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CPT code 61736: Laser ablation, single trajectory, simple lesion2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports MRI-guided intracranial laser thermal ablation of one simple lesion reached through a single trajectory, typically for selected epilepsy or tumor cases.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities230 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $1,141.64 for 61736 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 61736

Laser ablation, single trajectory, simple lesion

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
18.58
Total RVUs
34.18
Global days
000

National rate · 2026

$1,141.64

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 61736 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

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

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 61736 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 61736 covers

Code 61736 represents intracranial laser interstitial thermal therapy for one simple lesion reached along a single trajectory. A neurosurgeon places a laser probe stereotactically, when needed, and uses MRI guidance and thermometry to heat and ablate the target tissue. It is used in selected cases such as focal epilepsy or an intracranial tumor when LITT is the chosen treatment, typically in a hospital operating room with MRI-capable equipment.

Choose the code based on the documented lesion characteristics and trajectory, not simply the diagnosis: multiple trajectories or multiple or complex lesions point to 61737. Record the target, lesion details, number of trajectories, probe placement, and MRI-guided treatment. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. An assistant at surgery is not paid; 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 61736 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

61736 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$995.49
AlaskaUnavailable$1,351.04
ArizonaUnavailable$1,095.86
ArkansasUnavailable$977.98
Atlanta, GAUnavailable$1,200.35
Austin, TXUnavailable$1,128.01
Bakersfield, CAUnavailable$1,075.77
Baltimore area, MDUnavailable$1,232.61
Beaumont, TXUnavailable$1,099.73
Brazoria, TXUnavailable$1,086.59

61736 rates by state

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

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Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

View every state and territory as a table
61736 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 61736 rate is calculated

Each of 61736’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 · 61736

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work18.58

18.58 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense7.75

7.75 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice7.85

7.85 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

34.1800

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$1,141.64

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 61736

The CMS indicators that decide how 61736 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 61736

Laser ablation, single trajectory, simple lesion

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

61736 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

5 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 61736

    Laser ablation, single trajectory, simple lesion18.58 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 61737

    Laser ablation, multiple trajectories or complex lesions22.1 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 61796

    Cranial radiosurgery, simple lesion13.58 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 61798

    Cranial radiosurgery, complex lesion19.35 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 61750

    Brain biopsy, without CT/MR guidance19.33 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

61737Laser ablationMultiple trajectories or complex lesions
61736 is for one simple lesion treated through one trajectory. 61737 is selected for multiple trajectories or multiple or complex lesions.
61796Cranial radiosurgerySimple lesion
61796 describes stereotactic radiosurgery for a simple cranial lesion; 61736 describes laser thermal ablation guided by MRI.
61798Cranial radiosurgeryComplex lesion
61798 is stereotactic radiosurgery for a complex cranial lesion. Choose 61736 for the specified single-trajectory laser treatment, not radiosurgery.
61750Brain biopsyWithout CT/MR guidance
61750 is for stereotactic intracranial biopsy or aspiration, not thermal ablation of a lesion.

Codes related to 61736

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 61736
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
61737Laser ablation, multiple trajectories or complex lesionsSibling code for treatment involving multiple trajectories or multiple or complex lesions.No office rate
Used instead
61796Cranial radiosurgery, simple lesionStereotactic radiosurgery for a simple cranial lesion uses a different treatment method.No office rate
61798Cranial radiosurgery, complex lesionStereotactic radiosurgery for a complex cranial lesion uses a different treatment method.No office rate

61736 billing questions

When should 61737 be used instead?

Use 61737 when the treatment involves multiple trajectories or multiple or complex lesions. Code 61736 describes one simple lesion treated along a single trajectory.

Is MRI guidance included in 61736?

Yes. The code accounts for MRI guidance used during the intracranial laser treatment, including MRI monitoring of the thermal ablation.

Should modifier 50 be appended for bilateral treatment?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code; do not use modifier 50 to report bilateral treatment.

Can an assistant surgeon be paid for this procedure?

No. CMS lists a statutory restriction on assistant-at-surgery payment for 61736.

What documentation supports reporting 61736?

Document the lesion treated, why it fits the simple-lesion selection, the single trajectory, probe placement when performed, and MRI-guided ablation.

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
RVUs for 61736PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,878 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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