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CPT code 20665: Cranial device removal, tongs or halo2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Los Angeles, CA

Removal of cranial traction tongs or a halo apparatus after treatment, reported when the device is removed as a separate service.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality789 Medicare services in 2024

In Los Angeles, CA, Medicare pays $131.27 for 20665 in the office and $93.33 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$131.27Office (non-facility)
$93.33Hospital or facility
+11.3%vs the national office rate ($117.91)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 20665 nationwide

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

We’ll open 20665 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Los Angeles, CA
  2. What 20665 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 20665 covers

This service removes cranial traction tongs or a halo apparatus used to stabilize the head and cervical spine. It is typically performed by an orthopedic spine surgeon or neurosurgeon when the period of skeletal traction or halo immobilization is complete. Removal may take place in a facility or another setting equipped to manage the patient and device.

Report the removal service when tongs or a cranial halo are taken off separately, rather than as part of an application service that includes removal. The record should identify the device removed and document the removal performed. The code has a 10-day global period, so related postoperative visits during that period are included. When multiple procedures are performed 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. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; 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.

How Los Angeles, CA compares for 20665

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 20665 runs from $106.28 in Arkansas to $151.94 in San Benito County, CA. Los Angeles, CA pays $131.27. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

20665 in Los Angeles, CA vs other payment areas
  1. Los Angeles, CA · this page$131.27
  2. Bakersfield, CA · California$124.01−$7.26
  3. Chico, CA · California$123.66−$7.61
  4. El Centro, CA · California$123.68−$7.59
  5. Fresno, CA · California$123.66−$7.61
  6. Hanford, CA · California$123.66−$7.61
  7. Madera, CA · California$123.66−$7.61

Other areas in California first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

20665 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Merced, CACalifornia$123.66$88.51
Modesto, CACalifornia$123.66$88.51
Napa, CACalifornia$141.10$98.83
Oxnard, CACalifornia$130.47$92.57
Redding, CACalifornia$123.66$88.51
Rest of CaliforniaCalifornia$123.66$88.51
Riverside, CACalifornia$124.87$89.72
Sacramento, CACalifornia$129.18$91.89

20665 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

$106.28

$143.00

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
20665 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$143.001
AL$107.581
AR$106.281
AZ$115.211
CA$123.66–$151.9429
CO$122.101
CT$124.941
DC$133.151
DE$116.921
FL$116.68–$126.383
GA$111.07–$119.892
GU$125.921
HI$125.921
IA$109.761
ID$110.381
IL$113.90–$123.324
IN$110.921
KS$109.381
KY$109.841
LA$109.72–$114.292
MA$121.57–$132.872
MD$118.89–$133.153
ME$110.93–$115.922
MI$112.31–$117.982
MN$117.341
MO$108.18–$114.563
MS$107.241
MT$117.901
NC$111.901
ND$115.721
NE$110.241
NH$120.311
NJ$126.46–$132.122
NM$112.851
NV$117.361
NY$113.32–$137.095
OH$111.861
OK$109.621
OR$116.53–$125.422
PA$111.98–$122.282
PR$118.621
RI$120.661
SC$112.051
SD$115.471
TN$109.851
TX$111.36–$121.628
UT$113.341
VA$115.64–$133.152
VI$118.621
VT$115.391
WA$121.30–$135.302
WI$112.431
WV$110.341
WY$116.951

See 20665 in every payment locality

How the 20665 rate is calculated

Each of 20665’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 · 20665

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.33

1.33 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense2.09

2.09 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.11

0.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

3.5300

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$117.91

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

The exact Los Angeles, CA inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,781

Code
20665
Physician work
1.33
Practice expense
2.09
Malpractice
0.11

GPCI2026.csv

13

Locality
Los Angeles, CA
Physician work
1.041
Practice expense
1.183
Malpractice
0.664
Office calculation for 20665 in Los Angeles, CA
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.33× 1.0411.3845
Practice expense2.09× 1.1832.4725
Malpractice0.11× 0.6640.0730
Total RVUs3.9300
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Los Angeles, CA$131.27

Office: (1.33 × 1.041 + 2.09 × 1.183 + 0.11 × 0.664) × $33.4009 = $131.27

Facility: (1.33 × 1.041 + 1.13 × 1.183 + 0.11 × 0.664) × $33.4009 = $93.33

Open 20665 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 20665

20665 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 20665

Cranial device removal, tongs or halo

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period010Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 days after are included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.10/0.80/0.10Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 20665

Cranial device removal, tongs or halo

10-day global period ends

Oct 11, 2026

Covers Oct 1, 2026 through Oct 11, 2026 (11 days).

Visit on Oct 31, 2026

After the global period ends: visits and procedures are billed normally.

SurgeryVisit
Sep 28, 2026Oct 14, 2026

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

20665 without 51 · national office

$117.91

Cranial device removal, tongs or halo

20665-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$58.96

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%).

When to use modifier 51

Codes related to 20665

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 20665
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Los Angeles, CA
Used instead
20660Cranial traction, tongs or calipersCranial tongs application code includes removal; 20665 describes removal separately.No office rate
20661Cranial halo, four-pin applicationCranial halo application code includes removal; 20665 is for separate removal.No office rate
20664Cranial halo, six or more pinsCranial halo application with six or more pins includes removal.No office rate
20670Implant removal, superficial hardwareFor removal of a superficial orthopedic implant, rather than cranial tongs or a halo.$425.22
20680Implant removal, deep implantFor removal of a deep orthopedic implant, rather than cranial tongs or a halo.$701.66
20694Fixator removal, under anesthesiaDescribes removal of an external fixation system under anesthesia, not cranial tongs or a halo.$513.00

How 20665 has changed in Los Angeles, CA

20665 · Office / nonfacility

$131.27

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $0.49 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $130.78 to $131.27 (0.4%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $130.78changed to$131.27

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.36 changed to 1.33
    • Practice expense RVU 2.13 changed to 2.09
    • Malpractice RVU 0.12 changed to 0.11
    • Work GPCI 1.042 changed to 1.041
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.194 changed to 1.183
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.690 changed to 0.664

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $132.37changed to$130.78

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 2.08 changed to 2.13
    • Malpractice RVU 0.11 changed to 0.12

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $130.21changed to$132.37

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $133.18changed to$130.21

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 2.05 changed to 2.08
    • Work GPCI 1.045 changed to 1.042
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.185 changed to 1.194
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.724 changed to 0.690

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $131.64changed to$133.18

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 1.96 changed to 2.05
    • Malpractice RVU 0.10 changed to 0.11
    • Work GPCI 1.048 changed to 1.045
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.175 changed to 1.185
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.757 changed to 0.724

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $129.45changed to$131.64

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 1.88 changed to 1.96

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $127.59changed to$129.45

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 1.74 changed to 1.88
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.10
    • Work GPCI 1.047 changed to 1.048
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.176 changed to 1.175
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.725 changed to 0.757

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $124.61changed to$127.59

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 1.67 changed to 1.74
    • Malpractice RVU 0.10 changed to 0.09
    • Work GPCI 1.046 changed to 1.047
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.177 changed to 1.176
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.694 changed to 0.725

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $121.93changed to$124.61

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 1.61 changed to 1.67

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $119.43changed to$121.93

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 1.56 changed to 1.61
    • Work GPCI 1.047 changed to 1.046
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.169 changed to 1.177
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.801 changed to 0.694

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $118.25changed to$119.43

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 1.54 changed to 1.56
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.161 changed to 1.169
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.908 changed to 0.801

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $117.75changed to$118.25

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 1.51 changed to 1.54
    • Malpractice RVU 0.11 changed to 0.10

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $117.16changed to$117.75

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $116.04changed to$117.16

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 1.50 changed to 1.51
    • Work GPCI 1.042 changed to 1.047
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.158 changed to 1.161
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.775 changed to 0.908

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $112.77changed to$116.04

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 1.59 changed to 1.50
    • Work GPCI 1.036 changed to 1.042
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.154 changed to 1.158
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.642 changed to 0.775

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. October 1, 2013

    RVU13D

    No ratechanged to$112.77

  17. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$131.27$93.33RVU26D
2026-07-01$131.27$93.33RVU26C
2026-04-01$131.27$93.33RVU26B
2026-01-01$131.27$93.33RVU26A
2025-10-01$130.78$107.61RVU25D
2025-07-01$130.78$107.61RVU25C
2025-04-01$130.78$107.61RVU25B
2025-01-01$130.78$107.61RVU25A
2024-10-01$132.37$108.12RVU24D
2024-07-01$132.37$108.12RVU24C
2024-04-01$132.37$108.12RVU24B
2024-03-09$132.37$108.12RVU24AR
2024-01-01$130.21$106.36RVU24A
2023-10-01$133.18$108.68RVU23D
2023-07-01$133.18$108.68RVU23C
2023-04-01$133.18$108.68RVU23B
2023-01-01$133.18$108.68RVU23A
2022-10-01$131.64$107.24RVU22D
2022-07-01$131.64$107.24RVU22C
2022-04-01$131.64$107.24RVU22B
2022-01-01$131.64$107.24RVU22A
2021-10-01$129.45$106.08RVU21D
2021-07-01$129.45$106.08RVU21C
2021-04-01$129.45$106.08RVU21B
2021-01-01$129.45$106.08RVU21A
2020-10-01$127.59$105.95RVU20D
2020-07-01$127.59$105.95RVU20C
2020-04-01$127.59$105.95RVU20B
2020-01-01$127.59$105.95RVU20A
2019-10-01$124.61$104.25RVU19D
2019-07-01$124.61$104.25RVU19C
2019-04-01$124.61$104.25RVU19B
2019-01-01$124.61$104.25RVU19A
2018-10-01$121.93$102.86RVU18D
2018-07-01$121.93$102.86RVU18C
2018-04-01$121.93$102.86RVU18B
2018-01-01$121.93$102.86RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$119.43$101.80RVU17D
2017-07-01$119.43$101.80RVU17C
2017-04-01$119.43$101.80RVU17B
2017-01-01$119.43$101.80RVU17A
2016-10-01$118.25$101.21RVU16D
2016-07-01$118.25$101.21RVU16C
2016-04-01$118.25$101.21RVU16B
2016-01-01$118.25$101.21RVU16A
2015-10-01$117.75$100.65RVU15D
2015-07-01$117.75$100.65RVU15C
2015-04-01$117.16$100.15RVU15B
2015-01-01$117.16$100.15RVU15A
2014-10-01$116.04$99.45RVU14D
2014-07-01$116.04$99.45RVU14C
2014-04-01$116.04$99.45RVU14B
2014-01-01$116.04$99.45RVU14A
2013-10-01$112.77$95.49RVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 20665 for an earlier date of service

Where the Los Angeles, CA rate applies

Los Angeles, CA is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 189 cities and communities in California. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Anaheim
  • Long Beach
  • Los Angeles
  • Orange
  • Acton
  • Agoura Hills
  • Agua Dulce
  • Alhambra

Browse all communities in California

20665 billing questions

When should 20665 be reported instead of a halo application code?

Use 20665 when cranial tongs or a halo are removed as a separate service. Application codes that include removal describe a different service when the device is applied.

Does 20665 include related follow-up visits?

Yes. The 10-day global period includes related postoperative visits during those 10 days.

Can modifier 50 be reported for removal on both sides?

No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code.

How is 20665 affected when other procedures are performed in the same session?

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction.

Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment is available only when medical necessity is documented. Co-surgeons and team surgery are 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
RVUs for 20665PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,781 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Los Angeles, CAGPCI2026.csv, line 13 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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