Billing code 25441: Wrist arthroplastyMedicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Reports wrist arthroplasty using a prosthetic replacement of the distal radius, typically when surgery addresses damage involving the radius at the wrist joint.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 25441 in Florida.
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 25441 covers
An orthopedic hand or wrist surgeon removes or reshapes the damaged distal radius joint surface and places a prosthesis to restore the radial side of the wrist articulation. The procedure may be considered for substantial joint damage, including damage related to prior trauma or degenerative disease. It is generally performed in an operating room rather than an office setting.
Select this code when the operative service includes prosthetic replacement of the distal radius; distinguish it from replacement of the distal ulna or other carpal structures. The operative report should identify the treated bone, the extent of the arthroplasty, and the prosthesis placed. This major surgery has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 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%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; 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.
Where 25441 pays more and less in Florida
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | Unavailable | $947.78 |
| Miami | Unavailable | $1,023.65 |
| Rest Of Florida | Unavailable | $900.14 |
How the 25441 rate is calculated
Each of 25441’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 · 25441
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 12.96Practice expense 10.31Malpractice 2.75
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 25441
25441 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 25441
Wrist arthroplasty
| 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 · 25441
Wrist arthroplasty
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
25441 without 50 · national facility
$869.09
Wrist arthroplasty
25441-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,303.64
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).
25441 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
25441 vs 25442 vs 25446 vs 25449: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 25442Ulna arthroplasty
- Choose 25442 for prosthetic arthroplasty of the distal ulna. This code is for replacement at the distal radius.
- 25446Wrist arthroplasty
- Choose 25446 when the prosthetic arthroplasty involves both the distal radius and carpus; this code identifies distal-radius replacement.
- 25449Wrist revision
- Code 25449 describes revision of a wrist arthroplasty. This code describes prosthetic arthroplasty of the distal radius, not revision of a wrist joint replacement.
25441 billing questions
How is this distinguished from distal ulna prosthetic arthroplasty?
Use this code when the prosthetic replacement is at the distal radius. Code 25442 describes prosthetic arthroplasty of the distal ulna.
Are routine postoperative visits separately reported?
Related postoperative care during the 90-day global period is included in the surgical payment. The global period also includes the day-before preoperative visit.
How should bilateral distal radius procedures be reported?
When the procedure is performed bilaterally, report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons are paid only when supporting documentation is provided; team surgery is not permitted.
What operative documentation supports this code?
Document that a prosthetic replacement was performed at the distal radius, identify the treated anatomy and describe the prosthesis and operative work.
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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