CPT code 60605: Carotid tumor excision2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington
Reports removal of a carotid body tumor that requires excision of carotid artery tissue, typically during open surgery at the carotid bifurcation.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 60605 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 60605 covers
This operation removes a carotid body paraganglioma at the carotid artery bifurcation and includes excision of carotid artery tissue when needed to remove the lesion. It is generally performed in an operating room by a vascular surgeon or head and neck surgeon, often with vascular reconstruction when the resection requires it. The carotid body lies beside the internal and external carotid arteries, so the operative report should clarify the tumor’s relationship to the vessels and what arterial tissue was removed.
Report 60605 when the documented operation includes carotid artery excision with the tumor removal; use 60600 when the tumor is excised without carotid artery excision. The 90-day global period includes 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 other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. 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 60605 pays more and less in Washington
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Of Washington | Unavailable | $1,460.17 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | Unavailable | $1,547.18 |
How the 60605 rate is calculated
Each of 60605’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 · 60605
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work31.16
31.16 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense5.78
5.78 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice7.97
7.97 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
44.9100
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,500.03
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 60605
60605 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 60605
Carotid tumor excision
| 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) | 0.09/0.82/0.09 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 60605
Carotid tumor excision
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
60605 without 51 · national facility
$1,500.03
Carotid tumor excision
60605-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$750.02
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%).
60605 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 60600Carotid body excision
- Choose 60605 when carotid artery tissue is excised with the tumor. Choose 60600 when the tumor is removed without arterial excision.
- 60699Unlisted px endocrine system
- Use 60699 only when the actual endocrine-system procedure is not represented by a listed code; 60605 specifically describes carotid body tumor removal with arterial excision.
- 35301Arterial endarterectomy
- 35301 describes carotid endarterectomy for occlusive disease, not excision of a carotid body tumor.
60605 billing questions
How does 60605 differ from 60600?
60605 is for carotid body tumor removal that includes excision of carotid artery tissue. Use 60600 when the tumor is excised without arterial excision.
What operative documentation supports 60605?
The operative report should identify the carotid body tumor and describe excision of carotid artery tissue as part of removing it. A statement that the tumor was close to or adherent to the artery alone does not establish arterial excision.
Can modifier 50 be reported for bilateral tumors?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply to this code, and modifier 50 is inappropriate.
How does the 90-day global period affect postoperative visits?
The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.
What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction.
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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