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CPT code 61850: Cortical electrode implant, burr-hole approach, no stereotaxy2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports placement of a cortical neurostimulator electrode array through twist-drill or burr-hole access without stereotactic guidance, commonly for epilepsy treatment.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities

Medicare pays $990.00 for 61850 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 61850

Cortical electrode implant, burr-hole approach, no stereotaxy

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
13.01
Total RVUs
29.64
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$990.00

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 61850 →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 61850 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 61850 covers

Code 61850 describes cranial access through one or more small twist-drill or burr holes to place an electrode array on the cerebral cortex. A neurosurgeon may perform this for cortical neurostimulation in a patient with focal epilepsy. The code includes securing the array when fixation is performed; it does not describe a craniotomy-based cortical approach or implantation of a subcortical array.

Choose this code when the operative report supports cortical electrode placement through burr-hole or twist-drill access without stereotactic guidance. Document the target, approach, electrode placement, and any fixation performed. CMS classifies the service as major surgery: the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this service. An assistant at surgery may be 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 61850 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

61850 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$864.01
AlaskaUnavailable$1,149.30
ArizonaUnavailable$952.10
ArkansasUnavailable$848.72
Atlanta, GAUnavailable$1,034.06
Austin, TXUnavailable$991.61
Bakersfield, CAUnavailable$962.44
Baltimore area, MDUnavailable$1,067.52
Beaumont, TXUnavailable$943.49
Brazoria, TXUnavailable$949.86

61850 rates by state

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

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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
61850 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 61850 rate is calculated

Each of 61850’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 · 61850

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work13.01

13.01 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense11.15

11.15 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice5.48

5.48 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

29.6400

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$990.00

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 61850

61850 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 61850

Cortical electrode implant, burr-hole approach, no stereotaxy

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period090Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.11/0.76/0.13Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 61850

Cortical electrode implant, burr-hole approach, no stereotaxy

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.

  • 24Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78Unplanned return to the operating room for a related complication
SurgeryVisit
Sep 23, 2026Jan 10, 2027

Pre-op dayGlobal period

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

61850 without 51 · national facility

$990.00

Cortical electrode implant, burr-hole approach, no stereotaxy

61850-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$495.00

When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).

When to use modifier 51

61850 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 61850

    Cortical electrode implant, burr-hole approach, no stereotaxy13.01 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 61860

    Cortical electrodes, craniotomy or craniectomy21.7 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 61863

    Brain electrode placement, subcortical, without microelectrode recording20.19 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 61867

    Neuroelectrode placement, subcortical, with microelectrode recording32.2 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

61860Cortical electrodesCraniotomy or craniectomy
Both codes concern cortical electrode implantation without stereotactic guidance. Choose 61850 for twist-drill or burr-hole access and 61860 when the operative approach is craniotomy or craniectomy.
61863Brain electrode placementSubcortical, without microelectrode recording
Code 61850 is for a cortical target; 61863 is for a subcortical array placed without stereotactic guidance.
61867Neuroelectrode placementSubcortical, with microelectrode recording
Code 61867 describes subcortical array placement with stereotactic guidance, unlike 61850's cortical target and nonstereotactic approach.

Codes related to 61850

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

Codes related to 61850
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
61860Cortical electrodes, craniotomy or craniectomyCortical electrode placement through a craniotomy or craniectomy rather than burr-hole access.No office rate
61863Brain electrode placement, subcortical, without microelectrode recordingSubcortical electrode-array placement through twist-drill or burr-hole access without stereotactic guidance.No office rate
61867Neuroelectrode placement, subcortical, with microelectrode recordingSubcortical electrode-array placement with stereotactic guidance.No office rate
Often billed with
61885Neurostimulator generator, one electrode arrayDescribes a cranial neurostimulator generator or receiver service that may accompany electrode implantation.No office rate

61850 billing questions

When should 61850 be chosen instead of 61860?

Use 61850 for cortical electrode placement through twist-drill or burr-hole access. Code 61860 describes a craniotomy or craniectomy approach for cortical electrode placement.

Does 61850 include the neurostimulator generator?

No. This code represents cortical electrode placement, not implantation of a pulse generator or receiver. A separately performed generator service may be reported using the code that matches the device and configuration.

Is array fixation separately reported?

Fixation performed as part of placing the array is included in 61850. The operative note should support the electrode placement and the approach used.

Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral placement?

No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for 61850. Report the service according to its descriptor and documented procedure.

How does the 90-day global period affect postoperative visits?

The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global surgical service.

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 61850PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,894 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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