Billing code 50543: Partial nephrectomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Oregon
Reports laparoscopic removal of part of a kidney, commonly to excise a renal mass while preserving functioning kidney tissue.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 50543 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 50543 covers
A urologic surgeon uses a laparoscopic approach to remove a portion of the kidney, typically to excise a localized renal mass while retaining the remaining kidney. The operative work includes managing the kidney and the excision site as part of the partial nephrectomy. This code distinguishes kidney-preserving resection from laparoscopic ablation of a renal mass and from removal of the entire kidney.
Select the code when the operative report supports laparoscopic partial rather than complete removal or ablation. Documentation should identify the kidney treated, the laparoscopic approach, the portion removed, and the indication and findings supporting the resection. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery services may be paid; co-surgeons require 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 50543 pays more and less in Oregon
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Portland | Unavailable | $1,350.09 |
| Rest Of Oregon | Unavailable | $1,294.08 |
How the 50543 rate is calculated
Each of 50543’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 · 50543
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 26.72Practice expense 9.63Malpractice 3.46
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 50543
50543 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 50543
Partial nephrectomy
| 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 · 50543
Partial nephrectomy
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
50543 without 50 · national facility
$1,329.69
Partial nephrectomy
50543-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,994.54
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).
50543 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
50543 vs 50240 vs 50542 vs 50545 vs 50546: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 50240Kidney surgery
- This code describes laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. Code 50240 is the open approach for partial nephrectomy.
- 50542Renal mass ablation
- Use 50543 for laparoscopic excision of part of the kidney; 50542 describes laparoscopic ablation of a renal mass.
- 50545Radical nephrectomy
- Use 50543 when a portion of the kidney is removed and the remainder preserved. Code 50545 is for laparoscopic radical nephrectomy.
- 50546Nephrectomy
- Code 50543 is for partial kidney removal; 50546 describes laparoscopic nephrectomy rather than this kidney-preserving resection.
50543 billing questions
How is this different from laparoscopic renal mass ablation?
Report 50543 when the surgeon removes part of the kidney. Code 50542 describes laparoscopic ablation of a renal mass rather than partial nephrectomy.
When should the surgeon report radical nephrectomy instead?
Use 50545 when the laparoscopic operation removes the kidney radically rather than preserving the remaining kidney after partial excision.
Does the 90-day global period include related postoperative care?
Yes. The global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How is bilateral surgery reported?
The CMS rule specifies modifier 50 for a bilateral procedure, with payment at 150%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons are paid only with supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.
What documentation supports 50543 rather than a complete nephrectomy?
The operative report should establish the laparoscopic approach and that only a portion of the kidney was removed, including the treated side and operative findings.
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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