Billing code 24344: Elbow ligament surgeryMedicare rate & RVUs in Delaware
Reports tendon-graft reconstruction of the elbow’s lateral ligament when instability requires reconstruction rather than repair of existing tissue.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 24344 in Delaware.
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 24344 covers
An orthopedic or upper-extremity surgeon reconstructs the elbow’s lateral ligament using a tendon graft to restore stability. This is used for ligament insufficiency, including chronic instability such as posterolateral rotatory instability, when the existing tissue is not suitable for direct repair. The procedure is generally performed in an operating room, often in a facility setting.
Report 24344 for the graft-based reconstruction, not a repair using local tissue. The operative report should identify the lateral ligament problem, the instability being treated, and the reconstruction performed with a tendon graft. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures 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%. Assistant-at-surgery services may be paid; co-surgeons are paid only with 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.
24344 in Delaware
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | Unavailable | $1,017.08 |
How the 24344 rate is calculated
Each of 24344’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 · 24344
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 14.83Practice expense 12.86Malpractice 3.16
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 24344
24344 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 24344
Elbow ligament surgery
| 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) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.69/0.21 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 24344
Elbow ligament surgery
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
24344 without 50 · national facility
$1,030.42
Elbow ligament surgery
24344-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,545.63
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).
24344 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
24344 vs 24343 vs 24345 vs 24346: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 24343Elbow ligament repair
- Choose 24343 when the surgeon repairs the lateral ligament using local tissue. Choose 24344 when the surgeon performs a tendon-graft reconstruction.
- 24345Ligament repair
- This code addresses repair of the medial elbow ligament using tissue; 24344 is for tendon-graft reconstruction of the lateral ligament.
- 24346Elbow ligament reconstruction
- 24346 is tendon-graft reconstruction of the medial elbow ligament. Use 24344 for reconstruction of the lateral ligament.
24344 billing questions
How is 24344 different from 24343?
24344 is for reconstruction of the lateral ligament with a tendon graft. 24343 describes repair of the lateral ligament using local tissue.
What documentation supports reporting 24344?
Document the lateral ligament deficiency and instability, why reconstruction is performed, and the tendon-graft reconstruction technique. The operative note should distinguish reconstruction from repair of existing tissue.
Is related postoperative care separately reported during the global period?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How does Medicare handle 24344 when other procedures are 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%.
Can 24344 be reported bilaterally?
For bilateral reporting with modifier 50, CMS pays 150%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery services may be paid. Co-surgeons are paid only with supporting documentation; team surgery is 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 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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