Billing code 43288: EsophagectomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Alaska
Reports thoracoscopic esophageal resection with laparoscopic stomach mobilization for reconstruction, when the operative service matches this code’s defined procedure.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 43288 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 43288 covers
This code describes an esophagectomy performed through a thoracoscopic approach, with laparoscopic mobilization of the stomach for reconstruction. Thoracic and upper gastrointestinal surgeons typically perform the operation in a hospital operating room for conditions such as esophageal cancer or severe esophageal disease requiring resection. The operative report should identify the approach, resection performed, gastric mobilization, and reconstruction details so the service can be distinguished from other esophagectomy techniques.
Report the code when the documented operation matches its specific procedure definition; do not select it from the thoracoscopic approach alone. Medicare 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 is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made, and co-surgeons are permitted; 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.
43288 in Alaska*
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska* | Unavailable | $4,347.32 |
How the 43288 rate is calculated
Each of 43288’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 · 43288
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 64.76Practice expense 22.49Malpractice 16.45
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 43288
43288 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 43288
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) | 2 | Permitted. |
| 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 · 43288
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
43288 without 51 · national facility
$3,463.67
Esophagectomy
43288-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$1,731.84
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%).
43288 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
43288 vs 43286 vs 43287 vs 43289: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 43286Esophagectomy
- 43286 is designated for total esophagectomy. Choose between the codes by matching the operative report to the full procedure definition, not by approach alone.
- 43287Esophagectomy
- 43287 is designated for distal two-thirds esophagectomy. The documented resection must support that specific extent to use it.
- 43289Unlisted laps px esoph
- 43289 is an unlisted laparoscopic esophageal procedure. Use 43288 when its listed thoracoscopic operation with laparoscopic stomach mobilization matches the documented service.
43288 billing questions
How does this differ from 43286 or 43287?
Those sibling codes specify total esophagectomy and distal two-thirds esophagectomy, respectively. Use the code whose full procedure definition matches the resection documented in the operative report.
Does thoracoscopic access alone support 43288?
No. The service also involves laparoscopic stomach mobilization, and the complete operation must match this code’s procedure definition.
Can assistant-at-surgery or co-surgeon claims be reported?
Medicare may pay an assistant at surgery, and co-surgeons are permitted. Team surgery is not permitted for this code.
How does the 90-day global period affect postoperative billing?
The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period.
Should modifier 50 be appended?
No. Bilateral adjustment does not apply, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for this procedure.
What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?
Medicare pays the highest-valued procedure in full and applies the standard multiple-procedure reduction to the others.
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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