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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

20520 in Redding

Office / nonfacility

$241.93

Base rate per service

Facility setting

$145.65

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.

Musculoskeletal procedure

About 20520: Simple muscle or tendon foreign body removal

Removal of a foreign object from muscle or a tendon sheath when the extraction is simple, rather than deep or complicated.

This service covers straightforward extraction of a foreign object located in muscle or a tendon sheath. A physician or other qualified practitioner may perform it in an office, emergency department, or outpatient procedure setting. Examples include removing a retained splinter or fragment when the object is in the specified tissue and can be removed without a deep or complicated procedure. The tissue location and degree of difficulty distinguish this service from removal of an object confined to subcutaneous tissue.

Report the service when the operative or procedure note supports both the muscle or tendon-sheath location and a simple removal. Document the object’s location and the work needed to extract it; use the deep or complicated family level when those circumstances are supported instead. The service has a 10-day global period, so related postoperative visits during that period are included. 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. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code, and co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

CMS billing rules for 20520

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 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 RVU1.85 · 27%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU4.76 · 69%
  • Malpractice RVU0.27 · 4%

1.5K

Medicare services in 2024 · #2675 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.

20520 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Redding, from the same CMS release.

20525

Foreign body removal

Deep or complicated

$523.27

Both concern foreign bodies in muscle or a tendon sheath. Choose 20525 when the removal is deep or complicated rather than simple.

10120

Foreign body removal

Simple subcutaneous extraction

$166.66

This code is for a simple removal from muscle or a tendon sheath; 10120 is for a simple removal from subcutaneous tissue.

10121

Foreign body removal

Complicated subcutaneous

$287.49

Use this code for simple removal from muscle or a tendon sheath. Code 10121 describes complicated removal from subcutaneous tissue.

The same code, a different location

How does Redding compare?

In Bakersfield, the office rate for 20520 is $242.71—$0.78 higher than the $241.93 rate in Redding. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

20520 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Redding · This locality

    $241.93

  2. Bakersfield

    $242.71

    $0.78 higher than Redding

  3. Chico

    $241.93

    The same base rate than Redding

  4. El Centro

    $241.97

    $0.04 higher than Redding

  5. Fresno

    $241.93

    The same base rate than Redding

  6. Hanford-Corcoran

    $241.93

    The same base rate than Redding

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

    $258.40

    $16.47 higher than Redding

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, 20520 ranges from $203.01 in Arkansas to $302.68 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 · 20520

    Office

    $241.93

    Facility

    $145.65

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Merced

    California · 20520

    Office

    $241.93

    Facility

    $145.65

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 20520

    Office

    $241.93

    Facility

    $145.65

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 20520

    Office

    $279.81

    Facility

    $164.03

    $37.88 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 20520

    Office

    $257.06

    Facility

    $153.23

    $15.13 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 20520

    Office

    $241.93

    Facility

    $145.65

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 20520

    Office

    $244.85

    Facility

    $148.57

    $2.92 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 20520

    Office

    $253.75

    Facility

    $151.59

    $11.82 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 20520

    Office

    $252.81

    Facility

    $151.00

    $10.88 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 20520

    Office

    $258.68

    Facility

    $153.62

    $16.75 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 20520

    Office

    $295.97

    Facility

    $172.11

    $54.04 higher than Redding for the office setting.

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

    California · 20520

    Office

    $295.67

    Facility

    $171.81

    $53.74 higher than Redding for the office setting.

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

    California · 20520

    Office

    $302.68

    Facility

    $176.01

    $60.75 higher than Redding for the office setting.

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

    California · 20520

    Office

    $301.43

    Facility

    $174.76

    $59.50 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 20520

    Office

    $248.76

    Facility

    $148.71

    $6.83 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 20520

    Office

    $261.09

    Facility

    $154.36

    $19.16 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 20520

    Office

    $253.74

    Facility

    $151.31

    $11.81 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 20520

    Office

    $263.72

    Facility

    $155.84

    $21.79 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 20520

    Office

    $241.93

    Facility

    $145.65

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 20520

    Office

    $279.37

    Facility

    $163.59

    $37.44 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 20520

    Office

    $241.93

    Facility

    $145.65

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 20520

    Office

    $241.93

    Facility

    $145.65

    The same base rate than Redding for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 20520

    Office

    $262.45

    Facility

    $158.97

    $20.52 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 20520

    Office

    $250.11

    Facility

    $158.66

    $8.18 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 20520

    Office

    $242.70

    Facility

    $154.42

    $0.77 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 20520

    Office

    $264.79

    Facility

    $162.72

    $22.86 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 20520

    Office

    $266.98

    Facility

    $173.42

    $25.05 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 20520

    Office

    $206.01

    Facility

    $129.15

    $35.92 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 20520

    Office

    $203.01

    Facility

    $127.55

    $38.92 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 20520

    Office

    $223.57

    Facility

    $138.45

    $18.36 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 20520

    Office

    $238.74

    Facility

    $145.27

    $3.19 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 20520

    Office

    $245.17

    Facility

    $150.56

    $3.24 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 20520

    Office

    $227.29

    Facility

    $140.50

    $14.64 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 20520

    Office

    $239.15

    Facility

    $150.17

    $2.78 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 20520

    Office

    $227.34

    Facility

    $143.36

    $14.59 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 20520

    Office

    $234.34

    Facility

    $145.09

    $7.59 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 20520

    Office

    $214.36

    Facility

    $136.00

    $27.57 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 20520

    Office

    $247.78

    Facility

    $147.90

    $5.85 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 20520

    Office

    $210.85

    Facility

    $130.47

    $31.08 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 20520

    Office

    $212.33

    Facility

    $131.51

    $29.60 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 20520

    Office

    $226.22

    Facility

    $145.41

    $15.71 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 20520

    Office

    $221.04

    Facility

    $140.84

    $20.89 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 20520

    Office

    $241.49

    Facility

    $151.27

    $0.44 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 20520

    Office

    $213.56

    Facility

    $132.12

    $28.37 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 20520

    Office

    $210.06

    Facility

    $130.65

    $31.87 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 20520

    Office

    $211.38

    Facility

    $133.29

    $30.55 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 20520

    Office

    $221.64

    Facility

    $138.98

    $20.29 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 20520

    Office

    $211.14

    Facility

    $133.39

    $30.79 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 20520

    Office

    $262.18

    Facility

    $157.30

    $20.25 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 20520

    Office

    $237.38

    Facility

    $144.88

    $4.55 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 20520

    Office

    $244.53

    Facility

    $150.27

    $2.60 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 20520

    Office

    $231.58

    Facility

    $142.69

    $10.35 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 20520

    Office

    $213.67

    Facility

    $132.85

    $28.26 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 20520

    Office

    $225.04

    Facility

    $137.99

    $16.89 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 20520

    Office

    $230.42

    Facility

    $145.65

    $11.51 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 20520

    Office

    $217.13

    Facility

    $136.93

    $24.80 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 20520

    Office

    $228.06

    Facility

    $137.67

    $13.87 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 20520

    Office

    $219.89

    Facility

    $137.41

    $22.04 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 20520

    Office

    $222.18

    Facility

    $138.56

    $19.75 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 20520

    Office

    $207.62

    Facility

    $131.90

    $34.31 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 20520

    Office

    $205.35

    Facility

    $129.71

    $36.58 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 20520

    Office

    $229.78

    Facility

    $141.94

    $12.15 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 20520

    Office

    $215.89

    Facility

    $133.93

    $26.04 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 20520

    Office

    $224.44

    Facility

    $136.60

    $17.49 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 20520

    Office

    $211.95

    Facility

    $130.87

    $29.98 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 20520

    Office

    $235.19

    Facility

    $143.74

    $6.74 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 20520

    Office

    $259.74

    Facility

    $157.84

    $17.81 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 20520

    Office

    $247.77

    Facility

    $151.85

    $5.84 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 20520

    Office

    $218.41

    Facility

    $137.86

    $23.52 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 20520

    Office

    $228.45

    Facility

    $140.52

    $13.48 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 20520

    Office

    $271.53

    Facility

    $167.08

    $29.60 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 20520

    Office

    $249.58

    Facility

    $153.39

    $7.65 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 20520

    Office

    $266.67

    Facility

    $162.84

    $24.74 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 20520

    Office

    $219.17

    Facility

    $135.72

    $22.76 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 20520

    Office

    $216.04

    Facility

    $135.84

    $25.89 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 20520

    Office

    $210.78

    Facility

    $132.33

    $31.15 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 20520

    Office

    $246.13

    Facility

    $148.53

    $4.20 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 20520

    Office

    $226.48

    Facility

    $138.99

    $15.45 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 20520

    Office

    $239.17

    Facility

    $147.72

    $2.76 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 20520

    Office

    $216.27

    Facility

    $135.62

    $25.66 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 20520

    Office

    $231.41

    Facility

    $142.60

    $10.52 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 20520

    Office

    $235.24

    Facility

    $144.50

    $6.69 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 20520

    Office

    $216.36

    Facility

    $135.19

    $25.57 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 20520

    Office

    $223.81

    Facility

    $135.97

    $18.12 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 20520

    Office

    $211.15

    Facility

    $131.30

    $30.78 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Austin

    Texas · 20520

    Office

    $238.12

    Facility

    $145.18

    $3.81 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Beaumont

    Texas · 20520

    Office

    $214.85

    Facility

    $134.91

    $27.08 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Brazoria

    Texas · 20520

    Office

    $226.88

    Facility

    $139.82

    $15.05 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Dallas

    Texas · 20520

    Office

    $228.44

    Facility

    $140.94

    $13.49 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Fort Worth

    Texas · 20520

    Office

    $226.97

    Facility

    $140.35

    $14.96 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Galveston

    Texas · 20520

    Office

    $227.63

    Facility

    $140.40

    $14.30 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Houston

    Texas · 20520

    Office

    $232.57

    Facility

    $145.34

    $9.36 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 20520

    Office

    $220.82

    Facility

    $137.45

    $21.11 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 20520

    Office

    $219.34

    Facility

    $136.77

    $22.59 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 20520

    Office

    $224.44

    Facility

    $138.09

    $17.49 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 20520

    Office

    $231.41

    Facility

    $142.60

    $10.52 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 20520

    Office

    $223.75

    Facility

    $136.79

    $18.18 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 20520

    Office

    $236.87

    Facility

    $144.37

    $5.06 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 20520

    Office

    $267.33

    Facility

    $159.54

    $25.40 higher than Redding for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 20520

    Office

    $216.88

    Facility

    $132.73

    $25.05 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 20520

    Office

    $212.86

    Facility

    $136.52

    $29.07 lower than Redding for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 20520

    Office

    $227.45

    Facility

    $139.61

    $14.48 lower than Redding for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

20520 · 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.

$203.01

$272.31

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

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$266.981
AL$206.011
AR$203.011
AZ$223.571
CA$241.93–$302.6829
CO$238.741
CT$245.171
DC$262.451
DE$227.291
FL$227.34–$250.113
GA$214.36–$234.342
GU$247.781
HI$247.781
IA$210.851
ID$212.331
IL$221.04–$242.704
IN$213.561
KS$210.061
KY$211.381
LA$211.14–$221.642
MA$237.38–$262.182
MD$231.58–$262.453
ME$213.67–$225.042
MI$217.13–$230.422
MN$228.061
MO$207.62–$222.183
MS$205.351
MT$229.781
NC$215.891
ND$224.441
NE$211.951
NH$235.191
NJ$247.77–$259.742
NM$218.411
NV$228.451
NY$219.17–$271.535
OH$216.041
OK$210.781
OR$226.48–$246.132
PA$216.27–$239.172
PR$231.411
RI$235.241
SC$216.361
SD$223.811
TN$211.151
TX$214.85–$238.128
UT$219.341
VA$224.44–$262.452
VI$231.411
VT$223.751
WA$236.87–$267.332
WI$216.881
WV$212.861
WY$227.451

Explore 20520 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

Redding is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 32 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 20520 in Redding, the physician’s office rate is $241.93 and the facility-setting rate is $145.65: a difference of $96.28.

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 20520 in Redding. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$266.12

$241.93 × 110% = $266.12

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 20520 in Redding.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,755

Code
20520
Physician work
1.85
Practice expense
4.76
Malpractice
0.27

GPCI2026.csv

19

Locality
Redding
Physician work
1.017
Practice expense
1.096
Malpractice
0.536
Office / nonfacility calculation for 20520 in Redding
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.85× 1.0171.8814
Practice expense4.76× 1.0965.2170
Malpractice0.27× 0.5360.1447
Total RVUs7.2431
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Redding$241.93

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

Open 20520 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work1.851.017
Practice expense4.761.096
Malpractice0.270.536

(1.85 × 1.017 + 4.76 × 1.096 + 0.27 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $241.93

Facility

Facility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work1.851.017
Practice expense2.131.096
Malpractice0.270.536

(1.85 × 1.017 + 2.13 × 1.096 + 0.27 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $145.65

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

20520 · Office / nonfacility

$241.93

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $19.86 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $222.07 to $241.93 (8.9%).

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

    $222.07changed to$241.93

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.90 changed to 1.85
    • Practice expense RVU 4.37 changed to 4.76
    • Malpractice RVU 0.29 changed to 0.27
    • 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: $222.07

    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$241.93$145.65RVU26D
2026-07-01$241.93$145.65RVU26C
2026-04-01$241.93$145.65RVU26B
2026-01-01$241.93$145.65RVU26A
2025-10-01$222.07$149.59RVU25D
2025-07-01$222.07$149.59RVU25C
2025-04-01$222.07$149.59RVU25B
2025-01-01$222.07$149.59RVU25A

20520 billing questions

How do I distinguish this code from 20525?

Use this code for a simple removal from muscle or a tendon sheath. Use 20525 when the removal is deep or complicated.

What if the foreign object is only in subcutaneous tissue?

Consider 10120 for a simple removal from subcutaneous tissue or 10121 for a complicated removal. The tissue location, not just the object type, guides code selection.

Can the access incision be billed separately?

Do not separately report an incision that is simply the access needed to remove the foreign object. The service is the removal, with the operative note supporting its location and complexity.

Should modifier 50 be appended for removal on both sides?

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

Are postoperative visits separately payable during the global period?

Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in the procedure payment.

Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?

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

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 20520PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,755 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for ReddingGPCI2026.csv, line 19 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet