Billing code 60271: ThyroidectomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Missouri
Reports thyroid removal for substernal extension when the surgeon uses a sternotomy to reach the thyroid, rather than a cervical approach alone.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 60271 in Missouri.
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 60271 covers
This service involves surgical removal of thyroid tissue with substernal extension when access requires opening the sternum. It is commonly performed in an operating room by an endocrine or general surgeon; a thoracic surgeon may participate when the mediastinal component makes that necessary. A large substernal goiter with extension below the thoracic inlet is a typical clinical situation, but the operative approach—not the diagnosis alone—distinguishes this service from cervical thyroidectomy.
Select the code from the operative report’s documented approach and extent of thyroid removal. Documentation should establish the substernal component and that sternotomy was performed. This major surgery has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. 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 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons require 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 60271 pays more and less in Missouri
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Kansas City | Unavailable | $927.92 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | Unavailable | $934.15 |
| Rest Of Missouri | Unavailable | $907.80 |
How the 60271 rate is calculated
Each of 60271’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 · 60271
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work17.18
17.18 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense7.69
7.69 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice3.46
3.46 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
28.3300
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$946.25
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 60271
60271 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 60271
Thyroidectomy
| 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) | 0.09/0.82/0.09 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 60271
Thyroidectomy
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
60271 without 51 · national facility
$946.25
Thyroidectomy
60271-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$473.13
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%).
60271 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 60270Thyroidectomy
- Both involve thyroid removal for substernal extension. Choose 60271 when sternotomy is used; 60270 describes the cervical approach.
- 60240Thyroidectomy
- 60240 describes total or complete thyroidectomy. This code is distinguished by substernal extension requiring sternotomy.
- 60252Thyroidectomy
- 60252 describes thyroidectomy for malignancy with limited neck dissection. This code is selected for the substernal thyroidectomy requiring sternotomy, based on the documented service.
- 60260Thyroidectomy
- 60260 is for removing thyroid tissue remaining after a prior partial removal. This code describes the substernal thyroidectomy performed through sternotomy.
60271 billing questions
How do I distinguish this code from 60270?
Use this code when the substernal thyroid is removed through a sternotomy. Code 60270 is the related substernal thyroidectomy performed through a cervical approach.
Does a substernal goiter alone support this code?
No. The operative documentation should establish both substernal extension and that sternotomy was used for access; the diagnosis alone does not establish the approach.
Should modifier 50 be reported?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.
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.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons are paid only when supporting documentation is provided; team surgery is not permitted.
What happens if 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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