Billing code 50010: Renal explorationMedicare rate & RVUs in Oregon
Open surgical inspection of a kidney is reported when operative evaluation is needed without a more definitive renal procedure such as drainage or stone removal.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 50010 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 50010 covers
A urologist uses open surgery to expose and inspect the kidney when operative evaluation is needed to investigate a renal finding. The procedure is distinct from an operation that opens the kidney to explore its interior, drains an abscess, establishes drainage, or removes a stone. It is generally performed in an operating room rather than an office setting.
Report the service when the operative record supports renal exploration and no more specific renal procedure better describes the work. Document the indication, operative approach, findings, and any definitive treatment performed. 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 the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid 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 50010 pays more and less in Oregon
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Portland | Unavailable | $655.74 |
| Rest Of Oregon | Unavailable | $625.36 |
How the 50010 rate is calculated
Each of 50010’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 · 50010
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 11.97Practice expense 5.70Malpractice 1.53
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 50010
50010 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 50010
Renal exploration
| 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) | 0.08/0.83/0.09 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 50010
Renal exploration
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
50010 without 50 · national facility
$641.30
Renal exploration
50010-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$961.95
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).
50010 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
50010 vs 50045 vs 50020 vs 50060: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 50045Renal exploration
- Use 50010 for open exposure and inspection without an incision into the kidney. Use 50045 when the surgeon opens the kidney as part of exploration.
- 50020Abscess drainage
- 50020 describes open drainage of a perirenal or renal abscess. 50010 is for exploration when abscess drainage is not the definitive service.
- 50060Kidney stone surgery
- 50060 describes open stone removal. 50010 is not the choice when the operation removes a renal calculus.
50010 billing questions
How is 50010 different from 50045?
50010 describes open exposure and inspection of the kidney. Choose 50045 when the surgeon makes an incision into the kidney as part of the exploration.
Can 50010 be reported when the surgeon drains a renal abscess?
When open drainage of a perirenal or renal abscess is performed, 50020 describes that definitive service rather than exploration alone.
Does the 90-day global period include postoperative visits?
Yes. The CMS global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How is 50010 handled when other procedures occur in the same session?
Under the standard multiple procedure rule, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the other procedures are paid at 50%.
Can 50010 be billed bilaterally or with an assistant?
For a bilateral service, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; co-surgeons require supporting documentation, and 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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