Billing code 32124: ThoracotomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Reports an open chest operation to release intrathoracic adhesions, with limited decortication when performed, rather than exploration alone.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 32124 in Illinois.
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 32124 covers
A thoracic surgeon performs an open thoracotomy to release adhesions within the chest, such as fibrous bands that tether the lung or pleural surfaces. The operation may include limited decortication as part of freeing the affected structures. This service is generally performed in a hospital operating room when the surgeon needs open access to address the adhesions; it is distinct from a thoracoscopic approach.
Select this code when the operative work includes adhesion lysis, not simply inspection or exploration of the chest. The operative report should identify the adhesions, the structures involved, and the work performed; document any limited decortication. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 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 multiple procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. 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.
Where 32124 pays more and less in Illinois
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | Unavailable | $1,065.80 |
| East St. Louis | Unavailable | $1,004.12 |
| Rest Of Illinois | Unavailable | $945.89 |
| Suburban Chicago | Unavailable | $1,006.43 |
How the 32124 rate is calculated
Each of 32124’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 · 32124
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 15.06Practice expense 8.12Malpractice 3.74
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 32124
32124 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 32124
Thoracotomy
| 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) | 0.10/0.76/0.14 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 32124
Thoracotomy
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
32124 without 51 · national facility
$899.15
Thoracotomy
32124-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$449.58
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%).
32124 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
32124 vs 32100 vs 32120 vs 32651: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 32100Chest exploration
- 32100 is for open chest exploration. Use 32124 when the operative work includes releasing intrathoracic adhesions, with or without limited decortication.
- 32120Chest re-exploration
- 32120 identifies chest re-exploration. Distinguish it from 32124 by the documented operative service, particularly whether adhesion lysis is performed.
- 32651Thoracoscopic decortication
- 32651 describes a thoracoscopic procedure involving partial pulmonary decortication. The operative approach is the key distinction from this open thoracotomy code.
32124 billing questions
How does this differ from 32100?
32100 describes open chest exploration. Report 32124 when the operation includes releasing intrathoracic adhesions, with limited decortication if performed.
When is 32120 a better choice?
32120 describes re-exploration of the chest. Choose based on the work documented: re-exploration versus an operation that includes lysis of adhesions.
Can limited decortication be included?
Yes. Limited decortication may be part of the adhesion-lysis operation; document the extent and work in the operative report.
Can modifier 50 be reported?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.
How are other same-session procedures paid?
Under the standard multiple procedure rule, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the reduction. The 90-day global period includes 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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