CPT code 22855: Hardware removal, anterior spinal instrumentation2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Removal of anterior spinal fixation hardware, reported when a surgeon removes a previously placed construct during revision or other spine surgery.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 22855 in Texas.
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 22855 covers
This service covers surgical removal of fixation hardware placed along the front of the spine, such as an anterior plate, screws, or related instrumentation. It is typically performed by an orthopedic spine surgeon or neurosurgeon during revision surgery, including cases involving hardware failure, infection, pain, or a change in the treatment plan. The work may occur during a larger spinal operation or as a separate procedure in a facility setting.
Report the code when the operative documentation identifies anterior spinal instrumentation and describes its removal. Distinguish it from removal of posterior hardware based on the approach and location of the construct. The service 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 other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Assistant-at-surgery services may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is not permitted. Modifier 50 is inappropriate.
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 22855 pays more and less in Texas
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | Unavailable | $1,054.67 |
| Beaumont, TX | Unavailable | $1,005.80 |
| Brazoria, TX | Unavailable | $1,015.58 |
| Dallas, TX | Unavailable | $1,030.72 |
| Fort Worth, TX | Unavailable | $1,029.14 |
| Galveston, TX | Unavailable | $1,024.18 |
| Houston, TX | Unavailable | $1,113.87 |
| Rest of Texas | Unavailable | $1,016.01 |
How the 22855 rate is calculated
Each of 22855’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 · 22855
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work15.46
15.46 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense11.10
11.10 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice4.90
4.90 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
31.4600
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,050.79
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 22855
22855 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 22855
Hardware removal, anterior spinal instrumentation
| 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) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| 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 · 22855
Hardware removal, anterior spinal instrumentation
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
22855 without 51 · national facility
$1,050.79
Hardware removal, anterior spinal instrumentation
22855-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$525.40
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%).
22855 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 22850Spinal hardware removalPosterior, nonsegmental
- This code is for anterior instrumentation removal; 22850 is used for removal of posterior nonsegmental instrumentation.
- 22852Spinal hardware removalPosterior segmental construct
- This code covers removal of anterior instrumentation. Use 22852 for removal of posterior segmental instrumentation.
- 22845Anterior fixationTwo to three vertebral segments
- 22845 describes placement of anterior instrumentation across 2 or 3 vertebral segments, not removal of an existing construct.
- 22864Disc removalCervical, single interspace
- 22864 is for removal of a cervical artificial disc. This code concerns spinal fixation instrumentation rather than a disc prosthesis.
22855 billing questions
How is this distinguished from posterior instrumentation removal?
Use this code for removal of anterior spinal instrumentation. Codes 22850 and 22852 describe removal of posterior instrumentation, with the applicable code depending on the posterior construct.
Can this be reported with new anterior fixation placement?
It may be reported with a new anterior instrumentation code when the surgeon removes the prior construct and places new fixation during the same operation. The record should describe both the removal and the new placement.
Should modifier 50 be appended?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this service, and modifier 50 is not appropriate.
What documentation supports reporting this code?
Document the anterior location and type of instrumentation, the removal performed, and the clinical reason for removing it. The operative report should make clear that the work was removal of the spinal construct, not simply exposure or revision of another structure.
How does the 90-day global period affect postoperative billing?
The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period. Other same-session procedures may also trigger the standard multiple-procedure reduction.
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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