Billing code 44155: ColectomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Reports open removal of the colon and rectum with creation of an ileostomy, commonly for extensive colorectal disease when intestinal continuity is not restored.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 44155 in Texas.
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 44155 covers
This code describes an abdominal operation removing the colon and rectum and creating an ileostomy, rather than connecting the remaining small bowel to the anus. Colorectal or general surgeons may perform it in a hospital for conditions such as severe ulcerative colitis, familial adenomatous polyposis, or colorectal disease requiring removal of both organs. The ileostomy provides the route for intestinal waste after the resection.
Report the code when the operative record supports total colectomy, proctectomy, and ileostomy creation as part of the same operation. Documentation should identify the organs removed and the reconstruction performed; an ileoanal anastomosis or pouch points to a different code. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation. 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 44155 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 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | Unavailable | $1,925.90 |
| Beaumont | Unavailable | $1,853.02 |
| Brazoria | Unavailable | $1,869.35 |
| Dallas | Unavailable | $1,892.68 |
| Fort Worth | Unavailable | $1,890.42 |
| Galveston | Unavailable | $1,882.42 |
| Houston | Unavailable | $2,019.15 |
| Rest Of Texas | Unavailable | $1,867.98 |
How the 44155 rate is calculated
Each of 44155’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 · 44155
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work33.56
33.56 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense16.46
16.46 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice7.47
7.47 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
57.4900
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,920.22
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 44155
44155 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 44155
Colectomy
| 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) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| 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) | 0.09/0.81/0.10 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 44155
Colectomy
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 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
44155 without 51 · national facility
$1,920.22
Colectomy
44155-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$960.11
When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).
44155 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 44150Total colectomy
- 44150 includes total colectomy with ileostomy or ileoproctostomy without proctectomy. Choose 44155 when the rectum is also removed and an ileostomy is created.
- 44151Total colectomy
- 44151 is total colectomy without proctectomy with a continent ileostomy. 44155 includes proctectomy and describes an ileostomy rather than a continent reservoir.
- 44156Colectomy
- 44156 includes an ileoanal anastomosis after total colectomy and proctectomy. 44155 describes ileostomy creation instead of ileoanal continuity.
- 44157Proctocolectomy
- 44157 includes ileoanal reconstruction with a J-pouch. 44155 is the choice when the operation creates an ileostomy rather than that pouch reconstruction.
44155 billing questions
How is this different from 44150?
44150 describes total abdominal colectomy without proctectomy. Use 44155 when the operation also removes the rectum and creates an ileostomy.
When would 44151 be the better choice?
44151 describes total colectomy without proctectomy with a continent ileostomy. This code describes proctectomy with ileostomy creation, not a continent reservoir.
Can an ileoanal anastomosis be reported with 44155?
No. An ileoanal reconstruction is a distinguishing feature of codes such as 44156 through 44158; 44155 describes an ileostomy.
What supports reporting 44155?
The operative report should document removal of the colon and rectum and creation of an ileostomy. It should distinguish this reconstruction from an ileoanal anastomosis or pouch.
How do the global period and assistant rules affect billing?
The 90-day global includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation.
Should modifier 50 be used?
No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this operation; report the procedure based on the documented resection and reconstruction.
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
Fee sheets
Put 44155 and the rest of your codes on one sheet
Build a fee sheet from your own code list at your locality, put your payer contracts beside Medicare, and see what changed each quarter.
Build my fee sheetOr price your code list free →