Billing code 21740: Sternal reconstructionMedicare rate & RVUs in Oklahoma
Open sternal reconstruction reshapes or rebuilds the sternum to correct a congenital or acquired chest-wall deformity, such as pectus deformity.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 21740 in Oklahoma.
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 21740 covers
This service involves surgically reconstructing the sternum to correct a congenital or acquired deformity. It is typically performed by a thoracic surgeon in an operating room. Open reconstruction may be selected for a chest-wall deformity such as pectus excavatum or carinatum; the operative approach and extent of reconstruction distinguish it from minimally invasive repair techniques.
Report the code when the surgeon’s work reconstructs the sternum, not simply closes a separated median sternotomy. The operative report should identify the deformity, the anatomic problem addressed, and the reconstruction performed. This major surgery has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons are paid only with 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.
21740 in Oklahoma
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | Unavailable | $928.30 |
How the 21740 rate is calculated
Each of 21740’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 · 21740
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 17.13Practice expense 8.19Malpractice 4.31
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 21740
21740 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 21740
Sternal reconstruction
| 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) | 0.10/0.69/0.21 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 21740
Sternal reconstruction
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
21740 without 51 · national facility
$989.67
Sternal reconstruction
21740-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$494.84
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%).
21740 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
21740 vs 21742 vs 21743 vs 21750: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 21742Repair stern/nuss w/o scope
- Choose 21742 for minimally invasive pectus repair performed without thoracoscopy. Code 21740 describes open sternal reconstruction.
- 21743Repair sternum/nuss w/scope
- Choose 21743 for minimally invasive pectus repair performed with thoracoscopy. Code 21740 describes open sternal reconstruction.
- 21750Sternal repair
- Code 21750 is for closing a separated median sternotomy. Code 21740 is for reconstructing the sternum to correct a congenital or acquired deformity.
21740 billing questions
How does this differ from the minimally invasive pectus repair codes?
This code describes open sternal reconstruction for a deformity. The minimally invasive pectus codes distinguish repair performed without thoracoscopy from repair performed with thoracoscopy.
Should this be reported for closure of a separated median sternotomy?
No. Code 21750 describes closure of median sternotomy separation; choose based on the documented procedure and indication rather than the shared sternal anatomy.
Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral reconstruction?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply to this code, and modifier 50 is inappropriate.
What documentation supports reporting this code?
The operative report should describe the congenital or acquired sternal deformity, the reconstruction performed, and the extent of the surgical work.
How does the 90-day global period affect postoperative reporting?
The global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. Those related services are included in the surgical global package.
What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?
Under the standard multiple procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50%.
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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