CPT code 22841: Spinous-process wiring, spinal fixation2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Maryland
Reports wire-based fixation of spinal spinous processes, typically performed by a spine surgeon during an operation to stabilize or fuse the spine.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 22841 in Maryland.
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 22841 covers
Code 22841 identifies internal fixation using wires placed through the spinal spinous processes. A spine surgeon may use this technique during an operation to stabilize the spine, including a fusion procedure. It describes the fixation method, not the fusion itself, and is distinct from posterior segmental constructs coded according to the number of vertebral segments. The operative report should identify the wiring technique and the spinal procedure performed.
Medicare assigns 22841 physician fee schedule status B. This status means Medicare never pays the code separately; its payment is included in payment for other services. The code identifies spinous-process wiring rather than a segment-counted segmental construct, so the segment ranges for 22842–22844 should not be substituted when this wiring technique is performed. Report the code to represent the documented fixation technique as part of the surgical service.
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 22841 pays more and less in Maryland
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore area, MD | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Rest of Maryland | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Washington, DC area | Unavailable | Unavailable |
How the 22841 rate is calculated
Each of 22841’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 · 22841
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.00
0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.00
0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.00
0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
0.0000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$0.00
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 22841
22841 has no global surgery period, no multiple-procedure, bilateral or assistant-at-surgery adjustment, and no professional/technical split. What changes the payment is where the service happens: the place of service on the claim decides whether Medicare pays the office or the facility rate.
Place of service · 22841
Which rate does Medicare pay?
The POS code on the claim line (CMS-1500 box 24B).
POS 11 · non-facility rate · national
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22841 isn’t priced in this setting.
22841 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 22840Spinal fixationPosterior, nonsegmental
- 22841 identifies wiring of the spinous processes. 22840 describes posterior nonsegmental instrumentation, which may include other wire techniques.
- 22842Spinal fixationPosterior, three to six segments
- 22842 describes posterior segmental instrumentation spanning 3 to 6 vertebral segments. 22841 identifies spinous-process wiring rather than a segment-counted segmental construct.
- 22843Spinal fixation7–12 vertebral segments
- 22843 describes posterior segmental instrumentation spanning 7 to 12 vertebral segments. Use 22841 for the specific spinous-process wiring technique.
- 22844Spinal fixationPosterior, 13 or more segments
- 22844 describes posterior segmental instrumentation spanning 13 or more vertebral segments. It differs from 22841, which identifies spinous-process wiring.
22841 billing questions
What technique does 22841 describe?
It describes internal fixation using wires placed through spinal spinous processes. It is distinct from fixation using rods and screws.
How does 22841 differ from 22840?
22841 identifies spinous-process wiring. 22840 describes posterior nonsegmental instrumentation, which may use other techniques, including certain wire constructs.
When would 22842, 22843, or 22844 be considered instead?
Those codes describe posterior segmental instrumentation across different numbers of vertebral segments. 22841 identifies spinous-process wiring rather than a segmental construct selected by its length.
Does Medicare pay 22841 separately?
No. Medicare assigns status B, so the code is bundled and never receives separate payment.
What should the operative documentation identify?
The record should identify spinous-process wiring as the fixation technique and describe the associated spinal procedure.
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.
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