Billing code 44204: Partial colectomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Reports laparoscopic removal of a colon segment with reconnection of the remaining bowel, selected according to the resection and reconstruction performed.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 44204 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 44204 covers
A colorectal or general surgeon uses laparoscopic instruments to remove a diseased portion of the colon and reconnect the remaining bowel. Common clinical settings include resection for colon cancer or complicated diverticular disease. The operative report should identify the colon segment removed and describe the resulting anastomosis; the code is not selected solely from the diagnosis or specimen label.
Choose this service for a partial colon resection with anastomosis that is not one of the separately specified terminal-ileum or colon-to-rectum configurations. The 90-day global period includes 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 the others at 50%. 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 44204 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 | $1,413.94 |
| Beaumont | Unavailable | $1,367.09 |
| Brazoria | Unavailable | $1,374.58 |
| Dallas | Unavailable | $1,392.22 |
| Fort Worth | Unavailable | $1,391.11 |
| Galveston | Unavailable | $1,384.52 |
| Houston | Unavailable | $1,489.76 |
| Rest Of Texas | Unavailable | $1,376.17 |
How the 44204 rate is calculated
Each of 44204’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 · 44204
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 25.76Practice expense 10.80Malpractice 5.75
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 44204
44204 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 44204
Partial 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 · 44204
Partial 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
44204 without 51 · national facility
$1,413.19
Partial colectomy
44204-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$706.60
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%).
44204 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
44204 vs 44205 vs 44206 vs 44207 vs 44208: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 44205Colectomy
- Choose 44205 when terminal ileum is removed and the reconstruction connects ileum with colon. This code is for partial colectomy without that specified ileal resection.
- 44206Partial colectomy
- 44206 describes a partial colectomy with an end colostomy and closure of the downstream bowel segment, rather than the anastomosis described by this code.
- 44207Colectomy
- 44207 is used when the partial colectomy results in a colon-to-rectum anastomosis. Use this code for a partial colectomy with a different anastomosis configuration.
- 44208Colectomy
- 44208 specifies a colon-to-rectum anastomosis with colostomy. This code does not identify that combined reconstruction.
44204 billing questions
How does this differ from 44205?
Use 44205 when the resection includes removal of terminal ileum and an ileocolic connection. This code describes a partial colon resection with anastomosis without that specified configuration.
When is 44213 reported with this procedure?
44213 is an add-on for laparoscopic mobilization of the splenic flexure performed with a qualifying partial colectomy. The operative report should support that the mobilization was performed.
Does the global period include postoperative visits?
Yes. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant surgeon be reported?
CMS may pay for an assistant at surgery with this procedure. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.
What documentation supports this code?
Document the laparoscopic approach, the colon segment resected, and the anastomosis performed. These details distinguish this service from resections involving terminal ileum, a coloproctostomy, or a stoma configuration.
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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