CPT code 36261: Pump revision, implanted infusion pump2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
Report surgical revision or repositioning of an implanted infusion pump, such as when the pump requires correction or relocation rather than insertion or removal.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 36261 in California.
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 36261 covers
This service covers an operation to revise or reposition an implanted infusion pump. A surgeon, often a neurosurgeon or pain specialist, may address a pump that has shifted, is poorly positioned in its pocket, or needs surgical correction. Implanted pumps commonly deliver medication into the intrathecal space, including baclofen for severe spasticity or medication for chronic pain. The procedure is typically performed in a hospital or ambulatory surgical setting.
Report this code when the operative work is on the implanted pump itself, rather than inserting a new pump or removing one. The operative report should identify the pump problem and describe the revision or repositioning performed; document catheter work separately when it is also done. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be allowed; co-surgeons and team surgery are 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 36261 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
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | Unavailable | $408.74 |
| Chico, CA | Unavailable | $404.82 |
| El Centro, CA | Unavailable | $405.06 |
| Fresno, CA | Unavailable | $404.82 |
| Hanford, CA | Unavailable | $404.82 |
| Los Angeles, CA | Unavailable | $430.71 |
| Madera, CA | Unavailable | $404.82 |
| Marin County, CA | Unavailable | $470.42 |
| Merced, CA | Unavailable | $404.82 |
| Modesto, CA | Unavailable | $404.82 |
| Napa, CA | Unavailable | $450.81 |
| Oxnard, CA | Unavailable | $426.16 |
| Redding, CA | Unavailable | $404.82 |
| Rest of California | Unavailable | $404.82 |
| Riverside, CA | Unavailable | $420.46 |
| Sacramento, CA | Unavailable | $420.05 |
| Salinas, CA | Unavailable | $418.43 |
| San Benito County, CA | Unavailable | $482.54 |
| San Diego, CA | Unavailable | $425.03 |
| San Francisco, CA | Unavailable | $468.77 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | Unavailable | $412.36 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | Unavailable | $475.76 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | Unavailable | $426.42 |
| Santa Maria, CA | Unavailable | $419.11 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | Unavailable | $430.35 |
| Stockton, CA | Unavailable | $404.82 |
| Vallejo, CA | Unavailable | $448.42 |
| Visalia, CA | Unavailable | $404.82 |
| Yuba City, CA | Unavailable | $404.82 |
How the 36261 rate is calculated
Each of 36261’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 · 36261
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work5.49
5.49 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense5.25
5.25 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.46
1.46 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
12.2000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$407.49
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 36261
36261 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 36261
Pump revision, implanted infusion pump
| 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) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.09/0.84/0.07 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 36261
Pump revision, implanted infusion pump
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
36261 without 51 · national facility
$407.49
Pump revision, implanted infusion pump
36261-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$203.75
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%).
36261 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 36260Pump insertionImplantable infusion pump
- Choose 36260 for insertion or replacement of the implanted pump; choose 36261 when the operation revises or repositions an existing pump.
- 36262Infusion pump removalImplanted vascular infusion pump
- 36262 describes removal of the implanted pump. 36261 describes revision or repositioning when the pump is not simply being removed.
- 62350Spinal catheterWithout laminectomy
- 62350 addresses tunneled intrathecal or epidural catheter work. Use 36261 for revision or repositioning of the implanted pump itself.
- 62362Infusion pump implantProgrammable pump
- 62362 is for electronic analysis or reprogramming of a programmable implanted pump, not operative revision or repositioning.
36261 billing questions
When should I report 36261 instead of 36260?
Use 36261 for surgical revision or repositioning of an implanted pump. Use 36260 when inserting or replacing the pump.
When is 36262 more appropriate?
Report 36262 when the implanted pump is removed. Revision or repositioning of a pump that remains implanted is the distinction for 36261.
Does pump revision include catheter revision?
Document pump work and catheter work separately. If the surgeon also revises the intrathecal or epidural catheter, consider the applicable catheter procedure code for that distinct work.
Should modifier 50 be appended for work on both sides?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code; do not use modifier 50.
How does the global period affect postoperative visits?
The 90-day global includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available. Co-surgeons and team surgery are 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
Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
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