CPT code 61522: Brain abscess removal, infratentorial2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California

CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 61522 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 61522 covers

A neurosurgeon uses a craniotomy or craniectomy to reach and remove an abscess in the infratentorial portion of the brain. A cerebellar or other posterior fossa abscess is a typical clinical example. The service is performed in an operating room, generally in a hospital setting, and is distinct from removal of a tumor or meningioma.

Select this code when the operative report supports excision of an infratentorial brain abscess through the described cranial approach; document the abscess location and the work performed. CMS assigns a 90-day major-surgery global period, including 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 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; co-surgeon payment requires 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 61522 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 61522 rate is calculated

Each of 61522’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 61522

61522 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

61522 compared with similar codes

How to choose

61514Brain abscess surgerySupratentorial

Both address brain abscess excision, but 61514 is for a supratentorial abscess; 61522 is for an infratentorial abscess.

61518Brain tumor excisionInfratentorial, non-meningioma

61518 is used for infratentorial brain-lesion excision in a different lesion category. Choose 61522 when the operative diagnosis and work support abscess excision.

61519Meningioma removalInfratentorial lesion

61519 identifies infratentorial meningioma removal. 61522 is for excision of an infratentorial brain abscess.

61524Brain cyst excisionInfratentorial cyst

61524 is for infratentorial cyst excision, not abscess excision. Base selection on the lesion treated and the documented operative work.

Codes related to 61522

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