounts, not distance.
The code’s RVUs stay the same in these comparisons. Geographic adjustments to work, practice expense and malpractice change the dollar amount. A city name alone may not identify the payment area for a service address.
Compare all 108 other payment areas
Alabama
Alabama · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1345.13
No comparable office rate is available.
Arkansas
Arkansas · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1327.80
No comparable office rate is available.
Arizona
Arizona · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1444.87
No comparable office rate is available.
Bakersfield
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1460.86
No comparable office rate is available.
Chico
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1443.67
No comparable office rate is available.
El Centro
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1444.73
No comparable office rate is available.
Fresno
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1443.67
No comparable office rate is available.
Hanford-Corcoran
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1443.67
No comparable office rate is available.
Madera
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1443.67
No comparable office rate is available.
Merced
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1443.67
No comparable office rate is available.
Modesto
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1443.67
No comparable office rate is available.
Napa
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1568.22
No comparable office rate is available.
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1506.72
No comparable office rate is available.
Redding
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1443.67
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of California
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1443.67
No comparable office rate is available.
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1511.66
No comparable office rate is available.
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1487.49
No comparable office rate is available.
Salinas
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1481.52
No comparable office rate is available.
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1497.01
No comparable office rate is available.
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1623.16
No comparable office rate is available.
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty)
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1615.96
No comparable office rate is available.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty)
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1665.54
No comparable office rate is available.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty)
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1636.10
No comparable office rate is available.
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1461.20
No comparable office rate is available.
Santa Cruz-Watsonville
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1495.67
No comparable office rate is available.
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1481.77
No comparable office rate is available.
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1508.79
No comparable office rate is available.
Stockton
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1443.67
No comparable office rate is available.
Vallejo
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1557.85
No comparable office rate is available.
Visalia
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1443.67
No comparable office rate is available.
Yuba City
California · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1443.67
No comparable office rate is available.
Colorado
Colorado · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1478.16
No comparable office rate is available.
Connecticut
Connecticut · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1581.25
No comparable office rate is available.
Fort Lauderdale
Florida · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1664.42
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Florida
Florida · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1576.58
No comparable office rate is available.
Atlanta
Georgia · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1539.70
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Georgia
Georgia · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1484.62
No comparable office rate is available.
Hawaii, Guam
Hawaii · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1454.73
No comparable office rate is available.
Iowa
Iowa · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1325.65
No comparable office rate is available.
Idaho
Idaho · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1343.79
No comparable office rate is available.
East St. Louis
Illinois · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1670.11
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Illinois
Illinois · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1571.75
No comparable office rate is available.
Suburban Chicago
Illinois · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1668.58
No comparable office rate is available.
Indiana
Indiana · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1349.39
No comparable office rate is available.
Kansas
Kansas · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1343.83
No comparable office rate is available.
Kentucky
Kentucky · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1424.74
No comparable office rate is available.
New Orleans
Louisiana · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1492.75
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Louisiana
Louisiana · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1432.22
No comparable office rate is available.
Metropolitan Boston
Massachusetts · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1579.44
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Massachusetts
Massachusetts · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1480.53
No comparable office rate is available.
Baltimore/Surr. Cntys
Maryland · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1581.86
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Maryland
Maryland · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1484.22
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Maine
Maine · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1375.34
No comparable office rate is available.
Southern Maine
Maine · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1406.20
No comparable office rate is available.
Detroit
Michigan · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1619.00
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Michigan
Michigan · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1479.85
No comparable office rate is available.
Minnesota
Minnesota · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1350.76
No comparable office rate is available.
Metropolitan Kansas City
Missouri · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1458.26
No comparable office rate is available.
Metropolitan St. Louis
Missouri · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1468.86
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Missouri
Missouri · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1426.22
No comparable office rate is available.
Mississippi
Mississippi · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1376.05
No comparable office rate is available.
Montana**
Montana · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1487.59
No comparable office rate is available.
North Carolina
North Carolina · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1384.24
No comparable office rate is available.
North Dakota**
North Dakota · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1362.22
No comparable office rate is available.
Nebraska
Nebraska · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1324.89
No comparable office rate is available.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1478.26
No comparable office rate is available.
Northern Nj
New Jersey · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1622.37
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of New Jersey
New Jersey · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1580.81
No comparable office rate is available.
New Mexico
New Mexico · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1496.72
No comparable office rate is available.
Nevada**
Nevada · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1453.05
No comparable office rate is available.
Nyc Suburbs/Long Island
New York · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1802.15
No comparable office rate is available.
Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs
New York · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1610.30
No comparable office rate is available.
Queens
New York · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1711.41
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of New York
New York · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1404.73
No comparable office rate is available.
Ohio
Ohio · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1454.22
No comparable office rate is available.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1397.15
No comparable office rate is available.
Portland
Oregon · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1492.96
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Oregon
Oregon · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1423.49
No comparable office rate is available.
Metropolitan Philadelphia
Pennsylvania · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1561.23
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1442.92
No comparable office rate is available.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1489.32
No comparable office rate is available.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1495.10
No comparable office rate is available.
South Carolina
South Carolina · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1425.25
No comparable office rate is available.
South Dakota**
South Dakota · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1347.40
No comparable office rate is available.
Tennessee
Tennessee · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1352.85
No comparable office rate is available.
Austin
Texas · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1489.26
No comparable office rate is available.
Beaumont
Texas · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1436.27
No comparable office rate is available.
Brazoria
Texas · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1444.70
No comparable office rate is available.
Dallas
Texas · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1464.12
No comparable office rate is available.
Fort Worth
Texas · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1462.80
No comparable office rate is available.
Galveston
Texas · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1455.68
No comparable office rate is available.
Houston
Texas · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1571.73
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Texas
Texas · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1446.67
No comparable office rate is available.
Utah
Utah · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1441.94
No comparable office rate is available.
Virginia
Virginia · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1418.82
No comparable office rate is available.
Virgin Islands
United States Virgin Islands · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1489.32
No comparable office rate is available.
Vermont
Vermont · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1379.32
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Washington
Washington · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1470.30
No comparable office rate is available.
Seattle (King Cnty)
Washington · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1585.26
No comparable office rate is available.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1324.34
No comparable office rate is available.
West Virginia
West Virginia · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1525.85
No comparable office rate is available.
Wyoming**
Wyoming · 49020
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1432.95
No comparable office rate is available.
See how rates vary across the country
49020 · Office / nonfacility · Non-QP. Choose a state to explore its payment localities. A range means the amount varies within that state.
Explore a state
Local rates. Clear comparisons.
Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.
View all state and territory rates as a table
| State / territory | Rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | No published base rate | 1 |
| AL | No published base rate | 1 |
| AR | No published base rate | 1 |
| AZ | No published base rate | 1 |
| CA | No published base rate | 29 |
| CO | No published base rate | 1 |
| CT | No published base rate | 1 |
| DC | No published base rate | 1 |
| DE | No published base rate | 1 |
| FL | No published base rate | 3 |
| GA | No published base rate | 2 |
| GU | No published base rate | 1 |
| HI | No published base rate | 1 |
| IA | No published base rate | 1 |
| ID | No published base rate | 1 |
| IL | No published base rate | 4 |
| IN | No published base rate | 1 |
| KS | No published base rate | 1 |
| KY | No published base rate | 1 |
| LA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MD | No published base rate | 3 |
| ME | No published base rate | 2 |
| MI | No published base rate | 2 |
| MN | No published base rate | 1 |
| MO | No published base rate | 3 |
| MS | No published base rate | 1 |
| MT | No published base rate | 1 |
| NC | No published base rate | 1 |
| ND | No published base rate | 1 |
| NE | No published base rate | 1 |
| NH | No published base rate | 1 |
| NJ | No published base rate | 2 |
| NM | No published base rate | 1 |
| NV | No published base rate | 1 |
| NY | No published base rate | 5 |
| OH | No published base rate | 1 |
| OK | No published base rate | 1 |
| OR | No published base rate | 2 |
| PA | No published base rate | 2 |
| PR | No published base rate | 1 |
| RI | No published base rate | 1 |
| SC | No published base rate | 1 |
| SD | No published base rate | 1 |
| TN | No published base rate | 1 |
| TX | No published base rate | 8 |
| UT | No published base rate | 1 |
| VA | No published base rate | 2 |
| VI | No published base rate | 1 |
| VT | No published base rate | 1 |
| WA | No published base rate | 2 |
| WI | No published base rate | 1 |
| WV | No published base rate | 1 |
| WY | No published base rate | 1 |
Where does this rate apply?
Delaware is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 79 cities and communities in Delaware, including the examples shown here.
Some communities span more than one payment area. Follow a city link to compare all of its mapped areas, or check the service-location ZIP above for an address-level starting point.
Use this rate
What is a percentage of Medicare worth?
Turn a percentage into dollars for 49020 in Delaware. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.
Reference amount per service
$1612.68
$1466.07 × 110% = $1612.68
A contract may specify another Medicare year or additional adjustments. This is percentage arithmetic on the displayed base rate, not a claim adjudication.
Working with a whole code list?
Compare an offer across your annual code mix, including an older Medicare schedule or flat per-code rates.
How this local rate is calculated
Each RVU component is multiplied by its own geographic practice cost index (GPCI). The three adjusted components are added, then multiplied by the conversion factor. These are the inputs used for 49020 in Delaware.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
5,766
- Code
- 49020
- Physician work
- 26.00
- Practice expense
- 12.21
- Malpractice
- 6.34
GPCI2026.csv
40
- Locality
- Delaware
- Physician work
- 1.005
- Practice expense
- 0.988
- Malpractice
- 0.899
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 26.00 | × 1.005 | 26.1300 |
| Practice expense | 12.21 | × 0.988 | 12.0635 |
| Malpractice | 6.34 | × 0.899 | 5.6997 |
| Total RVUs | 43.8931 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Facility rate, Delaware$1466.07
Open 49020 in the RVU calculator →
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Facility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 26 | 1.005 |
| Practice expense | 12.21 | 0.988 |
| Malpractice | 6.34 | 0.899 |
(26 × 1.005 + 12.21 × 0.988 + 6.34 × 0.899) × $33.4009 = $1466.07
The office and facility calculations use their respective practice-expense RVUs. The facility amount here is the physician fee, not a separate hospital or facility bill.
How this rate has changed
49020 · Office / nonfacility
Rate unavailable
Effective 2026-10-01
A rate is unavailable in one of these releases, so a change cannot be calculated.
One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.
What changed, release by release
Explore release dates and calculate this code in an earlier period →
Each row uses the accepted CMS release effective on that date and the same contractor and locality identifiers. Missing rates stay visible. Historical boundaries may differ; verify the service address for an older claim.
Inspect every release and its CMS source
| Effective from | Office / nonfacility | Facility | CMS release |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $1466.07 | RVU26D |
| 2026-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $1466.07 | RVU26C |
| 2026-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $1466.07 | RVU26B |
| 2026-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $1466.07 | RVU26A |
| 2025-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $1546.57 | RVU25D |
| 2025-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $1546.57 | RVU25C |
| 2025-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $1546.57 | RVU25B |
| 2025-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $1546.57 | RVU25A |
49020 billing questions
How does this differ from open drainage of a subphrenic abscess?
Use 49020 for a peritoneal abscess or localized peritonitis. A subphrenic or subdiaphragmatic abscess is reported with 49040.
Can 49020 be used for an appendiceal abscess?
No. The service described by 49020 excludes appendiceal abscess; select the applicable appendiceal procedure based on the operation performed.
Is abdominal exploration separately reported with the drainage?
Exploration performed to locate and reach the abscess is part of the open drainage service. Do not separately report 49000 for that operative access.
Should modifier 50 be appended for bilateral findings?
No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this service, and CMS makes no bilateral payment adjustment.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted under the CMS rules for this code.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense, and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indices and the applicable conversion factor. Unavailable or separately priced services are labeled rather than assigned a made-up amount.
Source: RVU26D. Effective 2026-10-01 through the day before 2027-01-01.
5,76349010,,Exploration behind abdomen,A,,15.66,6.34,NA,6.34,,3.88,25.88,25.88,0,090,0.09,0.81,0.10,2,0,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
5,76449013,,Prpertl pel pack hemrrg trma,A,,8.14,1.97,NA,1.97,,2.17,12.28,12.28,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
5,76549014,,Reexploration pelvic wound,A,,6.56,2.05,NA,2.05,,1.75,10.36,10.36,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
5,76649020,,Drainage abdom abscess open,A,,26.00,12.21,NA,12.21,,6.34,44.55,44.55,0,090,0.09,0.81,0.10,2,0,2,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
5,76749040,,Drain open abdom abscess,A,,16.11,8.45,NA,8.45,,4.15,28.71,28.71,0,090,0.09,0.81,0.10,2,0,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
5,76849060,,Drain open retroperi abscess,A,,18.07,8.41,NA,8.41,,4.24,30.72,30.72,0,090,0.09,0.81,0.10,2,0,1,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
5,76949062,,Drain to peritoneal cavity,A,,11.91,6.87,NA,6.87,,3.18,21.96,21.96,0,090,0.09,0.81,0.10,2,0,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3704112,CO,01,COLORADO,1.012,1.064,0.781
3813102,CT,00,CONNECTICUT,1.020,1.077,1.210
3912202,DC,01,DC + MD/VA SUBURBS,1.054,1.178,1.113
4012102,DE,01,DELAWARE,1.005,0.988,0.899
4109102,FL,03,FORT LAUDERDALE,1.000,1.013,1.808
4209102,FL,04,MIAMI,1.000,1.041,2.529
4309102,FL,99,REST OF FLORIDA,1.000,0.956,1.503