Billing code 32673: Thoracoscopic thymectomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Utah
Reports thoracoscopic removal of the thymus, including mediastinal fat when performed, commonly for thymoma or treatment of myasthenia gravis.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 32673 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 32673 covers
A thoracic surgeon performs this video-assisted operation through small chest incisions to remove the thymus. It is commonly used when a patient with myasthenia gravis is undergoing thymectomy or when a thymic tumor requires surgical removal. The procedure takes place in an operating room, typically under general anesthesia. Resection of mediastinal fat is included when performed as part of the thymectomy.
Report the code when the operative record supports thoracoscopic thymus removal; document the indication, approach, extent of resection, and any mediastinal fat removed. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to a 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. An assistant at surgery 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.
32673 in Utah
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | Unavailable | $1,115.98 |
How the 32673 rate is calculated
Each of 32673’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 · 32673
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 20.60Practice expense 8.70Malpractice 5.16
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 32673
32673 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 32673
Thoracoscopic thymectomy
| 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) | 0.09/0.82/0.09 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 32673
Thoracoscopic thymectomy
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
32673 without 51 · national facility
$1,151.00
Thoracoscopic thymectomy
32673-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$575.50
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%).
32673 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
32673 vs 32662 vs 32674 vs 60520: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 32662Mediastinal excision
- Choose 32673 for thoracoscopic removal of the thymus. Choose 32662 when excising a mediastinal cyst, tumor, or mass without performing a thymectomy.
- 32674Node dissection
- This code represents thymectomy. Code 32674 is for thoracoscopic mediastinal and regional lymphadenectomy, not thymus removal.
- 60520Thymectomy
- Both involve thymectomy, but 60520 describes a transcervical or transthoracic approach; 32673 is the thoracoscopic approach.
32673 billing questions
How is this different from thoracoscopic mediastinal mass excision?
Use this code when the operation is a thymectomy. A mediastinal lesion excision code is for removal of a mediastinal mass when the procedure is not a thymectomy.
Does the code include removal of mediastinal fat?
Mediastinal fat removal is included when performed as part of the thymectomy. The operative report should make clear what tissue was removed.
Should modifier 50 be appended for bilateral work?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.
Can an assistant surgeon be reported?
CMS indicates that an assistant at surgery may be paid for this procedure. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation.
What documentation supports reporting this code?
Document the thoracoscopic approach, thymus removal, indication, and extent of resection. Note mediastinal fat removal when performed.
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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