Appendectomy, open approach

CPT 44950 is the billing code for "Appendectomy, open approach". For open appendectomy via laparotomy

Medicare pays approximately $628.17 for CPT 44950 (national average). Actual payment varies by geographic location due to GPCI adjustments. Hospital and commercial insurance rates are typically 2-4x higher than Medicare rates.

CPT 44950 has a total RVU of 19.55, broken down as: Work RVU 8.50, Practice Expense RVU 10.20, and Malpractice RVU 0.85. RVUs (Relative Value Units) determine Medicare reimbursement rates.

Key documentation requirements for CPT 44950 include: Indication for open appendectomy; Operative findings; Surgical approach and technique; Appendiceal appearance. Missing or incomplete documentation is a leading cause of claim denials for this code.

Bundling considerations for CPT 44950: Includes open appendectomy. Includes dissection and removal of appendix Use an NCCI bundling checker to verify specific code combinations before billing.

Common modifiers for CPT 44950 include: 22 (Increased procedural services for difficult cases), 51 (Multiple procedures performed same session), 52 (Reduced services if procedure not completed). Modifiers indicate special circumstances and can affect reimbursement or prevent claim denials.

The typical time requirement for CPT 44950 is 45-75 minutes typical operative time. Time-based codes require documentation of the actual time spent providing the service.