FeeBase
Log inGet started
Menu

CPT code 61781: Cranial navigation, intradural2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports computer-assisted navigation used during cranial surgery involving an intradural target, as an add-on to the primary procedure.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities16.4K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $215.10 for 61781 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 61781

Cranial navigation, intradural

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
3.66
Total RVUs
6.44
Global days
ZZZ

National rate · 2026

$215.10

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 61781 →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 61781 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 61781 covers

This add-on covers computer-assisted guidance used during cranial surgery when the operative target or path is intradural. The surgeon uses preoperative imaging registered to the patient and navigation equipment to orient instruments during the operation. Neurosurgeons most often use it in an operating room for procedures such as intracranial tumor surgery or placement of brain electrodes when navigation guides work within the dura.

Report 61781 with the eligible primary cranial procedure, not by itself. The operative record should support use of navigation for the intradural work, including the imaging and its intraoperative use. Distinguish it from navigation for an extradural cranial target or spinal procedure. CMS classifies it as an add-on: it is billed only with a primary procedure, and its payment is within that procedure’s global period.

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 61781 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

61781 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$187.91
AlaskaUnavailable$256.34
ArizonaUnavailable$206.52
ArkansasUnavailable$184.66
Atlanta, GAUnavailable$226.28
Austin, TXUnavailable$212.06
Bakersfield, CAUnavailable$201.78
Baltimore area, MDUnavailable$232.11
Beaumont, TXUnavailable$207.70
Brazoria, TXUnavailable$204.60

61781 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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
61781 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 61781 rate is calculated

Each of 61781’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 · 61781

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work3.66

3.66 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense1.27

1.27 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice1.51

1.51 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

6.4400

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$215.10

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 61781

The CMS indicators that decide how 61781 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 61781

Cranial navigation, intradural

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodZZZAdd-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

61781 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 61781

    Cranial navigation, intradural3.66 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 61782

    Cranial navigation, extradural3.1 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 61783

    Spinal navigation, computer-assisted guidance3.66 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 61751

    Brain biopsy, CT/MR-guided stereotactic18.32 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

61782Cranial navigationExtradural
Use 61781 for navigation involving an intradural cranial target; 61782 is for extradural cranial work.
61783Spinal navigationComputer-assisted guidance
61783 applies to spinal navigation. 61781 is for navigation during cranial intradural procedures.
61751Brain biopsyCT/MR-guided stereotactic
61751 describes an intracranial biopsy service using CT or MR guidance. 61781 is an add-on for computer-assisted navigation during a qualifying cranial intradural procedure.

Codes related to 61781

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

Codes related to 61781
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Primary code
61510Brain tumor excision, supratentorial, nonmeningiomaMay be the primary cranial tumor procedure when navigation is used for intradural work.No office rate
61512Meningioma excision, supratentorialMay be the primary meningioma procedure when navigation guides intradural work.No office rate
Same family
61782Cranial navigation, extraduralRelated cranial navigation add-on for extradural rather than intradural work.No office rate
61783Spinal navigation, computer-assisted guidanceRelated navigation add-on for spinal procedures.No office rate

61781 billing questions

How does 61781 differ from 61782?

61781 is for navigation during cranial work involving an intradural target. 61782 is the related cranial navigation code for an extradural target.

Can 61781 be reported by itself?

No. It is an add-on and must be reported with an eligible primary procedure.

What documentation supports reporting 61781?

The operative record should identify the intradural work and document that computer-assisted navigation was used to guide the procedure.

Is 61781 a professional or technical component?

CMS classifies 61781 as an add-on code and does not identify separate professional or technical components.

How does 61781 differ from 61751?

61751 describes an intracranial biopsy service using CT or MR guidance. 61781 is an add-on for computer-assisted navigation during a qualifying cranial intradural procedure.

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 61781PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,884 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

Did this answer your question about what 61781 pays?

Tell us what you were actually trying to work out. We’ll answer you directly, or build the page that does.

Fee sheets · Coming soon

Put 61781 and the rest of your codes on one sheet

Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.

Join the waitlist