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CPT code 63035: Nerve-root decompression, each additional interspace2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports nerve-root decompression at each additional cervical or lumbar interspace treated during a laminotomy procedure beyond the first interspace.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities4.1K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $206.42 for 63035 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 63035

Nerve-root decompression, each additional interspace

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
3.76
Total RVUs
6.18
Global days
ZZZ

National rate · 2026

$206.42

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 63035 →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 63035 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 63035 covers

This add-on represents decompression of nerve roots at another cervical or lumbar interspace during a laminotomy operation. The surgeon may remove bone or disc material and perform partial facetectomy or foraminotomy as needed to relieve root compression. Spine surgeons typically perform the work in an operating room, often for disc herniation or foraminal narrowing affecting more than one interspace.

Report 63035 with the applicable primary code, 63020 for cervical surgery or 63030 for lumbar surgery; it is not a standalone service. Count additional interspaces treated, rather than the number of nerve roots, and document the spinal region, interspaces, and decompression performed. CMS treats this as an add-on paid within the primary procedure’s global period. When the procedure is bilateral and modifier 50 is reported, CMS pays 150% of the applicable amount.

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 63035 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

63035 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$184.24
AlaskaUnavailable$254.38
ArizonaUnavailable$199.50
ArkansasUnavailable$181.58
Atlanta, GAUnavailable$215.32
Austin, TXUnavailable$204.64
Bakersfield, CAUnavailable$197.53
Baltimore area, MDUnavailable$220.74
Beaumont, TXUnavailable$199.89
Brazoria, TXUnavailable$198.45

63035 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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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
63035 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 63035 rate is calculated

Each of 63035’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 · 63035

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work3.76

3.76 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense1.25

1.25 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice1.17

1.17 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

6.1800

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$206.42

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 63035

The CMS indicators that decide how 63035 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 63035

Nerve-root decompression, each additional interspace

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodZZZAdd-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
Bilateral (modifier 50)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)2Permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

63035 without 50 · national facility

$206.42

Nerve-root decompression, each additional interspace

63035-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$309.63

Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).

When to use modifier 50

63035 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

5 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 63035

    Nerve-root decompression, each additional interspace3.76 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 63020

    Cervical laminotomy, single interspace14.54 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 63030

    Lumbar decompression, single interspace11.7 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 63043

    Cervical laminotomy, additional interspace0 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 63044

    Lumbar re-exploration, each additional interspace0 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

63020Cervical laminotomySingle interspace
63020 is the primary cervical procedure for the first interspace. Use 63035 only for additional interspaces treated in that operation.
63030Lumbar decompressionSingle interspace
63030 is the primary lumbar procedure for the first interspace. Use 63035 for each additional interspace treated in the same procedure.
63043Cervical laminotomyAdditional interspace
63043 is for additional cervical interspaces in a reexploration operation; 63035 is used with the 63020 or 63030 procedure family.
63044Lumbar re-explorationEach additional interspace
63044 is for additional lumbar interspaces in a reexploration operation; 63035 is used with the 63020 or 63030 procedure family.

Codes related to 63035

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

Codes related to 63035
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Add-on codes
63020Cervical laminotomy, single interspacePrimary cervical laminotomy procedure with which 63035 may be reported for additional interspaces.No office rate
63030Lumbar decompression, single interspacePrimary lumbar laminotomy procedure with which 63035 may be reported for additional interspaces.No office rate
Used instead
63043Cervical laminotomy, additional interspaceAdd-on for additional cervical interspaces when the operation is a reexploration.No office rate
63044Lumbar re-exploration, each additional interspaceAdd-on for additional lumbar interspaces when the operation is a reexploration.No office rate
63048Spinal decompression, each additional vertebral segmentAdd-on in the laminectomy, facetectomy, and foraminotomy family for additional segments.No office rate

63035 billing questions

Can 63035 be reported by itself?

No. It is an add-on for an additional cervical or lumbar interspace and must be reported with the applicable primary procedure, 63020 or 63030.

How is the number of units determined?

Count each additional interspace decompressed beyond the first interspace covered by the primary procedure. The number of nerve roots treated does not determine the unit count.

What documentation supports 63035?

Document the cervical or lumbar region, each interspace treated, and the decompression work performed at the additional interspace.

When is modifier 50 relevant?

For a bilateral procedure, CMS pays 150% when modifier 50 is reported. The record should support decompression on both sides.

Does 63035 have its own global period?

No separate global period is assigned; payment is within the primary procedure’s global period.

How does 63035 differ from 63043 or 63044?

63035 represents an additional interspace in the 63020 or 63030 procedure family. Codes 63043 and 63044 describe additional interspaces in the cervical or lumbar reexploration family.

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 63035PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,999 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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