Billing code 24101: Elbow arthrotomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Ohio
Open elbow-joint surgery for exploration, tissue biopsy, or removal of an intra-articular loose body or foreign object.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 24101 in Ohio.
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 24101 covers
An orthopedic surgeon opens the elbow joint to inspect its interior, obtain tissue for biopsy, or remove an intra-articular loose body or foreign object. The service is performed in an operative setting; examples include evaluating abnormal joint tissue or removing a loose fragment that is inside the joint. This is an open approach, rather than arthroscopic treatment, and it is distinct from surgery directed at the olecranon bursa or excision of the radial head.
Select this code when the documented work includes elbow arthrotomy with exploration, biopsy, or removal. The operative report should identify the joint target and describe the work performed; biopsy alone is represented by a different elbow arthrotomy code, and synovectomy has its own code. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued is paid in full and others at 50%. Modifier 50 for bilateral surgery 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.
24101 in Ohio
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | Unavailable | $462.46 |
How the 24101 rate is calculated
Each of 24101’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 · 24101
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 6.14Practice expense 7.06Malpractice 1.25
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 24101
24101 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 24101
Elbow arthrotomy
| 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) | 0.10/0.69/0.21 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 24101
Elbow arthrotomy
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
24101 without 50 · national facility
$482.64
Elbow arthrotomy
24101-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$723.96
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).
24101 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
24101 vs 24100 vs 24102 vs 24105 vs 24130: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 24100Elbow biopsy
- 24100 describes elbow arthrotomy with biopsy only. Choose 24101 when the procedure includes exploration or removal of an intra-articular loose body or foreign object.
- 24102Elbow synovectomy
- 24102 is the elbow arthrotomy code for synovectomy. 24101 describes exploration, biopsy, or removal without that synovectomy service.
- 24105Bursa excision
- 24105 treats the olecranon bursa. Use 24101 for open work inside the elbow joint, not excision of the bursa.
- 24130Radial head excision
- 24130 describes excision of the radial head. It is not the code for opening the joint to explore it or remove an intra-articular loose body.
24101 billing questions
How does this differ from 24100?
24100 is for elbow arthrotomy with biopsy only. Use 24101 when the documented procedure includes exploration or removal of a loose or foreign body.
When is 24102 a better fit?
Use 24102 when the surgeon performs synovectomy through elbow arthrotomy. A biopsy or removal procedure without synovectomy points to 24101 when its requirements are met.
Can the surgeon separately report the biopsy or loose-body removal?
The biopsy or removal performed through this arthrotomy is part of the service described by 24101. The operative report should specify the target and work rather than treating those elements as separate procedures.
What does the 90-day global period include?
It includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. The surgeon's operative documentation should support the elbow procedure and its target.
How is bilateral elbow surgery handled?
CMS pays bilateral surgery reported with modifier 50 at 150%. Document the procedure performed on each elbow.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid for this procedure. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted under the CMS rules provided.
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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