CPT code 62256: Shunt removal, without replacement2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $717.58 for 62256 in a facility. There’s no office rate.

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 62256 nationwide

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

What 62256 covers

A neurosurgeon surgically removes the complete CSF diversion system, including its intracranial catheter and connected valve and drainage tubing. A common example is explantation of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt because of infection when the shunt is not replaced during the procedure. The service is generally performed in an operating room; it is distinct from revising one component or adjusting a programmable valve.

Report 62256 when the complete shunt system is removed and no replacement is performed. If a complete system is removed and replaced, compare 62258; if only a catheter or other shunt component is revised, consider the code for that service instead. Documentation should identify the shunt components removed and clarify whether replacement occurred. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted. Do not append modifier 50 for this service.

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.

How Washington, DC area compares for 62256

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the facility rate for 62256 runs from $549.40 in Arkansas to $804.45 in Miami, FL. Washington, DC area pays $717.58. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

Every other payment area

62256 rates by state

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

See 62256 in every payment locality

How the 62256 rate is calculated

Each of 62256’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 62256

62256 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 51

Codes related to 62256

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

How 62256 has changed in Washington, DC area

Price 62256 for an earlier date of service

Where the Washington, DC area rate applies

Washington, DC area is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1 cities and communities in District of Columbia. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

• Washington

Browse all communities in District of Columbia

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