CPT code 39010: Mediastinotomy2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Kentucky
Report transthoracic mediastinotomy when a surgeon enters the mediastinum through the chest to explore, drain, remove a foreign body, or obtain a biopsy.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 39010 in Kentucky.
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 39010 covers
This open approach gives the surgeon access to the mediastinum through the chest wall. A thoracic surgeon may use it to investigate a mediastinal abnormality, obtain tissue, drain a collection, or remove a foreign body. The code encompasses the exploration and the listed work performed through that approach; it is distinct from access through the neck. These procedures are generally performed in an operating room with the patient under anesthesia.
Select the code based on the transthoracic route and document the indication, operative approach, mediastinal findings, and work performed. It has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. CMS may pay for an assistant at surgery; 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.
39010 in Kentucky
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | Unavailable | $728.01 |
How the 39010 rate is calculated
Each of 39010’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 · 39010
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work12.86
12.86 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense6.82
6.82 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice3.14
3.14 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
22.8200
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$762.21
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 39010
39010 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 39010
Mediastinotomy
| 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 · 39010
Mediastinotomy
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
39010 without 51 · national facility
$762.21
Mediastinotomy
39010-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$381.11
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%).
39010 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
39010 vs 39000 vs 32100: Medicare rates
How to choose
- 39000Mediastinal exploration
- Choose 39000 for a cervical mediastinotomy; choose 39010 when the surgeon reaches the mediastinum through the chest.
- 32100Chest exploration
- 32100 describes thoracotomy exploration. Use 39010 when the operative work is specifically mediastinal exploration through a transthoracic mediastinotomy.
39010 billing questions
How does this differ from 39000?
39010 is for transthoracic access to the mediastinum. Use 39000 when the mediastinotomy is performed through a cervical approach.
Is exploration separately reported from biopsy or drainage?
The code includes exploration and may encompass drainage, foreign-body removal, or biopsy performed through the transthoracic approach. Do not treat those listed components as separate procedures solely because they are also performed.
Should modifier 50 be appended for bilateral work?
No. CMS identifies modifier 50 as inappropriate for this code.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
CMS permits payment for an assistant at surgery. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.
What documentation supports 39010?
Document why mediastinal access was needed, that the approach was transthoracic, the operative findings, and whether exploration, drainage, foreign-body removal, or biopsy was performed.
How does the 90-day global period affect postoperative billing?
The global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. The record should support whether subsequent care is related to the operation.
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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