FeeBase
Log inGet started
Menu

CPT code 63044: Lumbar re-exploration, each additional interspace2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports nerve-root decompression at each additional lumbar interspace explored during revision laminotomy for persistent or recurrent compression.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities2.3K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare rate · 63044

Lumbar re-exploration, each additional interspace

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
0
Total RVUs
0.00
Global days
ZZZ

National rate · 2026

—

Not priced in the facility setting.

See every locality for 63044 →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 63044 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 63044 covers

A spine surgeon reports this add-on for nerve-root decompression at an additional lumbar interspace during a re-exploration laminotomy. The work may include partial facet removal, opening the neural foramen, or removing herniated disc material to relieve compression. Re-exploration involves returning to a previously operated lumbar interspace; this code distinguishes an additional interspace from the primary one. These procedures are typically performed in an operating room, often in a hospital setting.

Medicare assigns status C: there is no national physician fee schedule payment, and the Medicare Administrative Contractor sets payment for each claim. This is an add-on code and must be reported with a primary procedure; Medicare treats it within that procedure’s global period. Report each additional lumbar interspace as a unit. For a bilateral procedure, modifier 50 is paid at 150%.

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 63044 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

63044 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailableUnavailable
AlaskaUnavailableUnavailable
ArizonaUnavailableUnavailable
ArkansasUnavailableUnavailable
Atlanta, GAUnavailableUnavailable
Austin, TXUnavailableUnavailable
Bakersfield, CAUnavailableUnavailable
Baltimore area, MDUnavailableUnavailable
Beaumont, TXUnavailableUnavailable
Brazoria, TXUnavailableUnavailable

63044 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.

View every state and territory as a table
63044 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 63044 rate is calculated

Each of 63044’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 · 63044

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

0.0000

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$0.00

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 63044

The CMS indicators that decide how 63044 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 63044

Lumbar re-exploration, 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

63044 without 50 · national facility

$0.00

Lumbar re-exploration, each additional interspace

63044-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$0.00

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

63044 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 63044

    Lumbar re-exploration, each additional interspace0 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 63042

    Lumbar decompression, single-level re-exploration18.29 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 63035

    Nerve-root decompression, each additional interspace3.76 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 63047

    Lumbar decompression, single lumbar segment14.99 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

63042Lumbar decompressionSingle-level re-exploration
63042 reports the primary lumbar interspace during re-exploration; 63044 reports each additional lumbar interspace and must accompany a primary procedure.
63035Nerve-root decompressionEach additional interspace
Both concern an additional lumbar interspace, but 63035 is for a laminotomy without re-exploration; 63044 is for re-exploration.
63047Lumbar decompressionSingle lumbar segment
63047 describes lumbar decompression with laminectomy, facetectomy, and foraminotomy. 63044 is limited to an additional interspace in a lumbar re-exploration laminotomy.

Codes related to 63044

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

Codes related to 63044
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Primary code
63042Lumbar decompression, single-level re-explorationPrimary code for the single lumbar interspace in a re-exploration.No office rate
Same family
63043Cervical laminotomy, additional interspaceAdditional-interspace re-exploration code for the cervical region.No office rate
Used instead
63035Nerve-root decompression, each additional interspaceAdditional lumbar interspace code for a laminotomy that is not a re-exploration.No office rate
63030Lumbar decompression, single interspacePrimary lumbar laminotomy code for a single interspace without re-exploration.No office rate
63047Lumbar decompression, single lumbar segmentLumbar decompression involving laminectomy, facetectomy, and foraminotomy.No office rate

63044 billing questions

Which primary code accompanies this add-on?

Report it with 63042 for the primary lumbar re-exploration interspace. It is not reported by itself.

How many units should be reported?

Report one unit for each additional lumbar interspace treated during the re-exploration.

How does this differ from 63035?

63044 is for an additional interspace in a lumbar re-exploration. 63035 is the additional-interspace code for a lumbar laminotomy that is not coded as a re-exploration.

When is modifier 50 relevant?

For a bilateral procedure, Medicare pays this code with modifier 50 at 150%.

How does Medicare price this code?

Its physician fee schedule status is C. CMS publishes no national payment; the Medicare Administrative Contractor sets payment for each claim.

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

Did this answer your question about what 63044 pays?

Tell us what you were actually trying to work out. We’ll answer you directly, or build the page that does.

Fee sheets · Coming soon

Put 63044 and the rest of your codes on one sheet

Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.

Join the waitlist