Billing code 50544: PyeloplastyMedicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Reports laparoscopic reconstruction of the renal pelvis and proximal ureter to relieve an obstructed ureteropelvic junction while preserving the kidney.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 50544 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 50544 covers
A urologist uses laparoscopic access to repair narrowing where the renal pelvis joins the ureter, a common cause of impaired urine drainage and hydronephrosis. The reconstruction reshapes or reconnects the renal pelvis and proximal ureter to create a more open passage; the narrowed segment may be removed. The operation is generally performed in a hospital operating room for a patient whose kidney can be preserved.
Report 50544 when the operative work is laparoscopic pyeloplasty, rather than kidney removal or tumor excision. The operative report should support the ureteropelvic junction obstruction, laparoscopic approach, and reconstruction performed. This major surgery has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures at 50%. 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 50544 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 | $1,186.01 |
| Miami | Unavailable | $1,263.87 |
| Rest Of Florida | Unavailable | $1,142.08 |
How the 50544 rate is calculated
Each of 50544’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 · 50544
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work22.79
22.79 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense7.29
7.29 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice2.95
2.95 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
33.0300
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,103.23
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 50544
50544 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 50544
Pyeloplasty
| 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) | 0.08/0.83/0.09 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 50544
Pyeloplasty
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
50544 without 50 · national facility
$1,103.23
Pyeloplasty
50544-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,654.85
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).
50544 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 50543Partial nephrectomy
- 50543 describes laparoscopic partial nephrectomy, typically removing renal tissue such as a tumor. 50544 repairs the renal pelvis-to-ureter junction to improve drainage.
- 50546Nephrectomy
- 50546 is laparoscopic nephrectomy; it removes the kidney. Use 50544 when the operation reconstructs the junction and preserves the kidney.
- 50549Unlisted laps px renal
- 50549 is an unlisted laparoscopic renal procedure code. 50544 specifically describes laparoscopic pyeloplasty, so it is the more specific choice for that reconstruction.
50544 billing questions
How is 50544 different from laparoscopic nephrectomy?
50544 reconstructs the renal pelvis-to-ureter junction to preserve the kidney. Nephrectomy codes describe removing a kidney, not repairing its drainage junction.
What documentation supports 50544?
Document the ureteropelvic junction obstruction, the laparoscopic approach, and the repair or reconstruction performed. The operative note should make clear that the kidney was preserved.
Is routine operative work separately reported?
The reconstruction and its routine operative steps are represented by 50544. Do not assume that an additional service is separately payable solely because it is described in the operative note; evaluate distinct services under applicable coding and claim edits.
How is bilateral pyeloplasty reported?
For bilateral procedures, report modifier 50; CMS pays this code at 150% under the bilateral rule.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
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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