Billing code 25520: Forearm fracture careMedicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Reports closed treatment with manipulation of a radial shaft fracture accompanied by distal radioulnar joint dislocation, a Galeazzi fracture-dislocation.
Medicare pays $642.41–$720.64 for 25520 in the office in Florida, from Rest Of Florida to Miami. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
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 25520 covers
This code describes closed treatment with manipulation of a radial shaft fracture and its associated distal radioulnar joint dislocation, known as a Galeazzi fracture-dislocation. The clinician reduces and manages both parts of the injury without open fracture treatment. Orthopedic or trauma clinicians may provide this service in an emergency department, outpatient setting, or hospital. The record should identify the radial shaft fracture and DRUJ dislocation and describe the closed manipulation and treatment performed.
Select this code when the injury includes both the radial shaft fracture and DRUJ dislocation; an isolated radial shaft fracture or open treatment belongs to a different code. The CMS 90-day global period includes 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%. For bilateral treatment reported with modifier 50, CMS pays at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery services are not 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.
Where 25520 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.
3 payment localities
$642.41 to $720.64
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | $677.73 | $571.82 |
| Miami | $720.64 | $611.81 |
| Rest Of Florida | $642.41 | $542.46 |
How the 25520 rate is calculated
Each of 25520’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 · 25520
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work6.34
6.34 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense11.38
11.38 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.34
1.34 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
19.0600
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$636.62
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 25520
25520 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 25520
Forearm fracture care
| 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) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| 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 · 25520
Forearm fracture care
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
25520 without 50 · national office
$636.62
Forearm fracture care
25520-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$954.93
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).
25520 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 25505Fracture treatment
- Both involve closed treatment with manipulation of a radial shaft fracture. Use 25520 when the fracture is accompanied by a DRUJ dislocation; use 25505 for the fracture without that associated dislocation.
- 25525Forearm fracture treatment
- Both address a radial shaft fracture with DRUJ dislocation, but 25525 is for open treatment rather than closed treatment with manipulation.
- 25526Galeazzi fracture repair
- Use 25526 when the radial shaft is treated with open internal fixation and the DRUJ is treated closed; 25520 describes closed treatment with manipulation.
- 25515Radius fracture repair
- Code 25515 describes open treatment of a radial shaft fracture without the associated DRUJ dislocation covered by 25520.
25520 billing questions
When is 25520 appropriate instead of 25505?
Use 25520 for closed treatment with manipulation when the radial shaft fracture is accompanied by a distal radioulnar joint dislocation. Code 25505 describes a radial shaft fracture treated with manipulation without that associated dislocation.
Does 25520 include treatment of the DRUJ dislocation?
Yes. The code represents closed treatment with manipulation of the radial shaft fracture and associated DRUJ dislocation as a Galeazzi fracture-dislocation.
What documentation supports reporting 25520?
Document both the radial shaft fracture and DRUJ dislocation, the closed manipulation and treatment performed, and the affected side.
How does the global period affect related follow-up?
CMS assigns a 90-day global period. The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
CMS does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
How is bilateral treatment handled?
For bilateral treatment reported with modifier 50, CMS pays at 150%.
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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