CPT code 61250: Brain exploration, stereotactic burr-hole approach2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California

CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 61250 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 61250 covers

This code describes a neurosurgical procedure using a burr hole or trephine to access and explore the brain with stereotactic guidance. It is distinct from a burr hole made to place a ventricular catheter or subcutaneous reservoir, and from a procedure whose defined purpose is stereotactic biopsy or lesion removal. The neurosurgeon’s operative report should identify the stereotactic exploration and the cranial access performed.

Report the service for the documented exploration, including the burr-hole or trephine access; do not separately report that access as an independent procedure. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, which includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. For bilateral reporting with modifier 50, CMS pays this procedure at 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons require supporting documentation, and team surgery is 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 61250 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 61250 rate is calculated

Each of 61250’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 61250

61250 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 50

61250 compared with similar codes

How to choose

61253Burr-hole procedureUnilateral or bilateral hematoma

Both involve burr-hole or trephine access in a stereotactic neurosurgical context. Select based on the specific procedure described in the operative report, not the access alone.

61750Brain biopsyWithout CT/MR guidance

This code is for stereotactic exploration. Use 61750 when the service documented is stereotactic biopsy, aspiration, or excision of an intracranial lesion.

61210Ventricular accessImplanted catheter, reservoir, or electrode

61210 describes burr-hole access for placement of a ventricular catheter. It is not the code for stereotactic brain exploration.

Codes related to 61250

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