Billing code 44139: Colon mobilizationMedicare rate & RVUs in Ohio
Reports additional mobilization of the splenic flexure during an eligible colectomy when the colon must be freed to provide adequate length for reconstruction.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 44139 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 44139 covers
The surgeon frees the splenic flexure from its attachments to increase the length and mobility of the colon, commonly to support a colorectal or colocolonic reconstruction during colectomy. This work is typically performed by a colorectal or general surgeon in the operating room as part of the same operative session as the colon resection. The operative report should distinguish the mobilization from the resection itself and describe the additional dissection performed.
Report 44139 only with an eligible primary colectomy procedure; it is not a standalone service. Documentation should show that splenic flexure mobilization was performed, rather than treating routine exposure or handling of the colon as a separate service. CMS classifies it as an add-on code: it is billed with the primary procedure and paid within that procedure’s global period. The primary code identifies the colectomy performed, while 44139 captures the additional mobilization work.
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.
44139 in Ohio
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | Unavailable | $105.44 |
How the 44139 rate is calculated
Each of 44139’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 · 44139
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 2.17Practice expense 0.54Malpractice 0.49
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 44139
The CMS indicators that decide how 44139 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 44139
Colon mobilization
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | ZZZ | Add-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| 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. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 80 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
44139 without 80 · national facility
$106.88
Colon mobilization
44139-80 · Assistant: 16%
$17.10
A physician assistant at surgery is paid 16% of the surgeon’s fee schedule amount.
44139 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
44139 vs 44140 vs 44145 vs 44213: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 44140Partial colectomy
- 44140 reports the open partial colectomy. Add 44139 only when the surgeon also performs separately documented splenic flexure mobilization.
- 44145Partial colectomy
- 44145 identifies an open partial colectomy with coloproctostomy; it does not by itself report additional splenic flexure mobilization.
- 44213Splenic flexure
- 44213 is the laparoscopic splenic flexure mobilization add-on. Use 44139 for the open approach and 44213 for the laparoscopic approach.
44139 billing questions
When is 44139 reported with a colectomy?
Report it when the surgeon performs additional splenic flexure mobilization during an eligible colectomy. The operative note should describe the dissection and mobilization, not just the colectomy.
Can 44139 be billed by itself?
No. It is an add-on code and must be billed with an eligible primary colectomy procedure.
Is 44139 the same as the colectomy code?
No. The primary code describes the colon resection and related reconstruction or diversion; 44139 reports the additional splenic flexure mobilization.
Which code is used for laparoscopic splenic flexure mobilization?
Code 44213 describes laparoscopic mobilization of the splenic flexure as an add-on. Choose the code that matches the operative approach.
What documentation supports 44139?
The operative report should identify splenic flexure mobilization and describe the additional work performed to free the colon, alongside the eligible primary colectomy.
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 44139 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 →