Billing code 24515: Humeral shaft fixationMedicare rate & RVUs in Oregon
Report this service for open operative fixation of a humeral shaft fracture using a plate-and-screw construct rather than closed treatment or intramedullary fixation.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 24515 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 24515 covers
This service covers open reduction and fixation of a fracture through the shaft of the humerus using a plate-and-screw construct. An orthopedic surgeon typically performs it in an operating room, most often for a displaced or unstable shaft fracture requiring direct exposure and internal stabilization. The operative report should identify the fracture location, the open reduction, and the fixation method used.
Report the code for the plate-and-screw approach, not for closed fracture management or treatment with an intramedullary implant. 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 50% reduction. For bilateral services reported with modifier 50, CMS pays at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; 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 24515 pays more and less in Oregon
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Portland | Unavailable | $845.83 |
| Rest Of Oregon | Unavailable | $796.45 |
How the 24515 rate is calculated
Each of 24515’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 · 24515
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 11.82Practice expense 10.33Malpractice 2.47
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 24515
24515 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 24515
Humeral shaft fixation
| 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 · 24515
Humeral shaft fixation
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
24515 without 50 · national facility
$822.33
Humeral shaft fixation
24515-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,233.50
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).
24515 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
24515 vs 24516 vs 24500 vs 24505 vs 24545: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 24516Fracture fixation
- Choose 24515 for open plate-and-screw fixation; choose 24516 when treatment uses an intramedullary implant.
- 24500Fracture treatment
- Code 24500 is for closed treatment of a humeral shaft fracture without manipulation, not open plate fixation.
- 24505Fracture treatment
- Code 24505 describes closed treatment with manipulation; 24515 involves open reduction and plate-and-screw fixation.
- 24545Humerus fracture repair
- Code 24545 concerns an extra-articular distal humerus fracture, not a fracture through the humeral shaft.
24515 billing questions
How does this differ from code 24516?
Code 24515 represents open fixation with a plate-and-screw construct. Code 24516 is for treatment using an intramedullary implant.
Can routine fracture follow-up be billed separately?
Related postoperative care during the 90-day global period is included. The operative service also includes the day-before preoperative visit.
How is a bilateral procedure handled?
When the procedure is performed bilaterally and reported with modifier 50, CMS pays at 150%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.
What documentation supports choosing this code?
Document that the fracture involves the humeral shaft, that open reduction was performed, and that a plate-and-screw construct was used.
What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction.
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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