Billing code 44700: Bowel suspensionMedicare rate & RVUs in Iowa
Reports operative suspension of bowel using a prosthesis, typically to displace intestinal loops from a planned pelvic radiation treatment area.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 44700 in Iowa.
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 8 sections
What 44700 covers
This service surgically holds bowel away from a planned treatment area using a prosthesis. It is most relevant when intestinal loops need to be displaced from the pelvis before radiation treatment. A surgeon performs the operation in an operating room; it is a facility-based service rather than a routine office procedure.
Report 44700 when the operative record supports bowel suspension with a prosthesis, including the surgical purpose and method. The code has a 90-day global period, which includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When other 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 service. 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.
44700 in Iowa
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa | Unavailable | $833.36 |
How the 44700 rate is calculated
Each of 44700’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 · 44700
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work17.04
17.04 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense7.30
7.30 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice3.10
3.10 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
27.4400
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$916.52
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 44700
44700 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 44700
Bowel suspension
| 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 · 44700
Bowel suspension
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
44700 without 51 · national facility
$916.52
Bowel suspension
44700-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$458.26
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%).
44700 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
44700 vs 44799 vs 49411: Medicare rates
How to choose
- 44799Unlisted px small intestine
- This is the unlisted small-intestine procedure code. Use 44700 when the documented service is specifically bowel suspension with a prosthesis, rather than an unlisted intestinal procedure.
- 49411Fiducial placement
- This code concerns placement of devices used to guide radiation treatment. It does not describe surgically suspending bowel away from the treatment area.
44700 billing questions
What documentation supports reporting 44700?
Document the operative technique, use of a prosthesis to suspend the bowel, and the clinical purpose for moving the bowel away from the treatment area.
Should modifier 50 be appended when bowel is suspended?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply to this code, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for the service.
How does the 90-day global period affect postoperative visits?
The day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care for 90 days are included in the surgical global period.
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 happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction.
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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