CPT code 22610: Spinal fusion, posterior thoracic, single level2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Reports a posterior or posterolateral fusion at one thoracic spinal level, typically during surgery for instability, deformity, or another condition requiring stabilization.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 22610 in Florida.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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On this page 9 sections
What 22610 covers
A spine surgeon performs this fusion through a posterior approach, joining one thoracic spinal level to promote bone union and stability. It may be part of surgery for thoracic instability, deformity, or a fracture requiring stabilization. These procedures are typically performed in a hospital operating room; Medicare’s 2024 claims show facility services for this code and no office services.
Select the code when the operative report supports a posterior or posterolateral fusion at a single thoracic level. Document the spinal region, level fused, approach, and fusion work performed; use the applicable add-on code when additional levels are fused. Graft material and spinal instrumentation may be reported separately when the work and applicable coding requirements support them. This major surgery has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment and co-surgeons are permitted; team surgery is not.
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 22610 pays more and less in Florida
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | Unavailable | $1,418.03 |
| Miami, FL | Unavailable | $1,571.21 |
| Rest of Florida | Unavailable | $1,330.66 |
How the 22610 rate is calculated
Each of 22610’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 · 22610
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work16.85
16.85 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense14.96
14.96 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice5.78
5.78 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
37.5900
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,255.54
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 22610
22610 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 22610
Spinal fusion, posterior thoracic, single level
| 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) | 2 | Permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.69/0.21 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 22610
Spinal fusion, posterior thoracic, single level
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
22610 without 51 · national facility
$1,255.54
Spinal fusion, posterior thoracic, single level
22610-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$627.77
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%).
22610 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 22600Cervical fusionPosterior, one interspace
- Use 22600 for a single-level posterior or posterolateral cervical fusion. Code 22610 is for the thoracic region.
- 22612Spinal fusionPosterior lumbar, single level
- Use 22612 for a single-level posterior or posterolateral lumbar fusion. Code 22610 is for the thoracic region.
- 22614Spinal fusionEach additional level
- 22614 reports each qualifying additional spinal level and is an add-on, not the primary code for a single-level fusion.
- 22630Lumbar fusionSingle lumbar interspace
- 22630 describes lumbar interbody fusion, rather than the single-level posterior or posterolateral thoracic fusion reported with 22610.
22610 billing questions
How does this differ from 22600 or 22612?
The spinal region determines the primary code: 22610 is for a single thoracic level, 22600 for cervical, and 22612 for lumbar.
When is 22614 reported with this code?
Use 22614 for each qualifying additional spinal level fused beyond the primary level. The operative report should identify the additional level or levels.
Can instrumentation or bone graft be reported separately?
Separate reporting may be appropriate when instrumentation or graft work is performed and the requirements of the applicable code are met. The operative report should describe the work and materials used.
Does modifier 50 apply when both sides are fused?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code, so modifier 50 is not used to report the posterior fusion.
What postoperative care is included in the global period?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
May an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made, and co-surgeons are permitted. Team surgery is 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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