Billing code 25825: Wrist fusionMedicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Reports a limited wrist fusion using the patient's own bone graft, commonly for selected carpal-bone fusion in a painful, arthritic wrist.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 25825 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 25825 covers
The surgeon fuses selected wrist bones while leaving other wrist joints unfused, using the patient's own bone to support healing. A common example is scaphoid excision with fusion of the lunate, capitate, hamate, and triquetrum for advanced scaphoid-related wrist arthritis. The graft may come from a separate donor site or nearby bone. Hand and orthopedic surgeons typically perform this operation in a hospital or ambulatory surgery setting.
Report 25825 when the operative work is a limited wrist arthrodesis and autograft is used. The operative report should identify the bones fused and document the graft's use; a limited fusion without graft is distinguished by 25820. This major surgery has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. For bilateral surgery, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons require 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 25825 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 | $796.94 |
| Miami | Unavailable | $850.36 |
| Rest Of Florida | Unavailable | $757.70 |
How the 25825 rate is calculated
Each of 25825’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 · 25825
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 9.45Practice expense 11.03Malpractice 1.79
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 25825
25825 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 25825
Wrist fusion
| 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 · 25825
Wrist fusion
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
25825 without 50 · national facility
$743.84
Wrist fusion
25825-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,115.76
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).
25825 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
25825 vs 25820 vs 25810 vs 25800 vs 25805: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 25820Wrist fusion
- Choose 25820 for a limited wrist fusion without bone graft. Choose 25825 when autograft is used for the limited fusion.
- 25810Wrist fusion
- 25810 represents wrist arthrodesis with iliac or other autograft; 25825 is for limited fusion rather than the broader wrist fusion.
- 25800Wrist fusion
- 25800 describes complete wrist fusion without graft. 25825 describes fusion of selected wrist bones with autograft.
- 25805Wrist fusion
- 25805 identifies a sliding-graft technique. 25825 identifies limited wrist fusion with autograft, without specifying that sliding-graft method.
25825 billing questions
How does 25825 differ from 25820?
Both describe limited wrist fusion, but 25825 includes use of autograft. Use 25820 when the limited fusion is performed without bone graft.
Does 25825 describe a complete wrist fusion?
No. It describes fusion of selected wrist bones. A complete wrist arthrodesis is coded from the complete-fusion family, with the specific code depending on the graft technique.
What documentation supports reporting 25825?
The operative report should identify the wrist bones fused and document that the patient's own bone was used as graft. The documented extent of fusion distinguishes a limited procedure from a complete wrist arthrodesis.
How is bilateral 25825 handled under the CMS fee schedule?
For bilateral surgery, modifier 50 is paid at 150% under the CMS rule supplied for this code.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be paid for this operation?
An assistant at surgery 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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