CPT code 61736: Laser ablation, single trajectory, simple lesion2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Reports MRI-guided intracranial laser thermal ablation of one simple lesion reached through a single trajectory, typically for selected epilepsy or tumor cases.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 61736 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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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 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 | $1,356.86 |
| Miami, FL | Unavailable | $1,553.16 |
| Rest of Florida | Unavailable | $1,262.14 |
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
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
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
61736 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
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.
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
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