CPT code 22612: Spinal fusion, posterior lumbar, single level2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Missouri
Reports a single-level lumbar fusion using a posterior or posterolateral approach when the surgeon joins the vertebrae without a posterior interbody fusion technique.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 22612 in Missouri.
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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What 22612 covers
A spine surgeon performs this operation to fuse one lumbar level through a posterior or posterolateral approach. The surgeon prepares the fusion surfaces and places bone graft to promote union; the procedure may be performed for conditions such as lumbar instability or degenerative disease when fusion is part of the treatment plan. It is commonly performed in a hospital operating room. The approach and fusion technique distinguish this service from lumbar procedures that include an interbody fusion.
Report one unit for the single level treated, with the operative report supporting the lumbar level and posterior or posterolateral fusion technique. For each additional vertebral segment fused with this technique, 22614 may be reported as an add-on. Medicare applies 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 other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Bilateral adjustment is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available, co-surgeons are permitted, 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 22612 pays more and less in Missouri
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MO | Unavailable | $1,433.25 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MO | Unavailable | $1,445.02 |
| Rest of Missouri | Unavailable | $1,395.60 |
How the 22612 rate is calculated
Each of 22612’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 · 22612
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work22.94
22.94 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense14.38
14.38 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice6.62
6.62 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
43.9400
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,467.64
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 22612
22612 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 22612
Spinal fusion, posterior lumbar, 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 · 22612
Spinal fusion, posterior lumbar, 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
22612 without 51 · national facility
$1,467.64
Spinal fusion, posterior lumbar, single level
22612-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$733.82
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%).
22612 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 22614Spinal fusionEach additional level
- 22612 reports the initial lumbar level fused with a posterior or posterolateral technique. Use 22614 only for each additional vertebral segment in the same construct.
- 22630Lumbar fusionSingle lumbar interspace
- 22630 describes a posterior lumbar interbody fusion. Choose 22612 when the documented fusion uses a posterior or posterolateral approach without that interbody technique.
- 22633Lumbar fusionCombined techniques, one level
- 22633 is for a lumbar fusion combining posterior or posterolateral fusion with a posterior interbody fusion at the level. 22612 represents the posterior or posterolateral fusion alone.
22612 billing questions
When should 22612 be chosen instead of 22630?
Use 22612 for a single-level posterior or posterolateral lumbar fusion that does not include a posterior interbody fusion technique. Code 22630 describes a posterior interbody fusion.
How are additional lumbar fusion levels reported?
Report 22612 for the initial level and 22614 for each additional vertebral segment fused using the same posterior or posterolateral technique. The operative report should identify the levels treated.
Can 22612 be billed with lumbar instrumentation or bone graft services?
Those services may be separately reportable when performed and supported by the documentation; 22612 represents the fusion procedure itself. Check the applicable code and documentation rules for each additional service.
Should modifier 50 be appended for a bilateral lumbar fusion?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply to 22612, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code.
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. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others are subject to a 50% reduction.
Are assistant surgeons or co-surgeons allowed for 22612?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made, and co-surgeons are permitted. Team surgery is 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
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