CPT code 46050: Perianal abscess drainage2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Massachusetts
Reports incision and drainage of a superficial abscess beside the anus, rather than drainage of a deeper perirectal or ischiorectal collection.
Medicare pays $277.82–$310.42 for 46050 in the office in Massachusetts, from Rest Of Massachusetts to Metropolitan Boston. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
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 46050 covers
This service drains a superficial collection in the perianal tissues through an incision, allowing the abscess contents to escape. It is typically performed by a surgeon or other qualified clinician in an office or outpatient setting. The key distinction is the abscess location and depth: a collection confined to superficial perianal tissue differs from a deeper ischiorectal or perirectal abscess, or one drained through a transanal approach under anesthesia.
Report the code when the operative or procedure note identifies a superficial perianal abscess and documents incision and drainage. Related postoperative visits are included in the 10-day global period. If another procedure subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction is performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service; co-surgeons and team surgery are 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 46050 pays more and less in Massachusetts
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Boston | $310.42 | $115.01 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $277.82 | $105.48 |
How the 46050 rate is calculated
Each of 46050’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 · 46050
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.21
1.21 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense6.55
6.55 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.24
0.24 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
8.0000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$267.21
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 46050
46050 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 46050
Perianal abscess drainage
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 010 | Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 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) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.80/0.10 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 46050
Perianal abscess drainage
10-day global period ends
Oct 11, 2026
Covers Oct 1, 2026 through Oct 11, 2026 (11 days).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
After the global period ends: visits and procedures are billed normally.
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
46050 without 51 · national office
$267.21
Perianal abscess drainage
46050-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$133.61
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%).
46050 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 46040Abscess drainage
- Choose 46050 for a superficial perianal abscess; 46040 is for an ischiorectal or perirectal abscess.
- 46045Abscess drainage
- 46045 is for transanal drainage under anesthesia. 46050 identifies incision and drainage of a superficial perianal abscess.
- 46060Abscess drainage
- 46060 applies to ischiorectal or intramural abscess drainage; 46050 is limited to a superficial perianal collection.
46050 billing questions
How does this differ from drainage of an ischiorectal abscess?
Use 46050 for a superficial perianal collection. A deeper ischiorectal or perirectal abscess points to a different drainage code, such as 46040 or 46060, depending on the documented site and procedure.
When is 46045 a better fit?
46045 describes transanal drainage of an abscess under anesthesia. Code 46050 is for incision and drainage of a superficial perianal abscess, not the transanal approach.
Are postoperative visits included?
Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in the procedure payment.
Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral abscesses?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply to 46050, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
Under the standard multiple procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other affected procedures are paid at 50%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for 46050, and co-surgeons and team surgery are 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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