CPT code 60512: Parathyroid transplant, autotransplantation2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California

CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 60512 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.

What 60512 covers

During neck surgery, the surgeon may implant parathyroid tissue when a gland is removed or its blood supply is compromised. The tissue is usually divided into small fragments and placed in a muscle pocket, commonly in the neck. Endocrine and head-and-neck surgeons typically perform this work in the operating room as part of parathyroid exploration or re-exploration.

Report 60512 only with an eligible primary procedure, such as parathyroid exploration, re-exploration, or exploration with mediastinal exploration. The operative note should identify why tissue was transplanted, the tissue implanted, and the implantation site, along with the primary operation. CMS treats this as an add-on code: it is billed with the primary procedure and paid within that procedure’s global period, rather than as a standalone 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 60512 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

How the 60512 rate is calculated

Each of 60512’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 60512

The CMS indicators that decide how 60512 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 80

60512 compared with similar codes

How to choose

60500Parathyroid surgeryCervical approach

60500 represents parathyroid exploration. Add 60512 only when parathyroid tissue is also transplanted during the eligible primary operation.

60502Parathyroid explorationRe-exploration

60502 is for re-exploration of the parathyroid region. It may serve as the primary procedure for 60512 when tissue autotransplantation is performed.

60505Parathyroid explorationMediastinal exploration

60505 describes parathyroid exploration involving mediastinal exploration. It is the primary procedure; 60512 separately identifies parathyroid tissue transplantation performed with it.

Codes related to 60512

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

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates