Billing code 51575: Bladder removalMedicare rate & RVUs in Massachusetts
Reports complete bladder removal with bilateral pelvic lymph-node dissection, typically during surgery for bladder cancer when the documented reconstruction matches this code.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 51575 in Massachusetts.
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 51575 covers
A urologic surgeon removes the bladder and dissects pelvic lymph nodes on both sides, including the external iliac, hypogastric, and obturator groups. This operation is commonly performed for bladder cancer in a facility setting. The code distinguishes this combination of bladder removal and bilateral node dissection from cystectomy codes that also include a specified urinary diversion or reconstruction.
Report the code when the operative note supports complete bladder removal and bilateral dissection of the specified pelvic node groups. Documentation should identify the extent of the cystectomy, the nodes dissected, and any urinary diversion performed so the appropriate cystectomy code can be selected. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including 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 50% reduction. The code is priced as bilateral, so modifier 50 does not increase payment. Assistant-at-surgery services 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.
Where 51575 pays more and less in Massachusetts
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Boston | Unavailable | $1,707.66 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | Unavailable | $1,616.76 |
How the 51575 rate is calculated
Each of 51575’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 · 51575
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work33.33
33.33 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense10.57
10.57 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice4.28
4.28 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
48.1800
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,609.26
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 51575
51575 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 51575
Bladder removal
| 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) | 2 | Already bilateral by definition: paid once at 100%. |
| 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) | 0.08/0.83/0.09 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 51575
Bladder removal
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
51575 without 51 · national facility
$1,609.26
Bladder removal
51575-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$804.63
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%).
51575 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 51570Cystectomy
- 51570 describes complete bladder removal without bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy. Choose 51575 when the operative report documents the bilateral node dissection.
- 51585Cystectomy
- 51585 includes bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy plus ureterosigmoidostomy or ureterostomy. Use 51575 when that specified diversion is not part of the reported procedure.
- 51595Bladder removal
- 51595 includes bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy and an ileal conduit or sigmoid bladder reconstruction. Use 51575 when the procedure does not include that reconstruction.
51575 billing questions
When should 51575 be selected instead of 51570?
Use 51575 when the complete cystectomy includes bilateral pelvic lymph-node dissection. Code 51570 describes complete bladder removal without that bilateral node dissection.
Does 51575 include urinary diversion?
The distinguishing work in 51575 is complete bladder removal with bilateral pelvic node dissection. When the operation includes a specified diversion, select the cystectomy code that represents that reconstruction.
Should modifier 50 be appended for the bilateral node dissection?
The code is already priced as bilateral, and modifier 50 does not increase payment.
Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery services may be paid. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.
What postoperative care is included in the global period?
The 90-day global includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How is 51575 affected when other 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.
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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