CPT code 61798: Cranial radiosurgery, complex lesion2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Reports single-session stereotactic radiosurgery for a complex cranial lesion, such as an intracranial tumor treated with focused radiation rather than open resection.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 61798 in Texas.
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
On this page 9 sections
What 61798 covers
This code represents single-session stereotactic radiosurgery directed at a complex intracranial lesion. Neurosurgeons and radiation oncologists commonly participate in treating brain metastases, meningiomas, and vestibular schwannomas with focused radiation using stereotactic localization and treatment planning. The service is typically delivered in a hospital or radiation-treatment setting without open removal of the lesion.
Report 61798 for the first complex lesion in the session; report 61799 for each additional complex lesion. Choose the complex rather than simple sequence based on the documented lesion classification, not lesion count or laterality alone. Records should identify the treated target or targets, support their complex classification, and document stereotactic planning and treatment. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care for 90 days. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted. Modifier 50 is inappropriate, including when targets are on both sides of the brain.
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 61798 pays more and less in Texas
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | Unavailable | $1,334.08 |
| Beaumont, TX | Unavailable | $1,281.14 |
| Brazoria, TX | Unavailable | $1,281.22 |
| Dallas, TX | Unavailable | $1,304.73 |
| Fort Worth, TX | Unavailable | $1,303.93 |
| Galveston, TX | Unavailable | $1,294.83 |
| Houston, TX | Unavailable | $1,440.53 |
| Rest of Texas | Unavailable | $1,290.85 |
How the 61798 rate is calculated
Each of 61798’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 · 61798
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work19.35
19.35 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense12.76
12.76 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice7.96
7.96 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
40.0700
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,338.37
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 61798
61798 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 61798
Cranial radiosurgery, complex lesion
| 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 | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not 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 · 61798
Cranial radiosurgery, complex lesion
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 80 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
61798 without 80 · national facility
$1,338.37
Cranial radiosurgery, complex lesion
61798-80 · Assistant: 16%
$214.14
A physician assistant at surgery is paid 16% of the surgeon’s fee schedule amount.
61798 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 61796Cranial radiosurgerySimple lesion
- Use 61796 for a simple cranial lesion; use 61798 when the lesion is classified as complex. The lesion classification, not laterality, distinguishes these codes.
- 61797Cranial radiosurgeryEach additional simple lesion
- 61797 is for each additional simple lesion. For additional complex lesions treated with 61798, use 61799 instead.
- 61799Cranial radiosurgeryEach additional complex lesion
- 61798 reports the first complex lesion in the session; 61799 reports each additional complex lesion.
61798 billing questions
How is 61798 distinguished from 61796?
61798 is for a complex cranial lesion; 61796 is the corresponding simple-lesion code. Use the documented CPT complexity classification rather than assuming that lesion size, location, or count alone determines the level.
How are multiple complex lesions reported?
Report 61798 for the first complex lesion treated in the session and 61799 for each additional complex lesion. Document the targets and which lesions are additional.
Should modifier 50 be used for lesions on both sides?
No. Bilateral adjustment is not appropriate for this code; report applicable additional-lesion services using the complex-lesion sequence.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during the 90 days after the procedure.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
CMS permits assistant-at-surgery payment for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
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
Fee sheets · Coming soon
Put 61798 and the rest of your codes on one sheet
Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.
Join the waitlist