Billing code 32506: Lung wedge resectionMedicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Reports an additional therapeutic lung wedge resection in the same lobe during open thoracotomy, alongside the initial wedge resection service.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 32506 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 32506 covers
Code 32506 represents an additional therapeutic wedge excision of lung tissue performed through an open thoracotomy. A thoracic surgeon may remove additional lung tissue to treat another lesion or nodule in the same lobe during the operation. The service is performed in an operating room, typically in a hospital setting, and is distinct from a diagnostic wedge that leads to an anatomic lung resection.
Report 32506 with the initial therapeutic wedge resection code, 32505, when the operative documentation supports an additional resection in the same lobe. The operative report should identify the therapeutic intent, the additional tissue removed, and the lobe involved. This is an add-on code: it is billed only with a primary procedure and its payment falls within that procedure’s global period.
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 32506 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 | $160.97 |
| Miami | Unavailable | $178.85 |
| Rest Of Florida | Unavailable | $152.53 |
How the 32506 rate is calculated
Each of 32506’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 · 32506
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 2.93Practice expense 0.58Malpractice 0.72
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 32506
The CMS indicators that decide how 32506 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 32506
Lung wedge resection
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | ZZZ | Add-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| 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. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 80 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
32506 without 80 · national facility
$141.29
Lung wedge resection
32506-80 · Assistant: 16%
$22.61
A physician assistant at surgery is paid 16% of the surgeon’s fee schedule amount.
32506 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
32506 vs 32505 vs 32507 vs 32667: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 32505Lung wedge resection
- 32505 reports the initial therapeutic wedge resection during open thoracotomy; 32506 reports an additional resection in the same lobe.
- 32507Lung wedge resection
- Use 32507 for a diagnostic wedge followed by an anatomic lung resection, rather than an additional therapeutic wedge reported with 32505.
- 32667Lung wedge resection
- 32667 is the thoracoscopic add-on for an additional wedge resection in the same lobe; 32506 describes the open thoracotomy service.
32506 billing questions
Which primary code must accompany 32506?
Report 32506 with 32505 for the initial therapeutic wedge resection. The operative record should support the additional resection in the same lobe.
Can 32506 be used for a diagnostic wedge?
No. Code 32506 describes an additional therapeutic wedge resection. Code 32507 is the relevant comparison when a diagnostic wedge is followed by an anatomic lung resection.
What documentation supports an additional unit?
Document each additional therapeutic wedge resection, its location in the same lobe, and the reason for removal. The note should distinguish the additional resection from the initial service.
Is 32506 paid separately from the primary procedure’s global period?
No. CMS identifies 32506 as an add-on code paid within the primary procedure’s global period.
How does 32506 differ from a thoracoscopic wedge code?
Code 32506 is for an additional wedge resection during open thoracotomy. Thoracoscopic wedge resection services are reported with the corresponding thoracoscopy codes.
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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