CPT code 61600: Skull base resection, anterior fossa, extradural2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Reports operative removal of an extradural lesion at the anterior cranial fossa, such as a tumor or vascular lesion involving this skull-base region.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 61600 in Florida.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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On this page 9 sections
What 61600 covers
This service covers surgical removal of a lesion located outside the dura at the anterior cranial fossa, the skull-base region behind the forehead and above the nasal cavity. Neurosurgeons and otolaryngologists with skull-base expertise may perform the resection in a hospital operating room. A lesion extending from the sinonasal region toward the cranial base is one clinical setting in which this work may be part of a larger operation.
Select the code when the operative report supports both the anterior fossa location and the extradural compartment; intradural work or a lesion in another cranial fossa points to a different code. Document the lesion’s site, compartment, extent of resection, and operative work. This major surgery code has a 90-day global period that includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is 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 61600 pays more and less in Florida
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | Unavailable | $2,099.40 |
| Miami, FL | Unavailable | $2,275.87 |
| Rest of Florida | Unavailable | $1,992.20 |
How the 61600 rate is calculated
Each of 61600’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 · 61600
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work29.26
29.26 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense21.58
21.58 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice6.49
6.49 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
57.3300
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,914.87
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 61600
61600 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 61600
Skull base resection, anterior fossa, extradural
| 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) | 2 | 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 · 61600
Skull base resection, anterior fossa, extradural
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
61600 without 51 · national facility
$1,914.87
Skull base resection, anterior fossa, extradural
61600-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$957.44
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%).
61600 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 61601Skull base resectionAnterior fossa, intradural
- Both address lesions at the anterior cranial fossa. The key distinction is compartment: 61600 is extradural, while 61601 is intradural.
- 61605Skull-base resectionMiddle fossa, extradural
- Both describe extradural lesion resection, but 61605 is for the middle cranial fossa rather than the anterior fossa.
- 61607Cranial lesion resectionPosterior fossa, extradural
- Both describe extradural lesion resection, but 61607 is for the posterior cranial fossa rather than the anterior fossa.
61600 billing questions
How is 61600 distinguished from 61601?
Use 61600 for an extradural lesion at the anterior cranial fossa. Use 61601 when the anterior fossa lesion is intradural.
Does the operative approach determine the resection code?
The resection code follows the lesion’s location and relationship to the dura. The approach is a separate part of the operative service when separately reportable.
Can an assistant-at-surgery be reported?
CMS indicates that assistant-at-surgery payment may be made for this code. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation.
Should modifier 50 be used for bilateral work?
No. The bilateral adjustment does not apply to 61600, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code.
What documentation supports reporting 61600?
The operative report should identify the anterior cranial fossa site, establish that the lesion was extradural, and describe the resection performed.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
Under the standard multiple procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures in the session are paid at 50%.
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
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