Billing code 44160: ColectomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Washington
Reports open resection of part of the colon that includes terminal ileum, followed by reconnection of the remaining bowel through an ileocolic anastomosis.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 44160 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 44160 covers
A surgeon removes a segment of colon together with the terminal ileum and reconnects the remaining bowel. The operation is commonly performed as an open abdominal procedure for conditions such as a right-sided colon cancer or Crohn disease affecting the ileocecal region. General and colorectal surgeons typically perform it in a hospital operating room. The amount of colon removed can vary; the defining feature is the terminal ileum resection and ileocolic reconstruction.
Choose this code when the operative report supports that resection and reconstruction, rather than a partial colectomy that leaves the terminal ileum in place or a more extensive colectomy. Documentation should identify the bowel removed, the anastomosis, and the operative approach. The code has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care for 90 days. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation. Modifier 50 is inappropriate, 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 44160 pays more and less in Washington
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Of Washington | Unavailable | $1,143.68 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | Unavailable | $1,232.53 |
How the 44160 rate is calculated
Each of 44160’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 · 44160
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work20.37
20.37 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense9.38
9.38 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice4.90
4.90 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
34.6500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,157.34
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 44160
44160 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 44160
Colectomy
| 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) | 0.09/0.81/0.10 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 44160
Colectomy
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
44160 without 51 · national facility
$1,157.34
Colectomy
44160-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$578.67
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%).
44160 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 44140Partial colectomy
- 44140 describes partial colectomy with anastomosis without the terminal-ileum resection that distinguishes 44160. Confirm the resection anatomy in the operative report.
- 44150Total colectomy
- 44150 is for total abdominal colectomy; 44160 removes only part of the colon along with the terminal ileum.
- 44205Colectomy
- 44205 is the laparoscopic alternative for this resection pattern. Use 44160 for the open approach.
44160 billing questions
How is this distinguished from 44140?
This operation includes removal of the terminal ileum and an ileocolic anastomosis. Use 44140 for a partial colectomy with anastomosis when that terminal-ileum resection is not part of the documented procedure.
Does the code include the ileocolic anastomosis?
Yes. The anastomosis is part of the resection and reconstruction represented by this code, not a separate service to report on its own.
What operative details support code selection?
The report should identify the colon and terminal ileum removed, describe the ileocolic reconstruction, and establish that the procedure was performed through an open approach.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.
How does the global period affect postoperative billing?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Should modifier 50 be used for resection involving both sides of the bowel?
No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code; the anatomy and procedure are not treated as a bilateral service.
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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