CPT code 25671: Joint fixation2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Georgia
Percutaneous skeletal fixation stabilizes a dislocated distal radioulnar joint when the surgeon uses fixation through the skin to maintain joint alignment.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 25671 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 25671 covers
Code 25671 describes percutaneous skeletal stabilization of a dislocated distal radioulnar joint, the articulation between the radius and ulna near the wrist. The surgeon aligns the joint and places fixation through the skin, commonly temporary pins or wires, to hold the reduction. Orthopedic and hand surgeons typically perform this procedure in an operating room for an acute or chronic dislocation when percutaneous fixation is selected.
The operative report should identify the distal radioulnar dislocation, the side treated, and the reduction and fixation method. This major surgery includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. For bilateral procedures reported with modifier 50, CMS pays 150%. Assistant-at-surgery services are not paid; 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 25671 pays more and less in Georgia
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | Unavailable | $536.57 |
| Rest Of Georgia | Unavailable | $502.32 |
How the 25671 rate is calculated
Each of 25671’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 · 25671
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work6.30
6.30 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense8.02
8.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.33
1.33 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
15.6500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$522.72
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 25671
25671 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 25671
Joint fixation
| 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) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| 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 · 25671
Joint fixation
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
25671 without 50 · national facility
$522.72
Joint fixation
25671-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$784.08
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).
25671 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 25675Joint reduction
- 25675 describes closed treatment of a distal radioulnar dislocation that requires manipulation. Use 25671 when the surgeon also stabilizes the joint with percutaneous skeletal fixation.
- 25676Joint reduction
- 25676 is the open-treatment code for a distal radioulnar dislocation; 25671 describes treatment using percutaneous skeletal fixation.
- 25606Distal radius fixation
- 25606 is percutaneous skeletal fixation of a distal radius fracture. Code 25671 is for a dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint, not a radius fracture.
25671 billing questions
How does 25671 differ from closed treatment of a distal radioulnar dislocation?
Use 25671 when the surgeon stabilizes the dislocated joint with percutaneous skeletal fixation. Code 25675 describes closed treatment requiring manipulation without the percutaneous fixation represented by 25671.
When is open treatment a better code choice?
Code 25676 is the open-treatment option for a distal radioulnar joint dislocation. Choose 25671 when the operative method uses percutaneous fixation rather than open treatment.
What operative documentation supports 25671?
Document the distal radioulnar joint dislocation, laterality, reduction, and the percutaneous fixation used to maintain alignment. The report should make clear that this is joint dislocation treatment, not fixation of a distal radius fracture.
Can 25671 be reported for both wrists?
For bilateral procedures, report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
How does the 90-day global period affect postoperative billing?
The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period for this major surgery.
Can fixation of a separate ulnar styloid fracture be reported with 25671?
Code 25651 may be reported for percutaneous fixation of a distinct ulnar styloid fracture treated during the same session. The documentation should support separate fracture treatment in addition to the joint dislocation procedure.
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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