Billing code 24359: Elbow tendon repairMedicare rate & RVUs in Georgia
Open surgery for elbow tendinopathy that removes diseased tissue and repairs the common extensor or flexor tendon origin.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 24359 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 24359 covers
This service treats chronic lateral or medial elbow tendinopathy, commonly called tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow. The surgeon opens the affected area, removes abnormal tissue at the tendon origin, and repairs the common extensor or flexor tendon attachment. Orthopedic surgeons typically perform it in an operating room, with the operative report identifying the side, affected tendon origin, debridement, and repair performed.
Report this code when the open procedure includes both debridement and repair of the tendon origin; the debridement and repair are represented together. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity; 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 24359 pays more and less in Georgia
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | Unavailable | $633.73 |
| Rest Of Georgia | Unavailable | $599.32 |
How the 24359 rate is calculated
Each of 24359’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 · 24359
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work8.76
8.76 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense7.97
7.97 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.74
1.74 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
18.4700
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$616.91
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 24359
24359 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 24359
Elbow tendon repair
| 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) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| 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 · 24359
Elbow tendon repair
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
24359 without 50 · national facility
$616.91
Elbow tendon repair
24359-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$925.37
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).
24359 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 24357Elbow tenotomy
- 24357 uses a percutaneous approach. This code describes open surgery that includes debridement and repair of the common tendon origin.
- 24358Elbow tenotomy
- Both involve an open elbow tendon procedure, but this code includes repair of the common extensor or flexor tendon origin in addition to debridement.
- 24341Tendon/muscle repair
- 24341 is for repair of a tendon or muscle at the upper arm or elbow. This code is specific to open debridement and repair at a common extensor or flexor tendon origin.
- 24342Tendon repair
- 24342 addresses repair of a ruptured distal biceps tendon. It is not the code for debridement and repair of an epicondylar tendon origin.
24359 billing questions
How does this differ from 24358?
This code includes repair of the common extensor or flexor tendon origin after debridement. Use 24358 when the open procedure includes debridement but not that repair.
When is 24357 a better fit?
24357 describes a percutaneous approach. This code is for open surgery that includes debridement and repair of the tendon origin.
Can debridement and tendon-origin repair be billed separately?
No. The debridement and repair are included together in this service; the operative report should support both components.
What documentation supports reporting this code?
Document the elbow and side, the affected common extensor or flexor tendon origin, the open approach, the debridement, and the repair performed.
How are bilateral procedures and other same-session procedures handled?
Modifier 50 applies to bilateral reporting, which CMS pays at 150%. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others are subject to the standard 50% reduction.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity. Co-surgeons and team surgery are 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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