Billing code 24802: Elbow fusionMedicare rate & RVUs in Alabama
Reports surgical fusion of the elbow using the patient's own bone graft when the treatment plan calls for a permanently stabilized joint.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 24802 in Alabama.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
On this page 9 sections
What 24802 covers
This procedure permanently joins the elbow bones using bone harvested from the same patient to support fusion. An orthopedic surgeon typically performs it in an operating room when a severely damaged or painful elbow is being treated with fusion for stability rather than motion preservation. The operative documentation should establish the arthrodesis and use of autogenous graft; the graft harvest is included in this service.
Select this code when the elbow fusion uses the patient's own graft, distinguishing it from the local-graft approach represented by 24800. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.
24802 in Alabama
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Unavailable | $838.25 |
How the 24802 rate is calculated
Each of 24802’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.
How the rate is built · 24802
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work13.96
13.96 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense10.80
10.80 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice2.98
2.98 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
27.7400
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$926.54
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 24802
24802 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 24802
Elbow fusion
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 1 | Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.69/0.21 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 24802
Elbow fusion
90-day global period ends
Dec 30, 2026
Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
24802 without 50 · national facility
$926.54
Elbow fusion
24802-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,389.81
Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).
24802 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 24800Elbow fusion
- Both codes describe elbow arthrodesis. Choose 24802 for fusion with autogenous graft; 24800 represents the local-graft approach, with or without external fixation.
- 24360Elbow arthroplasty
- This code describes elbow interposition arthroplasty, not permanent fusion with autogenous graft.
- 24363Elbow arthroplasty
- This code describes total elbow replacement with a prosthesis; 24802 is used when the surgeon fuses the elbow with the patient's own bone graft.
24802 billing questions
How does this differ from 24800?
Use 24802 when the elbow fusion uses autogenous graft. Code 24800 describes the local-graft approach, with or without external fixation.
Is harvesting the patient's graft separately reportable?
No. Obtaining the autogenous graft is included in this elbow arthrodesis service.
Can an assistant-at-surgery claim be submitted?
CMS permits payment for an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How is bilateral elbow fusion handled?
When both elbows are treated and modifier 50 is reported, CMS pays this bilateral procedure at 150%.
What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?
Under the standard multiple procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50%.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.
CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027
Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
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