Billing code 24155: Elbow resectionMedicare rate & RVUs in Georgia
Reports operative removal of the elbow joint for a condition requiring resection of the joint itself, rather than treatment limited to bone or synovium.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 24155 in Georgia.
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 24155 covers
An orthopedic surgeon performs this operation when treatment requires resection of the elbow joint itself, such as in a severely damaged or infected joint selected for resection as a salvage procedure. The operative work is directed at the joint, not just the synovial lining, an isolated bone lesion, or the radial head. The code describes a substantial elbow operation, not a diagnostic arthrotomy or biopsy.
Report it when the operative note supports resection of the joint and identifies the indication and structures addressed. Distinguish it from limited procedures such as synovectomy or isolated radial-head excision, and from radical resection for a tumor. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued is paid in full and others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; 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 24155 pays more and less in Georgia
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | Unavailable | $814.32 |
| Rest Of Georgia | Unavailable | $773.49 |
How the 24155 rate is calculated
Each of 24155’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 · 24155
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work11.79
11.79 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense9.39
9.39 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice2.51
2.51 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
23.6900
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$791.27
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 24155
24155 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 24155
Elbow resection
| 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 · 24155
Elbow resection
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
24155 without 50 · national facility
$791.27
Elbow resection
24155-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,186.91
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).
24155 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 24149Elbow resection
- 24149 is for radical resection of the elbow. Select this code when the documented procedure is resection of the joint, not a radical resection.
- 24130Radial head excision
- 24130 describes excision of the radial head alone. It does not represent resection of the elbow joint.
- 24160Elbow prosthesis removal
- 24160 addresses removal of humeral and ulnar prosthetic components. This code describes resection of the elbow joint, not removal of those components.
- 24102Elbow synovectomy
- 24102 describes elbow arthrotomy with synovectomy. Choose this code when the operative work resects the joint itself, rather than focusing on synovial tissue.
24155 billing questions
How is this different from radical resection of the elbow?
This code describes resection of the elbow joint. Use 24149 when the documented operation is a radical resection, rather than a resection of the joint as described here.
Does removal of the radial head support this code?
Not by itself. An operation limited to excision of the radial head is represented by 24130; this code requires resection of the elbow joint.
What documentation supports reporting this procedure?
The operative report should describe the indication and the joint resection performed, including the structures addressed. A note describing only biopsy, synovectomy, or isolated bone excision does not establish joint resection.
How is bilateral surgery reported?
For resection of both elbows in the same session, 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 submitted; 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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