FeeBase
Log inGet started
Menu
On this page

CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

23931 in Modesto

Office / nonfacility

$343.82

Base rate per service

Facility setting

$162.62

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.

Orthopedic surgery

About 23931: Incision and drainage of elbow bursa

Reports surgical opening and drainage of an upper arm or elbow bursa, such as an infected olecranon bursa requiring drainage.

This procedure opens an upper arm or elbow bursa and drains its contents, typically to treat a bursal collection such as septic olecranon bursitis. An orthopedic or other qualified physician may perform it in an office or facility setting when drainage through an incision is needed rather than needle aspiration alone. The operative record should identify the bursa and side, describe the collection and drainage performed, and support why an incision was required.

Choose this code for drainage of the bursa itself, not for a separate deep abscess or hematoma in the upper arm or elbow. Documentation should distinguish the bursal target from surrounding soft tissue and record laterality. The procedure has a 10-day global period, which includes related postoperative visits during that period. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

CMS billing rules for 23931

Global period
Minor procedure with a 10-day global period: related postoperative visits for 10 days 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 procedure with modifier 50 is paid at 150%.
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 RVU1.79 · 18%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU7.56 · 78%
  • Malpractice RVU0.35 · 4%

837

Medicare services in 2024 · #3107 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.

23931 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Modesto, from the same CMS release.

23930

Deep drainage

Upper arm or elbow

$398.58

23931 targets a bursa. Use 23930 when the drained collection is a deep abscess or hematoma in the upper arm or elbow, not the bursa.

24105

Bursa excision

Olecranon bursa

No office rate

24105 represents excision of an olecranon bursa. Use 23931 when the treatment is incision and drainage rather than bursal excision.

20605

Joint procedure

Intermediate joint, no ultrasound

$59.36

20605 is for aspiration or injection of an intermediate joint or bursa. 23931 involves opening the bursa surgically to drain it.

The same code, a different location

How does Modesto compare?

In Bakersfield, the office rate for 23931 is $344.79—$0.97 higher than the $343.82 rate in Modesto. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

23931 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Modesto · This locality

    $343.82

  2. Bakersfield

    $344.79

    $0.97 higher than Modesto

  3. Chico

    $343.82

    The same base rate than Modesto

  4. El Centro

    $343.88

    $0.06 higher than Modesto

  5. Fresno

    $343.82

    The same base rate than Modesto

  6. Hanford-Corcoran

    $343.82

    The same base rate than Modesto

  7. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty)

    $368.72

    $24.90 higher than Modesto

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, 23931 ranges from $282.71 in Arkansas to $436.75 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

  • Madera

    California · 23931

    Office

    $343.82

    Facility

    $162.62

    The same base rate than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Merced

    California · 23931

    Office

    $343.82

    Facility

    $162.62

    The same base rate than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 23931

    Office

    $402.30

    Facility

    $184.39

    $58.48 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 23931

    Office

    $367.21

    Facility

    $171.79

    $23.39 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 23931

    Office

    $343.82

    Facility

    $162.62

    The same base rate than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 23931

    Office

    $343.82

    Facility

    $162.62

    The same base rate than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 23931

    Office

    $347.59

    Facility

    $166.38

    $3.77 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 23931

    Office

    $361.88

    Facility

    $169.59

    $18.06 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 23931

    Office

    $360.57

    Facility

    $168.94

    $16.75 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 23931

    Office

    $369.92

    Facility

    $172.18

    $26.10 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 23931

    Office

    $426.87

    Facility

    $193.75

    $83.05 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

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

    California · 23931

    Office

    $426.48

    Facility

    $193.35

    $82.66 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

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

    California · 23931

    Office

    $436.75

    Facility

    $198.34

    $92.93 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

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

    California · 23931

    Office

    $435.13

    Facility

    $196.71

    $91.31 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 23931

    Office

    $354.68

    Facility

    $166.36

    $10.86 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 23931

    Office

    $374.11

    Facility

    $173.23

    $30.29 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 23931

    Office

    $362.16

    Facility

    $169.38

    $18.34 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 23931

    Office

    $377.93

    Facility

    $174.90

    $34.11 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 23931

    Office

    $343.82

    Facility

    $162.62

    The same base rate than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 23931

    Office

    $401.73

    Facility

    $183.82

    $57.91 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 23931

    Office

    $343.82

    Facility

    $162.62

    The same base rate than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 23931

    Office

    $343.82

    Facility

    $162.62

    The same base rate than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 23931

    Office

    $373.49

    Facility

    $178.72

    $29.67 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 23931

    Office

    $352.22

    Facility

    $180.10

    $8.40 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 23931

    Office

    $340.81

    Facility

    $174.65

    $3.01 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 23931

    Office

    $375.57

    Facility

    $183.45

    $31.75 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 23931

    Office

    $365.05

    Facility

    $188.97

    $21.23 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 23931

    Office

    $287.35

    Facility

    $142.68

    $56.47 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 23931

    Office

    $282.71

    Facility

    $140.69

    $61.11 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 23931

    Office

    $314.48

    Facility

    $154.27

    $29.34 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 23931

    Office

    $338.31

    Facility

    $162.39

    $5.51 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 23931

    Office

    $347.08

    Facility

    $169.02

    $3.26 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 23931

    Office

    $320.08

    Facility

    $156.73

    $23.74 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 23931

    Office

    $336.72

    Facility

    $169.23

    $7.10 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 23931

    Office

    $318.76

    Facility

    $160.70

    $25.06 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 23931

    Office

    $330.56

    Facility

    $162.58

    $13.26 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 23931

    Office

    $298.96

    Facility

    $151.48

    $44.86 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 23931

    Office

    $353.66

    Facility

    $165.68

    $9.84 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 23931

    Office

    $295.48

    Facility

    $144.20

    $48.34 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 23931

    Office

    $297.63

    Facility

    $145.52

    $46.19 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 23931

    Office

    $315.64

    Facility

    $163.53

    $28.18 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 23931

    Office

    $308.60

    Facility

    $157.65

    $35.22 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 23931

    Office

    $340.25

    Facility

    $170.45

    $3.57 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 23931

    Office

    $299.55

    Facility

    $146.28

    $44.27 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 23931

    Office

    $293.95

    Facility

    $144.49

    $49.87 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 23931

    Office

    $294.97

    Facility

    $147.98

    $48.85 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 23931

    Office

    $310.68

    Facility

    $155.10

    $33.14 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 23931

    Office

    $294.46

    Facility

    $148.14

    $49.36 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 23931

    Office

    $374.14

    Facility

    $176.73

    $30.32 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 23931

    Office

    $335.96

    Facility

    $161.86

    $7.86 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 23931

    Office

    $346.15

    Facility

    $168.75

    $2.33 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 23931

    Office

    $326.66

    Facility

    $159.34

    $17.16 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 23931

    Office

    $299.37

    Facility

    $147.26

    $44.45 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 23931

    Office

    $317.40

    Facility

    $153.56

    $26.42 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 23931

    Office

    $323.17

    Facility

    $163.62

    $20.65 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 23931

    Office

    $303.53

    Facility

    $152.58

    $40.29 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 23931

    Office

    $323.08

    Facility

    $152.95

    $20.74 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 23931

    Office

    $308.32

    Facility

    $153.07

    $35.50 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 23931

    Office

    $311.89

    Facility

    $154.49

    $31.93 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 23931

    Office

    $288.84

    Facility

    $146.32

    $54.98 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 23931

    Office

    $285.84

    Facility

    $143.49

    $57.98 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 23931

    Office

    $323.97

    Facility

    $158.63

    $19.85 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 23931

    Office

    $302.85

    Facility

    $148.59

    $40.97 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 23931

    Office

    $317.04

    Facility

    $151.71

    $26.78 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 23931

    Office

    $297.27

    Facility

    $144.67

    $46.55 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 23931

    Office

    $332.88

    Facility

    $160.77

    $10.94 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 23931

    Office

    $368.95

    Facility

    $177.16

    $25.13 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 23931

    Office

    $350.75

    Facility

    $170.20

    $6.93 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 23931

    Office

    $305.38

    Facility

    $153.77

    $38.44 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 23931

    Office

    $322.29

    Facility

    $156.79

    $21.53 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 23931

    Office

    $385.56

    Facility

    $188.98

    $41.74 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 23931

    Office

    $353.12

    Facility

    $172.08

    $9.30 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 23931

    Office

    $378.94

    Facility

    $183.51

    $35.12 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 23931

    Office

    $307.89

    Facility

    $150.82

    $35.93 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 23931

    Office

    $302.11

    Facility

    $151.16

    $41.71 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 23931

    Office

    $294.36

    Facility

    $146.72

    $49.46 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 23931

    Office

    $349.98

    Facility

    $166.29

    $6.16 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 23931

    Office

    $319.51

    Facility

    $154.83

    $24.31 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 23931

    Office

    $337.67

    Facility

    $165.56

    $6.15 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 23931

    Office

    $302.64

    Facility

    $150.86

    $41.18 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 23931

    Office

    $326.59

    Facility

    $159.44

    $17.23 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 23931

    Office

    $332.19

    Facility

    $161.40

    $11.63 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 23931

    Office

    $303.04

    Facility

    $150.28

    $40.78 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 23931

    Office

    $316.23

    Facility

    $150.89

    $27.59 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 23931

    Office

    $295.60

    Facility

    $145.31

    $48.22 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Austin

    Texas · 23931

    Office

    $337.42

    Facility

    $162.50

    $6.40 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Beaumont

    Texas · 23931

    Office

    $300.43

    Facility

    $149.98

    $43.39 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Brazoria

    Texas · 23931

    Office

    $319.62

    Facility

    $155.78

    $24.20 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Dallas

    Texas · 23931

    Office

    $321.86

    Facility

    $157.18

    $21.96 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Fort Worth

    Texas · 23931

    Office

    $319.48

    Facility

    $156.46

    $24.34 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Galveston

    Texas · 23931

    Office

    $320.69

    Facility

    $156.51

    $23.13 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Houston

    Texas · 23931

    Office

    $327.10

    Facility

    $162.92

    $16.72 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 23931

    Office

    $309.98

    Facility

    $153.07

    $33.84 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 23931

    Office

    $307.65

    Facility

    $152.23

    $36.17 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 23931

    Office

    $316.26

    Facility

    $153.74

    $27.56 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 23931

    Office

    $326.59

    Facility

    $159.44

    $17.23 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 23931

    Office

    $315.69

    Facility

    $152.01

    $28.13 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 23931

    Office

    $335.36

    Facility

    $161.26

    $8.46 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 23931

    Office

    $382.16

    Facility

    $179.29

    $38.34 higher than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 23931

    Office

    $305.29

    Facility

    $146.90

    $38.53 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 23931

    Office

    $295.95

    Facility

    $152.27

    $47.87 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 23931

    Office

    $320.95

    Facility

    $155.61

    $22.87 lower than Modesto for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

23931 · Office / nonfacility · Non-QP. Choose a state to explore its payment localities. A range means the amount varies within that state.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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.

$282.71

$390.28

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

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$365.051
AL$287.351
AR$282.711
AZ$314.481
CA$343.82–$436.7529
CO$338.311
CT$347.081
DC$373.491
DE$320.081
FL$318.76–$352.223
GA$298.96–$330.562
GU$353.661
HI$353.661
IA$295.481
ID$297.631
IL$308.60–$340.814
IN$299.551
KS$293.951
KY$294.971
LA$294.46–$310.682
MA$335.96–$374.142
MD$326.66–$373.493
ME$299.37–$317.402
MI$303.53–$323.172
MN$323.081
MO$288.84–$311.893
MS$285.841
MT$323.971
NC$302.851
ND$317.041
NE$297.271
NH$332.881
NJ$350.75–$368.952
NM$305.381
NV$322.291
NY$307.89–$385.565
OH$302.111
OK$294.361
OR$319.51–$349.982
PA$302.64–$337.672
PR$326.591
RI$332.191
SC$303.041
SD$316.231
TN$295.601
TX$300.43–$337.428
UT$307.651
VA$316.26–$373.492
VI$326.591
VT$315.691
WA$335.36–$382.162
WI$305.291
WV$295.951
WY$320.951

Explore 23931 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

Modesto is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 33 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.

Browse all communities in California →

Why are the office and facility amounts different?

For 23931 in Modesto, the physician’s office rate is $343.82 and the facility-setting rate is $162.62: a difference of $181.20.

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 23931 in Modesto. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$378.20

$343.82 × 110% = $378.20

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 23931 in Modesto.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

2,254

Code
23931
Physician work
1.79
Practice expense
7.56
Malpractice
0.35

GPCI2026.csv

16

Locality
Modesto
Physician work
1.017
Practice expense
1.096
Malpractice
0.536
Office / nonfacility calculation for 23931 in Modesto
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.79× 1.0171.8204
Practice expense7.56× 1.0968.2858
Malpractice0.35× 0.5360.1876
Total RVUs10.2938
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Modesto$343.82

Values as parsed from CMS release RVU26D, effective 2026-10-01. The amount is rounded to the nearest cent only at the end.

Open 23931 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work1.791.017
Practice expense7.561.096
Malpractice0.350.536

(1.79 × 1.017 + 7.56 × 1.096 + 0.35 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $343.82

Facility

Facility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work1.791.017
Practice expense2.611.096
Malpractice0.350.536

(1.79 × 1.017 + 2.61 × 1.096 + 0.35 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $162.62

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

23931 · Office / nonfacility

$343.82

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $36.01 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $307.81 to $343.82 (11.7%).

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

    $307.81changed to$343.82

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.84 changed to 1.79
    • Practice expense RVU 6.82 changed to 7.56
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.017
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.093 changed to 1.096
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.560 changed to 0.536

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    Earliest loaded release: $307.81

    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$343.82$162.62RVU26D
2026-07-01$343.82$162.62RVU26C
2026-04-01$343.82$162.62RVU26B
2026-01-01$343.82$162.62RVU26A
2025-10-01$307.81$163.92RVU25D
2025-07-01$307.81$163.92RVU25C
2025-04-01$307.81$163.92RVU25B
2025-01-01$307.81$163.92RVU25A

23931 billing questions

How is 23931 distinguished from drainage of an upper arm or elbow abscess?

Use 23931 when the incision and drainage target is a bursa. Code 23930 is for a deep abscess or hematoma in the upper arm or elbow.

Does needle aspiration of an elbow bursa qualify for 23931?

No. 23931 describes surgical incision and drainage; aspiration of an intermediate joint or bursa is represented by a different service.

Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral bursal drainage?

Yes. CMS lists this as a bilateral procedure, and modifier 50 is paid at 150%.

Are related postoperative visits separately paid during the global period?

Related postoperative visits for 10 days are included in the minor-procedure global period.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported for this procedure?

Assistant-at-surgery payment is subject to a statutory restriction. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

What documentation supports reporting 23931?

Document the specific bursa and side, the bursal collection, and the incision and drainage performed. The record should make clear that the target was the bursa rather than adjacent soft tissue.

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 23931PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,254 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for ModestoGPCI2026.csv, line 16 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet