Billing code 32320: Pulmonary decorticationMedicare rate & RVUs in Utah
Open pulmonary decortication frees a lung restricted by a fibrous pleural rind, commonly after organized empyema, so the lung can expand.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 32320 in Utah.
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 32320 covers
A thoracic surgeon removes the dense fibrous layer constraining the lung, typically through a thoracotomy. The operation is used for trapped lung, often in the setting of chronic or organized empyema, when the pleural rind prevents normal expansion. The operative report should make clear that the surgeon freed the lung from the restrictive tissue, rather than only draining pleural fluid or removing parietal pleura.
Report this code for the open decortication service and document the indication, operative approach, findings, and extent of the work. It has a 90-day global period that includes 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. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires 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.
32320 in Utah
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | Unavailable | $1,484.79 |
How the 32320 rate is calculated
Each of 32320’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 · 32320
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 26.57Practice expense 12.72Malpractice 6.60
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 32320
32320 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 32320
Pulmonary decortication
| 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) | 0.10/0.76/0.14 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 32320
Pulmonary decortication
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
32320 without 51 · national facility
$1,532.77
Pulmonary decortication
32320-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$766.39
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%).
32320 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
32320 vs 32310 vs 32651 vs 32652 vs 32035: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 32310Pleura removal
- Choose 32310 when the operation removes parietal pleura. Choose 32320 when the surgeon frees the lung from a restrictive pleural rind.
- 32651Thoracoscopic decortication
- 32651 reports thoracoscopic partial pulmonary decortication. This code describes the open service.
- 32652Thoracoscopic decortication
- 32652 reports thoracoscopic total pulmonary decortication. This code describes the open service.
- 32035Thoracostomy
- 32035 concerns thoracostomy with rib resection for empyema; it does not describe freeing the lung from a fibrous rind.
32320 billing questions
How is this different from code 32310?
This service frees the lung from a restrictive visceral pleural rind. Code 32310 describes removal of parietal pleura, a different operative target.
Can this be reported with a chest tube or empyema drainage?
Decortication removes restrictive tissue to release the lung; drainage alone evacuates fluid or pus. The operative documentation must support the distinct work reported.
How does this differ from thoracoscopic decortication?
Codes 32651 and 32652 describe thoracoscopic decortication, with the code choice reflecting partial versus total work. Use this code for the open service.
Does modifier 50 apply if both sides are treated?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code; modifier 50 should not be used.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available. Co-surgeon payment requires 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
Fee sheets
Put 32320 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 →