Billing code 44208: ColectomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Georgia
Reports laparoscopic removal of part of the colon with a low pelvic connection to the rectum and creation of a colostomy.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 44208 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 44208 covers
This service covers laparoscopic removal of a portion of the colon, reconnection of the remaining colon to the rectum with a low pelvic anastomosis, and creation of a colostomy. Colorectal surgeons typically perform it for disease requiring resection when the operative plan includes both the low connection and a colostomy. The operative report should establish the laparoscopic approach and describe the resection, anastomosis, and stoma created.
Select this code when all three elements are documented; a low anastomosis alone does not distinguish it from the related colectomy code without colostomy. The colostomy creation is included in this combined service. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires 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 44208 pays more and less in Georgia
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | Unavailable | $1,857.88 |
| Rest Of Georgia | Unavailable | $1,794.15 |
How the 44208 rate is calculated
Each of 44208’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 · 44208
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work33.14
33.14 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense14.10
14.10 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice6.71
6.71 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
53.9500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,801.98
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 44208
44208 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 44208
Colectomy
| 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) | 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. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.09/0.81/0.10 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 44208
Colectomy
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 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
44208 without 51 · national facility
$1,801.98
Colectomy
44208-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$900.99
When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).
44208 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 44207Colectomy
- Both describe laparoscopic partial colectomy with a low pelvic anastomosis. Choose 44208 when a colostomy is also created; choose 44207 when it is not.
- 44206Partial colectomy
- 44206 describes an end colostomy with closure of the distal bowel segment, not a low pelvic anastomosis with colostomy.
- 44204Partial colectomy
- 44204 is laparoscopic partial colectomy with anastomosis without the low pelvic connection and colostomy combination specified for 44208.
- 44213Splenic flexure
- 44213 is an add-on for laparoscopic splenic flexure mobilization performed with partial colectomy; it does not replace the colectomy code.
44208 billing questions
How does this differ from 44207?
Both involve a partial colectomy with a low pelvic anastomosis. Use 44208 when the operation also creates a colostomy; use 44207 when it does not.
Is the colostomy reported separately?
The colostomy is part of this combined service. The operative report should document its creation along with the resection and low pelvic anastomosis.
Can modifier 50 be used?
No. The anatomy and service described make a bilateral adjustment and modifier 50 inappropriate.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
Under the standard multiple procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50% when performed in the same session.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
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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