CPT code 61889: Neurostimulator implant, skull-mounted generator or receiver2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $1,750.21 for 61889 nationally in a facility.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 61889 covers

A neurosurgeon implants a pulse generator or receiver designed to mount to the skull and connects it to intracranial neuroelectrodes. A common clinical setting is surgery for responsive neurostimulation in drug-resistant focal epilepsy, where the cranial device can monitor brain activity and deliver stimulation through connected electrodes. The service is performed in an operating room, often as part of a larger neurostimulation implantation procedure.

Report this code for the skull-mounted generator or receiver insertion, not simply for placing the intracranial electrodes. The operative report should establish the skull-mounted device, its insertion, and the electrode connections; report electrode implantation separately when performed and supported by the applicable code. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For same-session procedures, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; 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 61889 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

61889 rates by state

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

How the 61889 rate is calculated

Each of 61889’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 61889

61889 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 50

61889 compared with similar codes

How to choose

61885Neurostimulator generatorOne electrode array

Use 61889 for insertion of a skull-mounted cranial generator or receiver. Code 61885 describes a different cranial generator or receiver insertion associated with a single electrode array.

61886Neurostimulator generatorTwo or more arrays

Code 61886 describes a cranial generator or receiver insertion associated with multiple electrode arrays. The defining distinction for 61889 is the skull-mounted device.

61891Neurostimulator revisionSkull-mounted generator or receiver

Code 61891 is for revision or replacement of a skull-mounted cranial neurostimulator. Code 61889 reports insertion, not revision or replacement.

61892Neurostimulator removalSkull-mounted generator or receiver

Code 61892 reports removal of a skull-mounted cranial neurostimulator pulse generator or receiver; 61889 reports its insertion.

Codes related to 61889

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

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates