CPT code 61120: Ventricular puncture, burr-hole access2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $773.56 for 61120 nationally in a facility.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 61120 covers

A neurosurgeon creates a burr hole to reach a cerebral ventricle with a puncture instrument. The access can be used to obtain ventricular cerebrospinal fluid or to introduce medication or another substance for diagnosis or treatment. This is a surgical service typically performed in a facility, such as during evaluation or treatment of a patient with a need for direct ventricular access.

Report 61120 when the operative service is ventricular puncture through a burr hole, rather than placement of a ventricular catheter or a procedure directed at a brain lesion. The operative report should identify the ventricular access, the reason for puncture, and any sampling or injection performed. The code 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% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; 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 61120 pays more and less

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

109 of 109 payment localities

61120 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

How the 61120 rate is calculated

Each of 61120’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 61120

61120 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 51

61120 compared with similar codes

How to choose

61105Twist-drill punctureHematoma drainage

61105 describes twist-drill access for subdural or ventricular puncture. Use 61120 when the operative approach is a burr hole.

61107Ventricular catheterTwist-drill access

61107 is for ventricular catheter placement through a twist-drill opening. 61120 is for ventricular puncture through a burr hole.

61210Ventricular accessImplanted catheter, reservoir, or electrode

61210 covers burr-hole placement of a ventricular catheter, reservoir, or drainage connection; 61120 covers puncture access without that catheter-placement service.

62270Lumbar punctureDiagnostic, no imaging guidance

62270 is a lumbar puncture for spinal access. Choose 61120 when the surgeon accesses a cerebral ventricle through a burr hole.

Codes related to 61120

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