Billing code 23930: Deep drainageMedicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Surgical drainage of a deep abscess or hematoma in the upper arm or elbow area when the collection requires operative access.
Medicare pays $355.97–$394.24 for 23930 in the office in Texas, from Beaumont to Austin. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
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 23930 covers
Code 23930 covers operative opening and evacuation of a deep abscess or hematoma in the upper arm or elbow region. An orthopedic or other surgeon typically performs it when the collection lies beyond a superficial skin or subcutaneous pocket and requires deeper exposure for drainage. The procedure may take place in an operating room or, when appropriate, an office procedure room. The target is a deep collection, not an elbow bursa.
Report the service for the documented drainage, specifying the side and region, the collection and its depth, and the work performed to expose and evacuate it. Documentation should distinguish a deep collection from a skin-level abscess or bursal process. CMS assigns a 10-day minor-procedure global period, including related postoperative visits during that period. For multiple procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Bilateral performance with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. An assistant at surgery is not paid; co-surgeons and team surgery are 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 23930 pays more and less in Texas
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
8 payment localities
$355.97 to $394.24
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | $394.24 | $208.01 |
| Beaumont | $355.97 | $195.79 |
| Brazoria | $375.03 | $200.59 |
| Dallas | $378.04 | $202.72 |
| Fort Worth | $375.67 | $202.11 |
| Galveston | $376.54 | $201.75 |
| Houston | $387.70 | $212.91 |
| Rest Of Texas | $365.70 | $198.66 |
How the 23930 rate is calculated
Each of 23930’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 · 23930
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 2.92Practice expense 7.88Malpractice 0.61
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 23930
23930 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 23930
Deep drainage
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 010 | Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 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) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.80/0.10 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 23930
Deep drainage
10-day global period ends
Oct 11, 2026
Covers Oct 1, 2026 through Oct 11, 2026 (11 days).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
After the global period ends: visits and procedures are billed normally.
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
23930 without 50 · national office
$381.10
Deep drainage
23930-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$571.65
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).
23930 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
23930 vs 23931 vs 23030 vs 10060 vs 10140: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 23931Bursal drainage
- 23931 is for drainage of an upper-arm or elbow bursa. Choose 23930 when the target is a deep abscess or hematoma outside the bursa.
- 23030Shoulder drainage
- Both address deep abscess or hematoma drainage, but 23030 is for the shoulder region; 23930 is for the upper arm or elbow area.
- 10060Abscess drainage
- 10060 describes simple drainage of a superficial skin or subcutaneous abscess. Use 23930 for a deep upper-arm or elbow collection requiring deeper exposure.
- 10140Fluid drainage
- 10140 describes drainage of a hematoma, seroma, or fluid collection. Consider 23930 when the service is deep drainage in the upper arm or elbow region.
23930 billing questions
How does this differ from drainage of an elbow bursa?
Use 23930 for a deep abscess or hematoma in the upper arm or elbow region. A collection specifically involving the bursa is described by 23931.
Can this code be used for a superficial skin abscess?
No. For a simple skin or subcutaneous abscess, consider 10060; 23930 is for a deep collection in the upper arm or elbow area.
What documentation supports reporting 23930?
Document the anatomical region and side, whether the target is an abscess or hematoma, its depth, and the operative exposure and drainage performed.
Are related postoperative visits separately included?
CMS assigns this procedure a 10-day global period. Related postoperative visits during those 10 days are included.
How does Medicare handle bilateral reporting and assistants?
CMS pays bilateral performance reported with modifier 50 at 150%. An assistant at surgery is not paid, and co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?
CMS pays the highest-valued procedure in full and pays the other procedures at 50% when multiple procedures are performed in the same session.
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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