Billing code 50080: Percutaneous stone removalMedicare rate & RVUs in Washington
Reports percutaneous removal or fragmentation of a relatively simple kidney or renal pelvis stone up to 2 cm through an access tract created through the flank.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 50080 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 50080 covers
A urologist uses a percutaneous tract through the flank to reach a kidney or renal pelvis stone and fragment or remove it. This code describes the simpler procedure for stone burden up to 2 cm, such as a small stone in a renal calyx or renal pelvis. The service is typically performed in an operating room, most often in a hospital facility.
Choose the code based on stone size and procedural complexity, not simply the number of fragments removed. The operative report should support the stone’s size and location, the percutaneous approach, and the work performed; larger or complex cases are distinguished from this service. Medicare applies a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Modifier 50 for a bilateral procedure is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is statutorily 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 50080 pays more and less in Washington
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Of Washington | Unavailable | $630.54 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | Unavailable | $678.40 |
How the 50080 rate is calculated
Each of 50080’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 · 50080
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 12.10Practice expense 5.16Malpractice 1.56
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 50080
50080 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 50080
Percutaneous stone removal
| 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) | 0.08/0.83/0.09 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 50080
Percutaneous stone removal
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
50080 without 50 · national facility
$628.60
Percutaneous stone removal
50080-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$942.90
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).
50080 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
50080 vs 50081 vs 50060 vs 52356: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 50081Kidney stone removal
- Use 50080 for a relatively simple percutaneous case with stone burden up to 2 cm. Use 50081 for a larger stone or a complex procedure.
- 50060Kidney stone surgery
- 50060 describes nephrolithotomy by a different approach. 50080 specifically involves percutaneous access to the kidney or renal pelvis.
- 52356Ureteroscopic lithotripsy
- 52356 treats a stone through ureteroscopic access and includes ureteral stent placement. 50080 reaches the kidney or renal pelvis through a percutaneous tract.
50080 billing questions
How is 50080 distinguished from 50081?
50080 is for a relatively simple percutaneous case with stone burden up to 2 cm. Use 50081 for a larger stone or a complex case.
Can stone fragmentation be billed separately?
Fragmentation and removal are part of the percutaneous stone procedure. Do not report them as separate services for the same work.
Does the number of stones determine the code?
No. Select the level using stone size and procedural complexity, supported by the operative report, rather than counting fragments or stones alone.
What does the 90-day global period include?
It includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. The procedure’s related routine care is not separately reported during that period.
How is a bilateral procedure reported?
For a bilateral procedure reported with modifier 50, Medicare pays 150% under the stated rule.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon 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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