FeeBase
Log inGet started
Menu

CPT code 22552: Cervical fusion, each additional interspace2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports each additional cervical interspace fused through an anterior approach after the primary-level procedure in a multilevel cervical fusion.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities46.5K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $353.05 for 22552 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 22552

Cervical fusion, each additional interspace

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
6.34
Total RVUs
10.57
Global days
ZZZ

National rate · 2026

$353.05

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 22552 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

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

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 22552 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 22552 covers

22552 represents an additional cervical interspace fused through an anterior approach after the surgeon performs the primary-level work. A spine surgeon prepares the additional disc space and creates an interbody fusion; disc removal and neural decompression are part of the service when performed. Typical cases include multilevel cervical degenerative disc disease or stenosis treated in an operating room.

Report 22552 only with 22551, for each additional interspace beyond the first qualifying cervical level. The operative report should identify the fused interspaces, the anterior approach, and the work at each level. This is an add-on code, not a stand-alone service, and CMS pays it within the primary procedure’s global period. Report instrumentation or graft services under their own codes when separately reportable.

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 22552 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

22552 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$313.71
AlaskaUnavailable$432.06
ArizonaUnavailable$340.74
ArkansasUnavailable$309.00
Atlanta, GAUnavailable$368.92
Austin, TXUnavailable$349.60
Bakersfield, CAUnavailable$336.48
Baltimore area, MDUnavailable$378.25
Beaumont, TXUnavailable$341.66
Brazoria, TXUnavailable$338.67

22552 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.

View every state and territory as a table
22552 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 22552 rate is calculated

Each of 22552’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 · 22552

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work6.34

6.34 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense2.13

2.13 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice2.10

2.10 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

10.5700

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$353.05

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 22552

The CMS indicators that decide how 22552 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 22552

Cervical fusion, each additional interspace

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodZZZAdd-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)2Permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 80 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

22552 without 80 · national facility

$353.05

Cervical fusion, each additional interspace

22552-80 · Assistant: 16%

$56.49

A physician assistant at surgery is paid 16% of the surgeon’s fee schedule amount.

When to use modifier 80

22552 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 22552

    Cervical fusion, each additional interspace6.34 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 22551

    ACDF, one cervical interspace with decompression24.38 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 22554

    Cervical fusion, anterior, below C2, no decompression17.25 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 22585

    Anterior fusion, additional interspace5.38 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

22551ACDFOne cervical interspace with decompression
22551 represents the primary cervical interspace fusion. Use 22552 only for each additional interspace fused in the same anterior operative service.
22554Cervical fusionAnterior, below C2, no decompression
22554 describes anterior cervical fusion without the decompression work represented by 22551; 22552 is the additional-level code paired with 22551.
22585Anterior fusionAdditional interspace
22585 applies to additional thoracic or lumbar interspaces in the corresponding anterior interbody fusion family; 22552 is specific to additional cervical interspaces.

Codes related to 22552

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

Codes related to 22552
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Add-on codes
22551ACDF, one cervical interspace with decompressionPrimary-level anterior cervical interbody fusion code required with 22552.No office rate
Same family
22585Anterior fusion, additional interspaceAdditional-interspace anterior interbody fusion code for thoracic or lumbar levels.No office rate
Often billed with
22853Interbody device, with interbody arthrodesisMay report insertion of an interbody biomechanical device when separately supported.No office rate
20930Spinal graft material, morselized allograftMay report morselized allograft or osteopromotive material used in spine surgery.No office rate

22552 billing questions

Can 22552 be reported without 22551?

No. Report 22552 with 22551 when the surgeon fuses one or more additional cervical interspaces through the anterior approach.

How many units of 22552 should be reported?

Report one unit for each additional fused interspace beyond the first level represented by 22551.

What documentation supports an additional-level claim?

The operative report should identify each interspace fused, confirm the anterior approach, and distinguish the additional level from the primary level.

Is disc removal or decompression separately reported at the added level?

Disc preparation and decompression performed as part of the anterior fusion service are included in the 22551/22552 coding structure; do not unbundle that work.

How does 22552 differ from 22585?

22552 is for additional cervical interspaces paired with 22551. 22585 is the additional-interspace code used for the corresponding anterior interbody fusion work in the thoracic or lumbar region.

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 22552PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,084 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

Did this answer your question about what 22552 pays?

Tell us what you were actually trying to work out. We’ll answer you directly, or build the page that does.

Fee sheets

Put 22552 and the rest of your codes on one sheet

Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.

Build my fee sheet