CPT code 23170: Sequestrectomy2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Virginia
Report this operation when a surgeon removes a separated segment of devitalized clavicular bone, commonly as treatment for chronic osteomyelitis.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 23170 in Virginia.
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 23170 covers
An orthopedic surgeon exposes the clavicle and removes a sequestrum, a fragment of dead bone separated from viable bone. The operation is typically performed in an operating room when infection or another process has left devitalized bone requiring removal. The code is specific to the clavicle; the operative report should identify the bone and describe removal of the sequestrum.
Select this code for removal of a clavicular sequestrum, rather than a partial or total clavicle resection or excision of a bone lesion. Document the indication, involved site, operative findings, and work performed. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For bilateral surgery, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted; 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 23170 pays more and less in Virginia
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | Unavailable | $604.69 |
| Virginia | Unavailable | $521.87 |
How the 23170 rate is calculated
Each of 23170’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 · 23170
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work7.03
7.03 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense7.68
7.68 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.48
1.48 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
16.1900
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$540.76
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 23170
23170 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 23170
Sequestrectomy
| 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) | 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) | 0.10/0.69/0.21 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 23170
Sequestrectomy
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 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
23170 without 50 · national facility
$540.76
Sequestrectomy
23170-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$811.14
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).
23170 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 23120Clavicle resection
- Choose 23170 for removal of a clavicular sequestrum. Choose 23120 when the operation is partial clavicle resection.
- 23180Clavicle excision
- 23170 identifies removal of a sequestrum from the clavicle; 23180 describes partial excision of clavicular bone.
- 23172Sequestrectomy
- Both codes describe sequestrectomy, but 23172 is for the scapula and 23170 is for the clavicle.
- 23174Sequestrectomy
- 23174 applies to sequestrectomy at the humeral head surgical neck; 23170 applies to the clavicle.
23170 billing questions
How is this different from partial claviculectomy?
This code is for removing a separated fragment of devitalized clavicular bone. A partial claviculectomy describes resection of part of the clavicle rather than sequestrectomy.
What operative details support reporting this code?
Document that the involved bone is the clavicle, identify the sequestrum, and describe its operative removal and the clinical indication.
Does the 90-day global period include related follow-up?
Yes. The global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How are bilateral procedures and multiple procedures paid?
Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. In the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and additional procedures at 50%.
Can an assistant, co-surgeon, or surgical team be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is subject to a statutory restriction. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted for this code.
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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