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CPT code 61864: Brain electrode implant, additional array, no microelectrode recording2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports placement of each additional subcortical neurostimulator electrode array through a twist drill or burr hole when intraoperative microelectrode recording is not used.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities720 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $259.19 for 61864 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 61864

Brain electrode implant, additional array, no microelectrode recording

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
4.38
Total RVUs
7.76
Global days
ZZZ

National rate · 2026

$259.19

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 61864 →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 61864 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 61864 covers

A neurosurgeon places an additional electrode array in a subcortical brain target for neurostimulation, using a twist drill or burr hole. This code is for an array beyond the first during the implantation procedure and describes the pathway without intraoperative microelectrode recording. Such electrode placement is commonly part of deep brain stimulation surgery for movement disorders, including Parkinson disease, essential tremor, or dystonia.

Report 61864 with the first-array code 61863 when the operative documentation supports an additional array placed during the same procedure. The note should identify the number of arrays implanted, the subcortical placement, the surgical approach, and whether intraoperative microelectrode recording was used. CMS classifies 61864 as an add-on code: it is billed only with a primary procedure and paid 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 61864 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

61864 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$226.09
AlaskaUnavailable$308.09
ArizonaUnavailable$248.75
ArkansasUnavailable$222.13
Atlanta, GAUnavailable$272.81
Austin, TXUnavailable$255.46
Bakersfield, CAUnavailable$242.88
Baltimore area, MDUnavailable$279.85
Beaumont, TXUnavailable$250.20
Brazoria, TXUnavailable$246.38

61864 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
61864 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 61864 rate is calculated

Each of 61864’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 · 61864

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work4.38

4.38 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense1.54

1.54 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice1.84

1.84 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

7.7600

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$259.19

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 61864

The CMS indicators that decide how 61864 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 61864

Brain electrode implant, additional array, no microelectrode recording

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)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 80 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

61864 without 80 · national facility

$259.19

Brain electrode implant, additional array, no microelectrode recording

61864-80 · Assistant: 16%

$41.47

A physician assistant at surgery is paid 16% of the surgeon’s fee schedule amount.

When to use modifier 80

61864 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 61864

    Brain electrode implant, additional array, no microelectrode recording4.38 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 61863

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

    Not priced

  • 61868

    DBS electrode, additional array with microelectrode recording7.71 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 61867

    Neuroelectrode placement, subcortical, with microelectrode recording32.2 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

61863Brain electrode placementSubcortical, without microelectrode recording
61863 covers the first subcortical array without intraoperative microelectrode recording; 61864 covers each additional array in that procedure.
61868DBS electrodeAdditional array with microelectrode recording
Use 61868 for an additional array when intraoperative microelectrode recording is used; 61864 is for the pathway without that recording.
61867Neuroelectrode placementSubcortical, with microelectrode recording
61867 covers the first array when intraoperative microelectrode recording is used. It is not the additional-array code; that code is 61868.

Codes related to 61864

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

Codes related to 61864
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Primary code
61863Brain electrode placement, subcortical, without microelectrode recordingFirst-array procedure for the no-recording pathway; report with 61864 for an additional array.No office rate
Used instead
61868DBS electrode, additional array with microelectrode recordingAdditional-array counterpart when intraoperative microelectrode recording is used.No office rate
Same family
61867Neuroelectrode placement, subcortical, with microelectrode recordingFirst-array code for the pathway using intraoperative microelectrode recording.No office rate

61864 billing questions

When is 61864 reported with 61863?

Report 61864 for an additional subcortical electrode array placed during the procedure, with 61863 for the first array when intraoperative microelectrode recording is not used.

Does 61864 count electrode contacts or arrays?

It represents an additional electrode array, not each contact on an array. The operative report should document the number of arrays implanted.

How does 61864 differ from 61868?

Both describe an additional array. 61864 is for the procedure without intraoperative microelectrode recording; 61868 is the corresponding additional-array code when that recording is used.

Can 61864 be billed by itself?

No. It is an add-on code and must be reported with the primary procedure, typically 61863 for the first array in this no-recording pathway.

What documentation supports reporting 61864?

Document the additional array’s placement, the subcortical target and approach, and whether intraoperative microelectrode recording was used.

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 61864PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,897 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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