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CPT code 62272: Therapeutic lumbar puncture, CSF drainage2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in North Carolina

Reports a spinal puncture performed to drain cerebrospinal fluid therapeutically, such as to relieve elevated pressure rather than obtain diagnostic samples.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality2.9K Medicare services in 2024

In North Carolina, Medicare pays $201.08 for 62272 in the office and $77.99 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$201.08Office (non-facility)
$77.99Hospital or facility
−7.2%vs the national office rate ($216.77)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 62272 nationwide

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

We’ll open 62272 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in North Carolina
  2. What 62272 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 62272 covers

A clinician uses a spinal puncture to drain cerebrospinal fluid for treatment, rather than primarily to collect a diagnostic specimen. A typical situation is therapeutic lumbar drainage for pressure relief in a patient with idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Neurologists, neurosurgeons, and other clinicians who perform spinal procedures may provide the service in an office, hospital, or other facility setting.

Report the code for the therapeutic drainage procedure, supported by documentation of the indication and the drainage performed. Record the puncture site and technique, along with pressure measurements or the amount removed when obtained. The code has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service, and 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.

How North Carolina compares for 62272

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 62272 runs from $188.06 in Arkansas to $281.29 in San Benito County, CA. North Carolina pays $201.08. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

62272 in North Carolina vs other payment areas
  1. North Carolina · this page$201.08
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$240.99+$39.91
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$247.96+$46.88
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$246.91+$45.83
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$238.21+$37.13
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$253.50+$52.42
  7. Alaska · Alaska$245.17+$44.09

Other areas in North Carolina first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

62272 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$191.25$75.81
ArkansasArkansas$188.06$74.73
ArizonaArizona$209.87$82.03
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$225.98$81.38
Chico, CACalifornia$224.73$80.13
El Centro, CACalifornia$224.81$80.21
Fresno, CACalifornia$224.73$80.13
Hanford, CACalifornia$224.73$80.13

62272 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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.

$188.06

$253.01

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
62272 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$245.171
AL$191.251
AR$188.061
AZ$209.871
CA$224.73–$281.2929
CO$223.531
CT$232.621
DC$247.961
DE$213.651
FL$218.08–$246.913
GA$203.63–$222.482
GU$230.661
HI$230.661
IA$194.591
ID$196.531
IL$212.59–$238.214
IN$197.781
KS$194.621
KY$198.831
LA$198.90–$210.082
MA$222.34–$246.182
MD$217.79–$247.963
ME$198.87–$209.632
MI$205.78–$222.302
MN$210.061
MO$195.71–$209.623
MS$191.881
MT$216.741
NC$201.081
ND$207.451
NE$195.491
NH$220.941
NJ$234.12–$245.022
NM$207.511
NV$214.301
NY$204.63–$261.805
OH$203.881
OK$197.261
OR$211.51–$230.192
PA$203.64–$226.862
PR$218.181
RI$220.991
SC$203.041
SD$206.351
TN$195.891
TX$202.19–$223.768
UT$206.191
VA$209.61–$247.962
VI$218.181
VT$207.521
WA$221.62–$250.442
WI$199.621
WV$203.941
WY$212.691

See 62272 in every payment locality

How the 62272 rate is calculated

Each of 62272’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 · 62272

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.54

1.54 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense4.48

4.48 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.47

0.47 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

6.4900

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$216.77

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

The exact North Carolina inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

6,949

Code
62272
Physician work
1.54
Practice expense
4.48
Malpractice
0.47

GPCI2026.csv

83

Locality
North Carolina
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.933
Malpractice
0.639
Office calculation for 62272 in North Carolina
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.54× 1.0001.5400
Practice expense4.48× 0.9334.1798
Malpractice0.47× 0.6390.3003
Total RVUs6.0202
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, North Carolina$201.08

Office: (1.54 × 1 + 4.48 × 0.933 + 0.47 × 0.639) × $33.4009 = $201.08

Facility: (1.54 × 1 + 0.53 × 0.933 + 0.47 × 0.639) × $33.4009 = $77.99

Open 62272 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 62272

The CMS indicators that decide how 62272 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 62272

Therapeutic lumbar puncture, CSF drainage

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is 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)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

62272 without 51 · national office

$216.77

Therapeutic lumbar puncture, CSF drainage

62272-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$108.39

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

Codes related to 62272

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

Codes related to 62272
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, North Carolina
Same family
62270Lumbar puncture, diagnostic, no imaging guidanceDiagnostic spinal puncture; the distinction is diagnostic sampling versus therapeutic CSF drainage.$153.76
Used instead
62220CSF shunt, to extracranial siteEstablishes a brain-cavity shunt for CSF diversion rather than draining CSF through a spinal puncture.No office rate
62223CSF shunt creation, peritoneal, pleural, or other terminusEstablishes a brain-cavity shunt when ongoing CSF diversion is needed instead of spinal drainage.No office rate

How 62272 has changed in North Carolina

62272 · Office / nonfacility

$201.08

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $33.18 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $167.90 to $201.08 (19.8%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $167.90changed to$201.08

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.58 changed to 1.54
    • Practice expense RVU 3.54 changed to 4.48
    • Malpractice RVU 0.50 changed to 0.47
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.926 changed to 0.933
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.665 changed to 0.639

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $171.28changed to$167.90

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 3.52 changed to 3.54
    • Malpractice RVU 0.46 changed to 0.50

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $168.48changed to$171.28

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $169.27changed to$168.48

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 3.34 changed to 3.52
    • Malpractice RVU 0.43 changed to 0.46
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.927 changed to 0.926
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.742 changed to 0.665

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $167.53changed to$169.27

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 3.17 changed to 3.34
    • Malpractice RVU 0.39 changed to 0.43
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.928 changed to 0.927
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.819 changed to 0.742

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $172.03changed to$167.53

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 3.31 changed to 3.17
    • Malpractice RVU 0.34 changed to 0.39

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $177.19changed to$172.03

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 3.32 changed to 3.31
    • Malpractice RVU 0.32 changed to 0.34
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.930 changed to 0.928
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.757 changed to 0.819

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $187.69changed to$177.19

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Work RVU 1.35 changed to 1.58
    • Practice expense RVU 3.92 changed to 3.32
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.32
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.931 changed to 0.930
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.757

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $194.61changed to$187.69

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 4.14 changed to 3.92
    • Malpractice RVU 0.29 changed to 0.30

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $192.99changed to$194.61

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 4.09 changed to 4.14
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.29
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.732 changed to 0.695

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $193.44changed to$192.99

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 4.11 changed to 4.09
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.930 changed to 0.931
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.768 changed to 0.732

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $193.75changed to$193.44

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 4.09 changed to 4.11
    • Malpractice RVU 0.31 changed to 0.30

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $192.78changed to$193.75

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $192.20changed to$192.78

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 4.07 changed to 4.09
    • Malpractice RVU 0.32 changed to 0.31
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.929 changed to 0.930
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.732 changed to 0.768

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $195.66changed to$192.20

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 4.50 changed to 4.07
    • Malpractice RVU 0.33 changed to 0.32
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.927 changed to 0.929
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.732

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $195.66

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$201.08$77.99RVU26D
2026-07-01$201.08$77.99RVU26C
2026-04-01$201.08$77.99RVU26B
2026-01-01$201.08$77.99RVU26A
2025-10-01$167.90$83.73RVU25D
2025-07-01$167.90$83.73RVU25C
2025-04-01$167.90$83.73RVU25B
2025-01-01$167.90$83.73RVU25A
2024-10-01$171.28$84.66RVU24D
2024-07-01$171.28$84.66RVU24C
2024-04-01$171.28$84.66RVU24B
2024-03-09$171.28$84.66RVU24AR
2024-01-01$168.48$83.28RVU24A
2023-10-01$169.27$86.03RVU23D
2023-07-01$169.27$86.03RVU23C
2023-04-01$169.27$86.03RVU23B
2023-01-01$169.27$86.03RVU23A
2022-10-01$167.53$86.93RVU22D
2022-07-01$167.53$86.93RVU22C
2022-04-01$167.53$86.93RVU22B
2022-01-01$167.53$86.93RVU22A
2021-10-01$172.03$85.89RVU21D
2021-07-01$172.03$85.89RVU21C
2021-04-01$172.03$85.89RVU21B
2021-01-01$172.03$85.89RVU21A
2020-10-01$177.19$87.24RVU20D
2020-07-01$177.19$87.24RVU20C
2020-04-01$177.19$87.24RVU20B
2020-01-01$177.19$87.24RVU20A
2019-10-01$187.69$81.67RVU19D
2019-07-01$187.69$81.67RVU19C
2019-04-01$187.69$81.67RVU19B
2019-01-01$187.69$81.67RVU19A
2018-10-01$194.61$81.66RVU18D
2018-07-01$194.61$81.66RVU18C
2018-04-01$194.61$81.66RVU18B
2018-01-01$194.61$81.66RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$192.99$82.39RVU17D
2017-07-01$192.99$82.39RVU17C
2017-04-01$192.99$82.39RVU17B
2017-01-01$192.99$82.39RVU17A
2016-10-01$193.44$82.22RVU16D
2016-07-01$193.44$82.22RVU16C
2016-04-01$193.44$82.22RVU16B
2016-01-01$193.44$82.22RVU16A
2015-10-01$193.75$83.13RVU15D
2015-07-01$193.75$83.13RVU15C
2015-04-01$192.78$82.72RVU15B
2015-01-01$192.78$82.72RVU15A
2014-10-01$192.20$82.71RVU14D
2014-07-01$192.20$82.71RVU14C
2014-04-01$192.20$82.71RVU14B
2014-01-01$192.20$82.71RVU14A
2013-10-01$195.66$79.91RVU13D
2013-07-01$195.66$79.91RVU13C
2013-04-01$195.66$79.91RVU13B
2013-01-01$195.66$79.91RVU13AR

Price 62272 for an earlier date of service

Where the North Carolina rate applies

North Carolina is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 785 cities and communities in North Carolina. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Aberdeen
  • Advance
  • Ahoskie
  • Alamance
  • Albemarle
  • Alexis
  • Alliance
  • Altamahaw

Browse all communities in North Carolina

62272 billing questions

How does 62272 differ from diagnostic spinal puncture 62270?

Use 62272 when the puncture is performed to drain CSF therapeutically. Use 62270 when the puncture is diagnostic, such as for CSF sampling.

Is 62272 reported per milliliter of CSF removed?

No. Report the therapeutic puncture service, not a separate unit for each milliliter drained.

What documentation supports 62272?

Document the clinical reason for therapeutic drainage and that drainage was performed. Include the site and technique, and record fluid volume or pressure findings when obtained.

Should modifier 50 be used for drainage at multiple sites?

No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply to this code, and modifier 50 is inappropriate.

How does Medicare treat other procedures performed in the same session?

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full; other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. An assistant at surgery is not paid, and 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
RVUs for 62272PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,949 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for North CarolinaGPCI2026.csv, line 83 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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