CPT code 61715: Focused ultrasound, intracranial stereotactic ablation2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

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

What 61715 covers

CPT 61715 reports stereotactic intracranial ablation performed with magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound. The treatment directs focused ultrasound energy to a planned intracranial target under MR guidance. Neurosurgical teams report this service; it is distinct from laser interstitial thermal therapy and radiation-based stereotactic radiosurgery.

For Medicare, 61715 has carrier-priced status C: the Medicare Administrative Contractor sets payment for each claim, and there is no national physician fee schedule payment. CMS identifies professional and technical components, reported with modifier 26 for professional interpretation and modifier TC for equipment and staff; reporting without either modifier represents the global service. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. Standard multiple-procedure reduction applies to procedures performed in the same session, and bilateral adjustment does not apply. 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 61715 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

61715 rates by state

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

How the 61715 rate is calculated

Each of 61715’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 61715

The CMS indicators that decide how 61715 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 26

61715 compared with similar codes

How to choose

61736Laser ablationSingle trajectory, simple lesion

61736 describes laser interstitial thermal therapy for a simple intracranial lesion using one trajectory. 61715 uses MR-guided focused ultrasound rather than a laser probe.

61737Laser ablationMultiple trajectories or complex lesions

61737 describes laser interstitial thermal therapy using multiple trajectories or a multiple or complex lesion approach. 61715 describes focused-ultrasound ablation.

61796Cranial radiosurgerySimple lesion

61796 describes radiation-based stereotactic radiosurgery for a simple cranial lesion. 61715 uses focused ultrasound for intracranial ablation.

61798Cranial radiosurgeryComplex lesion

61798 describes radiation-based stereotactic radiosurgery for a complex cranial lesion. 61715 uses focused ultrasound for intracranial ablation.

Codes related to 61715

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