CPT code 25415: Forearm bone repair2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington
Reports operative correction of a radius-and-ulna nonunion or malunion when both forearm bones require repair during the same surgical episode.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 25415 in Washington.
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 25415 covers
An orthopedic surgeon uses this code for operative correction of an established nonunion or malunion involving both the radius and ulna in one forearm. The procedure may address failed healing or a healed deformity after fracture, with repair directed at restoring alignment and stability. These cases are typically performed in an operating room rather than an office setting.
Choose this code when the operative report supports repair of both bones, not just one; a graft-specific sibling may be appropriate when grafting is performed. Document the affected bones, the nonunion or malunion, and the repair performed. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including 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 others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. 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.
Where 25415 pays more and less in Washington
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Of Washington | Unavailable | $896.96 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | Unavailable | $979.87 |
How the 25415 rate is calculated
Each of 25415’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 · 25415
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work13.46
13.46 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense10.48
10.48 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice2.87
2.87 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
26.8100
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$895.48
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 25415
25415 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 25415
Forearm bone repair
| 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) | 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) | 0.10/0.69/0.21 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 25415
Forearm bone repair
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
25415 without 50 · national facility
$895.48
Forearm bone repair
25415-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,343.22
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).
25415 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 25400Forearm bone repair
- Use 25400 when only the radius or only the ulna requires repair; 25415 describes repair involving both bones.
- 25405Forearm bone repair
- This is the graft-specific counterpart for repair involving one forearm bone. Use 25415 for both bones when the repair does not fall under a graft-specific code.
- 25420Forearm repair
- This is the graft-specific counterpart for repair involving both the radius and ulna; 25415 is the non-graft repair code.
25415 billing questions
When is 25415 appropriate instead of 25400?
Use 25415 when the repair addresses nonunion or malunion of both the radius and ulna. Code 25400 is for repair involving only one of those bones.
Does 25415 include bone grafting?
This code represents repair without the grafting distinction captured by graft-specific codes in the family. If the surgeon performs graft augmentation, review the applicable graft-specific code, such as 25420 for both bones.
Can the radius and ulna repairs be reported as separate units?
No. The code represents repair of both bones in the same forearm; do not report separate units for the radius and ulna.
How does the 90-day global period affect follow-up visits?
The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period. Report a separate service only when it is independently reportable under the applicable coding rules.
How does Medicare handle an assistant or co-surgeon?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; 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
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