Billing code 50045: Renal explorationMedicare rate & RVUs in Oregon
Reports open incision into the kidney for direct exploration when the operation requires inspection of renal tissue or the collecting system.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 50045 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 50045 covers
A urologist performs this open operation by making an incision into the kidney to inspect renal tissue or the collecting system. It is distinct from exploration around the kidney that does not require opening the kidney, and from procedures whose defining work is drainage or removal of a calculus. The service is performed in an operating room, generally in a hospital or other surgical facility.
Report the code when the operative record supports nephrotomy with exploration, rather than simply renal exposure or a more specific procedure such as drainage or stone removal. The record should identify the incision into the kidney and the exploration performed. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day before surgery 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%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. 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.
Where 50045 pays more and less in Oregon
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Portland | Unavailable | $854.63 |
| Rest Of Oregon | Unavailable | $817.55 |
How the 50045 rate is calculated
Each of 50045’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 · 50045
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 16.40Practice expense 6.62Malpractice 2.11
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 50045
50045 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 50045
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 · 50045
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
50045 without 50 · national facility
$839.36
Renal exploration
50045-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,259.04
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).
50045 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
50045 vs 50010 vs 50040 vs 50060 vs 50065: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 50010Renal exploration
- 50045 includes incision into the kidney for exploration. Use 50010 when renal exploration is performed without that nephrotomy.
- 50040Renal drainage
- 50040 describes nephrostomy or nephrotomy with drainage. 50045 is for nephrotomy with exploration, not drainage as the defining work.
- 50060Kidney stone surgery
- 50060 is directed at removal of a renal calculus. 50045 describes exploration through a kidney incision rather than calculus removal.
- 50065Kidney stone surgery
- 50065 describes a secondary surgical operation for a calculus; 50045 describes nephrotomy with exploration, without that calculus-specific purpose.
50045 billing questions
How does this differ from renal exploration without nephrotomy?
Use 50045 when the surgeon incises the kidney and explores it. Code 50010 describes renal exploration without that defining kidney incision.
Should 50045 be reported when the kidney is opened for drainage?
When drainage is the defining work, compare 50040, which describes nephrostomy or nephrotomy with drainage. The operative report should support the service actually performed.
Is stone removal included in this code?
The code describes exploration through a kidney incision, not a procedure defined by calculus removal. For nephrolithotomy, compare the stone-removal codes, including 50060 and 50065.
What postoperative care is included?
Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, which includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How are bilateral procedures and additional same-session procedures paid?
Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. For multiple procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons are paid only with 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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