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CPT code 22853: Interbody device, with interbody arthrodesis2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California

Reports placement of a biomechanical device in an intervertebral disc space during fusion, counted once for each treated interspace.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 202629 payment localities214.9K Medicare services in 2024

CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 22853 in California.

—Office (non-facility)
$214.96–$243.77Hospital or facility

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 9 sections
  1. Rate in California
  2. What 22853 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. How it’s calculated
  5. Payment rules
  6. Similar codes
  7. Related codes
  8. Billing questions
  9. Sources

What 22853 covers

This code represents placement of a biomechanical implant, such as a cage, into an intervertebral disc space during an interbody fusion. The device helps maintain disc-space height and support the fusion; its integral anterior instrumentation for interspace distraction is part of the service. Spine surgeons, including orthopedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons, commonly perform this work during cervical or lumbar fusion procedures in an operating room.

Report one unit for each interspace receiving a device, not for each implant placed within that space. The operative report should identify the treated disc spaces, device placement, and the associated interbody arthrodesis. This is an add-on code: submit it with the primary fusion procedure, not by itself. CMS pays it within the primary procedure’s global period.

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 22853 pays more and less in California

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

29 of 29 payment localities

22853 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Bakersfield, CAUnavailable$218.48
Chico, CAUnavailable$214.96
El Centro, CAUnavailable$215.18
Fresno, CAUnavailable$214.96
Hanford, CAUnavailable$214.96
Los Angeles, CAUnavailable$227.97
Madera, CAUnavailable$214.96
Marin County, CAUnavailable$236.80
Merced, CAUnavailable$214.96
Modesto, CAUnavailable$214.96

How the 22853 rate is calculated

Each of 22853’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 · 22853

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work4.14

4.14 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense1.38

1.38 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice1.33

1.33 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

6.8500

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$228.80

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 22853

The CMS indicators that decide how 22853 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 22853

Interbody device, with interbody arthrodesis

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

22853 without 80 · national facility

$228.80

Interbody device, with interbody arthrodesis

22853-80 · Assistant: 16%

$36.61

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

When to use modifier 80

22853 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 22853

    Interbody device, with interbody arthrodesis4.14 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 22854

    Spinal cage, corpectomy defect with fusion5.36 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 22859

    Spinal implant, without interbody fusion5.36 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 22845

    Anterior fixation, two to three vertebral segments11.64 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

22854Spinal cageCorpectomy defect with fusion
Use 22853 for a device placed in an intervertebral disc space during arthrodesis. 22854 is for a vertebral body defect, such as a corpectomy defect.
22859Spinal implantWithout interbody fusion
22859 describes biomechanical device placement without interbody arthrodesis. 22853 is used when the device is placed as part of an interbody fusion.
22845Anterior fixationTwo to three vertebral segments
22845 represents anterior spinal instrumentation, while 22853 represents interbody device placement with integral anterior instrumentation for disc-space distraction.

Codes related to 22853

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

Codes related to 22853
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, California
Primary code
22551ACDF, one cervical interspace with decompressionPrimary cervical interbody fusion procedure that may accompany device placement.No office rate
22554Cervical fusion, anterior, below C2, no decompressionPrimary anterior cervical interbody fusion procedure.No office rate
22630Lumbar fusion, single lumbar interspacePrimary posterior interbody fusion procedure for lumbar or lumbosacral levels.No office rate
22633Lumbar fusion, combined techniques, one levelPrimary combined posterior or posterolateral and interbody fusion procedure.No office rate
Same family
22854Spinal cage, corpectomy defect with fusionDevice placement in a vertebral body defect rather than a disc space.No office rate
Used instead
22859Spinal implant, without interbody fusionDevice placement without interbody arthrodesis.No office rate

22853 billing questions

How is 22853 distinguished from 22854?

22853 is for a biomechanical device placed in an intervertebral disc space during interbody arthrodesis. 22854 addresses device placement in a vertebral body defect, such as one created by corpectomy.

Can 22853 be reported without a fusion procedure?

No. It is an add-on code and must be billed with a primary procedure; the device placement is performed in conjunction with interbody arthrodesis.

How many units are reported when multiple cages are placed?

Count the treated interspaces. Report one unit per interspace, rather than one unit for each individual implant placed in the same space.

Does 22853 include the fusion itself?

No. It represents the biomechanical device placement. Report the applicable primary interbody fusion procedure separately.

What documentation supports 22853?

The operative report should identify each interspace treated, the device placed there, and the interbody arthrodesis performed at that level.

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 22853PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,124 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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