Billing code 35840: Abdominal explorationMedicare rate & RVUs in Guam
Report abdominal re-exploration for suspected postoperative bleeding, thrombosis, or infection when the surgeon returns to assess the operative site.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 35840 in Guam.
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 35840 covers
This code describes a return to the abdomen to investigate a suspected complication after surgery, such as postoperative bleeding, a clot, or infection. A general or vascular surgeon typically performs the exploration in an operating room, often when the patient’s condition or findings prompt concern about the prior operative site. It is distinct from opening the abdomen for a planned initial exploration or for a separate diagnostic purpose.
Report the service when the operative note supports the postoperative concern and documents the abdominal exploration performed and its findings. The code 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 are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this abdominal service. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons require supporting documentation, and a team-surgery arrangement 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.
35840 in Hawaii, Guam
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii, Guam | Unavailable | $1,091.03 |
How the 35840 rate is calculated
Each of 35840’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 · 35840
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 20.23Practice expense 8.38Malpractice 5.02
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 35840
35840 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 35840
Abdominal exploration
| 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) | 0.09/0.84/0.07 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 35840
Abdominal exploration
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
35840 without 51 · national facility
$1,123.27
Abdominal exploration
35840-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$561.64
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%).
35840 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
35840 vs 49000 vs 35820 vs 35860: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 49000Abdominal exploration
- Choose 35840 for abdominal re-exploration prompted by suspected postoperative bleeding, thrombosis, or infection. Code 49000 represents exploratory laparotomy for another indication.
- 35820Chest exploration
- Both describe exploration for a postoperative complication, but 35820 is for the chest; 35840 is for the abdomen.
- 35860Artery exploration
- Both describe exploration for a postoperative complication, but 35860 is for a limb; 35840 is for the abdomen.
35840 billing questions
How does 35840 differ from 49000?
Use 35840 for abdominal re-exploration prompted by suspected postoperative bleeding, thrombosis, or infection. Code 49000 describes exploratory laparotomy for a different diagnostic or operative indication.
Can modifier 50 be used for 35840?
No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate because this abdominal exploration is not a paired bilateral service.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
Under the standard multiple procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the other procedures are subject to a 50% reduction.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons are paid only when supporting documentation is provided; team surgery is not permitted for this code.
What documentation supports reporting 35840?
Document the prior operation, the suspected postoperative complication, the reason for returning to the abdomen, and the exploration and findings recorded in the operative note.
What care is included in the global period?
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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