CPT code 61524: Brain cyst excision, infratentorial cyst2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
Reports operative removal of an infratentorial brain cyst through a craniectomy or craniotomy, with the lesion’s location and type established in the operative record.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 61524 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.
Your location
On this page 9 sections
What 61524 covers
This code is for neurosurgical removal of a cystic lesion in the infratentorial part of the brain, below the tentorium. The surgeon gains access through a craniectomy or craniotomy and removes the cyst. The service is generally performed in a hospital operating room; the operative report should identify the cyst and establish its infratentorial location.
Select this code when the lesion is a cyst and its location is infratentorial, rather than choosing a code for a tumor or abscess. Documentation should support the diagnosis, site, surgical approach, and removal performed. This major surgery 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 the others at 50%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation. Modifier 50 is inappropriate, 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 61524 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 | $1,947.46 |
| Chico, CA | Unavailable | $1,915.47 |
| El Centro, CA | Unavailable | $1,917.53 |
| Fresno, CA | Unavailable | $1,915.47 |
| Hanford, CA | Unavailable | $1,915.47 |
| Los Angeles, CA | Unavailable | $2,047.47 |
| Madera, CA | Unavailable | $1,915.47 |
| Marin County, CA | Unavailable | $2,161.70 |
| Merced, CA | Unavailable | $1,915.47 |
| Modesto, CA | Unavailable | $1,915.47 |
| Napa, CA | Unavailable | $2,091.53 |
| Oxnard, CA | Unavailable | $2,017.30 |
| Redding, CA | Unavailable | $1,915.47 |
| Rest of California | Unavailable | $1,915.47 |
| Riverside, CA | Unavailable | $2,046.89 |
| Sacramento, CA | Unavailable | $1,977.06 |
| Salinas, CA | Unavailable | $1,969.62 |
| San Benito County, CA | Unavailable | $2,228.57 |
| San Diego, CA | Unavailable | $1,994.92 |
| San Francisco, CA | Unavailable | $2,147.71 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | Unavailable | $1,943.13 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | Unavailable | $2,171.37 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | Unavailable | $1,995.92 |
| Santa Maria, CA | Unavailable | $1,971.21 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | Unavailable | $2,013.04 |
| Stockton, CA | Unavailable | $1,915.47 |
| Vallejo, CA | Unavailable | $2,071.37 |
| Visalia, CA | Unavailable | $1,915.47 |
| Yuba City, CA | Unavailable | $1,915.47 |
How the 61524 rate is calculated
Each of 61524’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 · 61524
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work29.14
29.14 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense19.26
19.26 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice12.32
12.32 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
60.7200
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$2,028.10
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 61524
61524 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 61524
Brain cyst excision, infratentorial cyst
| 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) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.11/0.76/0.13 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 61524
Brain cyst excision, infratentorial cyst
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
61524 without 51 · national facility
$2,028.10
Brain cyst excision, infratentorial cyst
61524-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$1,014.05
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%).
61524 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 61516Cyst excisionSupratentorial
- Both address cyst removal, but 61516 applies to a supratentorial cyst; this code applies to an infratentorial cyst.
- 61522Brain abscess removalInfratentorial
- 61522 is for an infratentorial abscess. Choose this code when the lesion removed is a cyst.
- 61518Brain tumor excisionInfratentorial, non-meningioma
- 61518 is for an infratentorial brain tumor. This code is for an infratentorial cyst, so the documented lesion type distinguishes them.
61524 billing questions
How does this differ from the code for an infratentorial brain abscess?
Use this code for removal of an infratentorial cyst. The abscess code, 61522, is for an abscess rather than a cyst.
How does this differ from 61516?
Both codes address cyst removal, but 61516 is for a supratentorial cyst. This code is for an infratentorial cyst.
What documentation supports code selection?
The operative report should identify the lesion as a cyst, establish its infratentorial location, and describe the surgical removal and approach.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.
Can modifier 50 be used, and what happens when other procedures are performed in the same session?
Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Under the standard multiple procedure rule, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%.
What care is included in the global period?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
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
Fee sheets · Coming soon
Put 61524 and the rest of your codes on one sheet
Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.
Join the waitlist