CPT 21615: Rib excisionMedicare rate & RVUs in Oregon
Reports surgical removal of a first rib, cervical rib, or both, commonly to relieve compression associated with thoracic outlet syndrome.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 21615 in Oregon.
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 21615 covers
This operation removes a first rib, a cervical rib, or both. It is commonly performed to relieve neurovascular compression associated with thoracic outlet syndrome or symptoms caused by a cervical rib. Thoracic, vascular, or other surgeons experienced in thoracic outlet procedures may perform it in a hospital or surgical facility. The operative report should identify the rib or ribs removed and the clinical reason for excision.
Report 21615 for the rib excision without the sympathectomy included in 21616. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. For bilateral surgery, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; co-surgeon payment requires 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 21615 pays more and less in Oregon
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Portland | Unavailable | $583.70 |
| Rest Of Oregon | Unavailable | $556.69 |
How the 21615 rate is calculated
Each of 21615’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 · 21615
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 10.19Practice expense 4.71Malpractice 2.54
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 21615
21615 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 21615
Rib excision
| 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) | 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 · 21615
Rib excision
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
21615 without 50 · national facility
$582.51
Rib excision
21615-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$873.77
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).
21615 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
21615 vs 21616 vs 21600 vs 21700: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 21616Rib excision
- 21616 includes sympathectomy with the first and/or cervical rib excision. Report 21615 when the rib excision is performed without sympathectomy.
- 21600Rib excision
- 21600 describes partial removal of a rib. Use 21615 for excision of a first rib, cervical rib, or both.
- 21700Scalene division
- 21700 describes anterior scalenotomy without cervical rib removal. Use 21615 when the operation includes removal of a first and/or cervical rib.
21615 billing questions
When should 21616 be reported instead?
Use 21616 when the first and/or cervical rib excision is performed with sympathectomy. Code 21615 describes the rib excision without that added procedure.
How is bilateral rib excision reported?
For bilateral procedures, report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
What documentation supports 21615?
The operative report should establish the rib or ribs removed, the side or sides, and the clinical indication, such as thoracic outlet compression or symptoms related to a cervical rib.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
Under the standard multiple-procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50%.
May an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is 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
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