Billing code 54550: Testis explorationMedicare rate & RVUs in Nevada
Surgical exploration to locate and assess an undescended testis, typically performed by a urologist when examination has not established its position.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 54550 in Nevada.
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 54550 covers
This operation involves surgically examining the inguinal or scrotal area to locate and assess a testis that has not descended. A urologist commonly performs it in a hospital or ambulatory surgery setting, often for a child with a nonpalpable or abnormally positioned testis. The exploration may establish the testis’s location and condition; relocation or removal is a distinct therapeutic step when performed.
Report 54550 when the operative service is exploration for an undescended testis, rather than a testicular biopsy, orchiopexy, or orchiectomy. The operative note should identify the indication, approach, findings, and any additional procedure performed. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For same-session procedures, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; 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.
54550 in Nevada**
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada** | Unavailable | $445.75 |
How the 54550 rate is calculated
Each of 54550’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 · 54550
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 8.20Practice expense 4.25Malpractice 1.07
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 54550
54550 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 54550
Testis exploration
| 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) | 1 | Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 2 | Paid. |
| 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 · 54550
Testis exploration
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 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
54550 without 50 · national facility
$451.58
Testis exploration
54550-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$677.37
Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).
54550 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
54550 vs 54560 vs 54640 vs 54500 vs 54505: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 54560Testicular exploration
- 54550 is directed at an undescended testis. Use 54560 for a different testicular exploration indication, according to the operative work documented.
- 54640Orchiopexy
- 54550 represents exploration to locate and assess an undescended testis; 54640 represents operative fixation of a testis in position.
- 54500Testicular biopsy
- 54500 is for needle biopsy to obtain testicular tissue. Choose 54550 when the operation is exploration for an undescended testis.
- 54505Testicular biopsy
- 54505 is for incisional testicular biopsy. Exploration for an undescended testis is the distinct purpose of 54550.
54550 billing questions
When should 54550 be chosen over 54560?
Use 54550 for exploration directed at an undescended testis. Code 54560 describes a different testicular exploration; select based on the documented indication and procedure.
Is orchiopexy separately reported when the testis is found?
If the surgeon fixes the testis in position, report the applicable orchiopexy service for that therapeutic work. Do not automatically report the localization portion as a separate exploration.
What documentation supports 54550?
Document why exploration was needed, the surgical approach, the location and condition of the testis, and whether a separate therapeutic procedure was performed.
How is bilateral exploration reported?
CMS identifies 54550 as a bilateral procedure; reporting modifier 50 results in payment at 150%.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant surgeon be paid for this procedure?
CMS permits payment for an assistant at surgery. 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
Fee sheets
Put 54550 and the rest of your codes on one sheet
Build a fee sheet from your own code list at your locality, put your payer contracts beside Medicare, and see what changed each quarter.
Build my fee sheetOr price your code list free →