Billing code 44144: Partial colectomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Guam
Reports partial colon resection with colostomy formation and closure of the distal bowel segment in a Hartmann-type operation.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 44144 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 44144 covers
This code represents an open abdominal operation in which the surgeon removes part of the colon, brings the remaining proximal bowel out as a colostomy, and closes the downstream bowel segment. Colorectal or general surgeons may perform this configuration for conditions such as complicated diverticulitis, perforation, obstruction, or colon cancer when restoring bowel continuity is not part of the operation. The operative report should establish the extent of colon removed and how the bowel ends were managed.
Select the code from the documented procedure, not the diagnosis alone; distinguish it from other partial colectomy codes by the specific reconstruction and stoma work recorded. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of 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 multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; 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.
44144 in Hawaii, Guam
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii, Guam | Unavailable | $1,594.32 |
How the 44144 rate is calculated
Each of 44144’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 · 44144
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 29.16Practice expense 12.76Malpractice 7.02
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 44144
44144 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 44144
Partial 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 · 44144
Partial 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
44144 without 51 · national facility
$1,634.64
Partial colectomy
44144-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$817.32
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%).
44144 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
44144 vs 44140 vs 44143 vs 44150: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 44140Partial colectomy
- 44140 includes an anastomosis connecting the bowel ends. This code instead includes colostomy formation and closure of the distal segment.
- 44143Partial colectomy
- Both describe Hartmann-type partial colectomy services. Choose based on the specific operative work and configuration documented, rather than the indication alone.
- 44150Total colectomy
- 44150 is for removal of the entire colon. This code represents removal of only part of the colon with colostomy and distal closure.
44144 billing questions
How is this code different from 44140?
44140 describes partial colectomy with anastomosis. This code describes a colostomy with closure of the distal bowel segment rather than reconnection of the bowel.
How should I distinguish this from 44143?
Both are in the Hartmann-type partial colectomy group. Use the code that matches the exact operative configuration and work documented; the diagnosis by itself does not decide between them.
Can the colostomy be billed separately?
The colostomy is part of the service represented by this code. Do not separately report it as an independent procedure when it is the stoma created as part of this colectomy.
Can modifier 50 be reported?
No. Bilateral adjustment is inappropriate for this colon procedure.
What should the operative report document?
Document the portion of colon removed, the creation of the colostomy, and closure of the distal bowel segment. These details support selection among the partial colectomy codes.
How are assistant and co-surgeon services handled?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; 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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