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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

44392 in El Centro

Office / nonfacility

$453.69

Base rate per service

Facility setting

$176.93

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.

Gastrointestinal endoscopy

About 44392: Colonoscopy through stoma with hot forceps removal

Reports therapeutic colonoscopy performed through a stoma when a lesion is removed using hot biopsy forceps.

A gastroenterologist or colorectal surgeon performs this therapeutic examination by passing a colonoscope through a colostomy or other bowel stoma to inspect the colon and remove a lesion with hot biopsy forceps. It is used when the stoma is the route of access and forceps removal is the technique documented; a snare removal or biopsy-only procedure is coded differently. These procedures are commonly performed in a hospital outpatient endoscopy unit or ambulatory surgery setting.

The report should identify the stoma route, the lesion treated, and removal with hot biopsy forceps. This is a minor procedure with a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy family pricing applies. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this anatomy and procedure. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery, and co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted for this code.

CMS billing rules for 44392

Global period
Minor procedure with a 0-day global period: same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included.
Multiple procedures
Endoscopy family pricing applies when related endoscopies are performed together.
Bilateral procedures
Bilateral adjustment does not apply; the descriptor or anatomy makes modifier 50 inappropriate.
Assistant at surgery
Statutory restriction: assistant at surgery is not paid.
Co-surgeons
Co-surgeons not permitted.
Team surgery
Team surgery not permitted.

Where the value comes from

  • Work RVU3.44 · 27%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU8.91 · 69%
  • Malpractice RVU0.59 · 5%

214

Medicare services in 2024 · #4264 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.

44392 compared with similar codes

Office rates for El Centro, from the same CMS release.

44389

Colonoscopy

Through stoma, with biopsy

$486.35

Both use a colonoscope passed through a stoma, but 44389 represents biopsy; this code is for lesion removal with hot biopsy forceps.

44394

Stomal colonoscopy

Snare lesion removal

$510.25

Both represent therapeutic colonoscopy through a stoma. Select this code for hot biopsy forceps removal and 44394 for snare removal.

45384

Colonoscopy polyp removal

Hot biopsy or bipolar cautery

$569.43

The removal technique is similar, but 45384 is used when the colonoscope is not passed through a stoma.

The same code, a different location

How does El Centro compare?

In Bakersfield, the office rate for 44392 is $455.26—$1.57 higher than the $453.69 rate in El Centro. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

44392 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. El Centro · This locality

    $453.69

  2. $1.57 higher than El Centro

  3. Chico

    $453.59

    $0.10 lower than El Centro

  4. Fresno

    $453.59

    $0.10 lower than El Centro

  5. $0.10 lower than El Centro

  6. $31.07 higher than El Centro

  7. Madera

    $453.59

    $0.10 lower than El Centro

Other payment areas listed in California appear first, followed by selected cross-country examples. The chart compares amounts, not distance.

Across 109 of 109 CMS payment localities with a supported office rate, 44392 ranges from $380.69 in Arkansas to $567.24 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty). This is a geographic range, not an average.

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
  • Merced

    California · 44392

    Office

    $453.59

    Facility

    $176.84

    $0.10 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 44392

    Office

    $453.59

    Facility

    $176.84

    $0.10 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 44392

    Office

    $524.39

    Facility

    $191.58

    $70.70 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 44392

    Office

    $482.16

    Facility

    $183.69

    $28.47 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 44392

    Office

    $453.59

    Facility

    $176.84

    $0.10 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 44392

    Office

    $453.59

    Facility

    $176.84

    $0.10 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 44392

    Office

    $459.95

    Facility

    $183.20

    $6.26 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 44392

    Office

    $475.71

    Facility

    $182.04

    $22.02 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 44392

    Office

    $473.94

    Facility

    $181.28

    $20.25 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 44392

    Office

    $484.96

    Facility

    $182.96

    $31.27 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 44392

    Office

    $554.48

    Facility

    $198.44

    $100.79 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty)

    California · 44392

    Office

    $553.81

    Facility

    $197.77

    $100.12 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty)

    California · 44392

    Office

    $567.24

    Facility

    $203.12

    $113.55 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty)

    California · 44392

    Office

    $564.50

    Facility

    $200.38

    $110.81 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 44392

    Office

    $466.38

    Facility

    $178.77

    $12.69 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 44392

    Office

    $489.46

    Facility

    $182.66

    $35.77 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 44392

    Office

    $475.68

    Facility

    $181.26

    $21.99 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 44392

    Office

    $494.36

    Facility

    $184.28

    $40.67 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 44392

    Office

    $453.59

    Facility

    $176.84

    $0.10 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 44392

    Office

    $523.42

    Facility

    $190.61

    $69.73 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 44392

    Office

    $453.59

    Facility

    $176.84

    $0.10 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 44392

    Office

    $453.59

    Facility

    $176.84

    $0.10 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 44392

    Office

    $493.61

    Facility

    $196.15

    $39.92 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 44392

    Office

    $474.54

    Facility

    $211.68

    $20.85 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 44392

    Office

    $460.02

    Facility

    $206.25

    $6.33 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 44392

    Office

    $499.32

    Facility

    $205.90

    $45.63 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 44392

    Office

    $500.15

    Facility

    $231.23

    $46.46 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 44392

    Office

    $386.45

    Facility

    $165.51

    $67.24 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 44392

    Office

    $380.69

    Facility

    $163.78

    $73.00 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 44392

    Office

    $420.14

    Facility

    $175.46

    $33.55 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 44392

    Office

    $448.32

    Facility

    $179.65

    $5.37 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 44392

    Office

    $461.56

    Facility

    $189.61

    $7.87 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 44392

    Office

    $427.22

    Facility

    $177.74

    $26.47 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 44392

    Office

    $452.00

    Facility

    $196.21

    $1.69 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 44392

    Office

    $429.03

    Facility

    $187.63

    $24.66 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 44392

    Office

    $441.27

    Facility

    $184.72

    $12.42 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 44392

    Office

    $403.85

    Facility

    $178.61

    $49.84 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 44392

    Office

    $464.68

    Facility

    $177.58

    $10.99 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 44392

    Office

    $395.03

    Facility

    $163.98

    $58.66 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 44392

    Office

    $398.01

    Facility

    $165.70

    $55.68 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 44392

    Office

    $428.38

    Facility

    $196.07

    $25.31 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 44392

    Office

    $417.41

    Facility

    $186.87

    $36.28 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 44392

    Office

    $456.26

    Facility

    $196.93

    $2.57 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 44392

    Office

    $400.35

    Facility

    $166.28

    $53.34 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 44392

    Office

    $393.86

    Facility

    $165.59

    $59.83 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 44392

    Office

    $397.50

    Facility

    $173.02

    $56.19 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 44392

    Office

    $417.33

    Facility

    $179.72

    $36.36 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 44392

    Office

    $397.16

    Facility

    $173.68

    $56.53 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 44392

    Office

    $492.49

    Facility

    $190.99

    $38.80 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 44392

    Office

    $445.82

    Facility

    $179.92

    $7.87 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 44392

    Office

    $460.44

    Facility

    $189.50

    $6.75 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 44392

    Office

    $435.31

    Facility

    $179.77

    $18.38 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 44392

    Office

    $400.95

    Facility

    $168.64

    $52.74 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 44392

    Office

    $422.26

    Facility

    $172.02

    $31.43 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 44392

    Office

    $435.31

    Facility

    $191.64

    $18.38 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 44392

    Office

    $408.86

    Facility

    $178.32

    $44.83 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 44392

    Office

    $426.96

    Facility

    $167.13

    $26.73 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 44392

    Office

    $413.60

    Facility

    $176.49

    $40.09 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 44392

    Office

    $417.96

    Facility

    $177.57

    $35.73 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 44392

    Office

    $390.63

    Facility

    $172.96

    $63.06 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 44392

    Office

    $385.70

    Facility

    $168.29

    $67.99 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 44392

    Office

    $432.17

    Facility

    $179.66

    $21.52 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 44392

    Office

    $405.15

    Facility

    $169.56

    $48.54 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 44392

    Office

    $420.50

    Facility

    $167.99

    $33.19 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 44392

    Office

    $397.03

    Facility

    $163.97

    $56.66 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 44392

    Office

    $441.95

    Facility

    $179.08

    $11.74 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 44392

    Office

    $488.40

    Facility

    $195.49

    $34.71 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 44392

    Office

    $466.09

    Facility

    $190.35

    $12.40 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 44392

    Office

    $411.47

    Facility

    $179.92

    $42.22 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 44392

    Office

    $429.21

    Facility

    $176.45

    $24.48 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 44392

    Office

    $512.70

    Facility

    $212.46

    $59.01 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 44392

    Office

    $469.79

    Facility

    $193.29

    $16.10 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 44392

    Office

    $502.44

    Facility

    $203.97

    $48.75 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 44392

    Office

    $411.47

    Facility

    $171.59

    $42.22 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 44392

    Office

    $406.47

    Facility

    $175.93

    $47.22 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 44392

    Office

    $395.97

    Facility

    $170.48

    $57.72 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 44392

    Office

    $462.03

    Facility

    $181.50

    $8.34 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 44392

    Office

    $425.16

    Facility

    $173.66

    $28.53 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 44392

    Office

    $450.28

    Facility

    $187.42

    $3.41 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 44392

    Office

    $406.72

    Facility

    $174.92

    $46.97 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 44392

    Office

    $435.19

    Facility

    $179.90

    $18.50 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 44392

    Office

    $442.08

    Facility

    $181.24

    $11.61 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 44392

    Office

    $406.63

    Facility

    $173.31

    $47.06 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 44392

    Office

    $419.12

    Facility

    $166.61

    $34.57 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 44392

    Office

    $396.00

    Facility

    $166.47

    $57.69 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Austin

    Texas · 44392

    Office

    $447.45

    Facility

    $180.30

    $6.24 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Beaumont

    Texas · 44392

    Office

    $404.02

    Facility

    $174.24

    $49.67 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Brazoria

    Texas · 44392

    Office

    $426.11

    Facility

    $175.87

    $27.58 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Dallas

    Texas · 44392

    Office

    $429.25

    Facility

    $177.75

    $24.44 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Fort Worth

    Texas · 44392

    Office

    $426.53

    Facility

    $177.56

    $27.16 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Galveston

    Texas · 44392

    Office

    $427.65

    Facility

    $176.91

    $26.04 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Houston

    Texas · 44392

    Office

    $438.45

    Facility

    $187.71

    $15.24 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 44392

    Office

    $415.12

    Facility

    $175.49

    $38.57 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 44392

    Office

    $412.34

    Facility

    $174.98

    $41.35 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 44392

    Office

    $421.35

    Facility

    $173.14

    $32.34 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 44392

    Office

    $435.19

    Facility

    $179.90

    $18.50 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 44392

    Office

    $419.50

    Facility

    $169.51

    $34.19 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 44392

    Office

    $444.76

    Facility

    $178.87

    $8.93 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 44392

    Office

    $501.90

    Facility

    $192.07

    $48.21 higher than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 44392

    Office

    $406.07

    Facility

    $164.17

    $47.62 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 44392

    Office

    $401.72

    Facility

    $182.28

    $51.97 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 44392

    Office

    $427.08

    Facility

    $174.57

    $26.61 lower than El Centro for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

44392 · 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.

$380.69

$510.41

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$500.151
AL$386.451
AR$380.691
AZ$420.141
CA$453.59–$567.2429
CO$448.321
CT$461.561
DC$493.611
DE$427.221
FL$429.03–$474.543
GA$403.85–$441.272
GU$464.681
HI$464.681
IA$395.031
ID$398.011
IL$417.41–$460.024
IN$400.351
KS$393.861
KY$397.501
LA$397.16–$417.332
MA$445.82–$492.492
MD$435.31–$493.613
ME$400.95–$422.262
MI$408.86–$435.312
MN$426.961
MO$390.63–$417.963
MS$385.701
MT$432.171
NC$405.151
ND$420.501
NE$397.031
NH$441.951
NJ$466.09–$488.402
NM$411.471
NV$429.211
NY$411.47–$512.705
OH$406.471
OK$395.971
OR$425.16–$462.032
PA$406.72–$450.282
PR$435.191
RI$442.081
SC$406.631
SD$419.121
TN$396.001
TX$404.02–$447.458
UT$412.341
VA$421.35–$493.612
VI$435.191
VT$419.501
WA$444.76–$501.902
WI$406.071
WV$401.721
WY$427.081

Explore 44392 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

El Centro is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 18 cities and communities in California, 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.

Why are the office and facility amounts different?

For 44392 in El Centro, the physician’s office rate is $453.69 and the facility-setting rate is $176.93: a difference of $276.76.

The calculation uses a different practice-expense RVU for each setting. Both amounts here are physician fee-schedule amounts. The facility figure does not include a hospital’s separate charges, so this comparison does not tell you the total cost of receiving care in each setting.

See the inputs behind this difference →

Use this rate

What is a percentage of Medicare worth?

Turn a percentage into dollars for 44392 in El Centro. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$499.06

$453.69 × 110% = $499.06

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.

Compare your contract offer →

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 44392 in El Centro.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

5,414

Code
44392
Physician work
3.44
Practice expense
8.91
Malpractice
0.59

GPCI2026.csv

10

Locality
El Centro
Physician work
1.017
Practice expense
1.096
Malpractice
0.541
Office / nonfacility calculation for 44392 in El Centro
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work3.44× 1.0173.4985
Practice expense8.91× 1.0969.7654
Malpractice0.59× 0.5410.3192
Total RVUs13.5830
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, El Centro$453.69

Open 44392 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work3.441.017
Practice expense8.911.096
Malpractice0.590.541

(3.44 × 1.017 + 8.91 × 1.096 + 0.59 × 0.541) × $33.4009 = $453.69

Facility

Facility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work3.441.017
Practice expense1.351.096
Malpractice0.590.541

(3.44 × 1.017 + 1.35 × 1.096 + 0.59 × 0.541) × $33.4009 = $176.93

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

44392 · Office / nonfacility

$453.69

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $62.75 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $390.94 to $453.69 (16.1%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

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

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $390.94changed to$453.69

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 3.53 changed to 3.44
    • Practice expense RVU 7.47 changed to 8.91
    • Malpractice RVU 0.60 changed to 0.59
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.017
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.093 changed to 1.096
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.570 changed to 0.541

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    Earliest loaded release: $390.94

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

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 fromOffice / nonfacilityFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$453.69$176.93RVU26D
2026-07-01$453.69$176.93RVU26C
2026-04-01$453.69$176.93RVU26B
2026-01-01$453.69$176.93RVU26A
2025-10-01$390.94$190.84RVU25D
2025-07-01$390.94$190.84RVU25C
2025-04-01$390.94$190.84RVU25B
2025-01-01$390.94$190.84RVU25A

44392 billing questions

When should this code be chosen over 44394?

Use this code when the lesion is removed through the stoma with hot biopsy forceps. Code 44394 describes removal using a snare.

How does this differ from 44389?

This code is for forceps removal of a lesion through the stoma. Code 44389 represents colonoscopy through a stoma with biopsy rather than this therapeutic removal technique.

Can modifier 50 be appended?

No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate because the anatomy and procedure do not represent a bilateral service.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

What same-day care is included?

The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. When related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy family pricing applies.

What should the procedure note establish?

Document that the colonoscope passed through a stoma, identify the lesion treated, and specify removal with hot biopsy forceps.

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.

RVUs for 44392PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,414 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for El CentroGPCI2026.csv, line 10 (RVU26D)