Billing code 43122: EsophagectomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Alaska
Reports partial esophageal resection through an abdominal or thoracoabdominal approach when reconstruction uses colon interposition or jejunal transfer.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 43122 in Alaska.
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 43122 covers
This code describes removal of part of the esophagus through an abdominal or thoracoabdominal approach, with reconstruction using a segment of colon or jejunum. It may be used for conditions such as esophageal cancer when the operative plan requires this extent of resection and reconstruction. The procedure is performed by a surgeon in a hospital operating room; Medicare claims for this code are reported in the facility setting.
Select the code from the operative report’s documented resection extent, surgical approach, any proximal stomach removal, and reconstruction method. The report should establish that colon interposition or jejunal transfer was used, rather than a different reconstruction captured by a sibling code. This major surgery has 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%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is 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.
43122 in Alaska*
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska* | Unavailable | $2,927.57 |
How the 43122 rate is calculated
Each of 43122’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 · 43122
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work43.08
43.08 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense16.00
16.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice10.87
10.87 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
69.9500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$2,336.39
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 43122
43122 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 43122
Esophagectomy
| 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) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.09/0.81/0.10 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 43122
Esophagectomy
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 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
43122 without 51 · national facility
$2,336.39
Esophagectomy
43122-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$1,168.20
When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).
43122 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 43121Partial esophagectomy
- Both describe partial esophagectomy variants involving an abdominal or thoracoabdominal approach. The reconstruction documented in the operative report distinguishes this code from 43121.
- 43117Partial esophagectomy
- 43117 represents a partial esophagectomy through a thoracic approach. This code is the abdominal or thoracoabdominal variant with colon interposition or jejunal transfer.
- 43107Esophagectomy
- 43107 is for total or near-total esophageal removal; this code is for partial removal with the specified intestinal reconstruction.
- 43100Esophageal excision
- 43100 describes excision of an esophageal lesion, not the partial esophagectomy and intestinal reconstruction reported with this code.
43122 billing questions
How is this code distinguished from 43121?
The operative approach and reconstruction determine the choice. This code represents the variant using colon interposition or jejunal transfer; 43121 describes a different reconstruction variant.
What operative details support reporting this code?
Document the portion of esophagus removed, abdominal or thoracoabdominal approach, any proximal gastrectomy, and whether colon or jejunum was used for reconstruction.
Can the intestinal reconstruction be reported separately?
The code includes the specified colon interposition or jejunal transfer as part of the esophagectomy service. Do not separately report that same reconstruction as though it were an independent service.
How does the 90-day global period affect postoperative claims?
The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global surgical period.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; CMS does not permit team-surgery payment for this code.
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 the other procedure or 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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