Billing code 23931: Bursal drainageMedicare rate & RVUs in Virginia
Reports surgical opening and drainage of an upper arm or elbow bursa, such as an infected olecranon bursa requiring drainage.
Medicare pays $316.26–$373.49 for 23931 in the office in Virginia, from Virginia to Dc + Md/Va Suburbs. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
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 23931 covers
This procedure opens an upper arm or elbow bursa and drains its contents, typically to treat a bursal collection such as septic olecranon bursitis. An orthopedic or other qualified physician may perform it in an office or facility setting when drainage through an incision is needed rather than needle aspiration alone. The operative record should identify the bursa and side, describe the collection and drainage performed, and support why an incision was required.
Choose this code for drainage of the bursa itself, not for a separate deep abscess or hematoma in the upper arm or elbow. Documentation should distinguish the bursal target from surrounding soft tissue and record laterality. The procedure has a 10-day global period, which includes related postoperative visits during that period. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. 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 23931 pays more and less in Virginia
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $373.49 | $178.72 |
| Virginia | $316.26 | $153.74 |
How the 23931 rate is calculated
Each of 23931’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 · 23931
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 1.79Practice expense 7.56Malpractice 0.35
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 23931
23931 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 23931
Bursal drainage
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 010 | Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 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) | 0.10/0.80/0.10 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 23931
Bursal drainage
10-day global period ends
Oct 11, 2026
Covers Oct 1, 2026 through Oct 11, 2026 (11 days).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
After the global period ends: visits and procedures are billed normally.
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
23931 without 50 · national office
$323.99
Bursal drainage
23931-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$485.99
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).
23931 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
23931 vs 23930 vs 24105 vs 20605: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 23930Deep drainage
- 23931 targets a bursa. Use 23930 when the drained collection is a deep abscess or hematoma in the upper arm or elbow, not the bursa.
- 24105Bursa excision
- 24105 represents excision of an olecranon bursa. Use 23931 when the treatment is incision and drainage rather than bursal excision.
- 20605Joint procedure
- 20605 is for aspiration or injection of an intermediate joint or bursa. 23931 involves opening the bursa surgically to drain it.
23931 billing questions
How is 23931 distinguished from drainage of an upper arm or elbow abscess?
Use 23931 when the incision and drainage target is a bursa. Code 23930 is for a deep abscess or hematoma in the upper arm or elbow.
Does needle aspiration of an elbow bursa qualify for 23931?
No. 23931 describes surgical incision and drainage; aspiration of an intermediate joint or bursa is represented by a different service.
Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral bursal drainage?
Yes. CMS lists this as a bilateral procedure, and modifier 50 is paid at 150%.
Are related postoperative visits separately paid during the global period?
Related postoperative visits for 10 days are included in the minor-procedure global period.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported for this procedure?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is subject to a statutory restriction. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
What documentation supports reporting 23931?
Document the specific bursa and side, the bursal collection, and the incision and drainage performed. The record should make clear that the target was the bursa rather than adjacent soft tissue.
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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