CPT code 63266: Spinal lesion excision, thoracic, extradural2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Reports surgical removal or evacuation of a nonneoplastic lesion outside the dura in the thoracic spinal canal, such as an epidural abscess.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 63266 in Texas.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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On this page 9 sections
What 63266 covers
A neurosurgeon or other qualified spine surgeon uses a thoracic exposure, commonly with laminectomy, to reach and remove or evacuate a lesion in the spinal canal but outside the dura. Examples include an epidural abscess or hematoma. The defining distinctions are the thoracic location, extradural compartment, and nonneoplastic nature of the lesion; an intradural lesion or a spinal neoplasm belongs to a different code pathway.
Select the code from the operative findings and report: documentation should identify the thoracic level, the lesion’s extradural location and nonneoplastic character, and the removal or evacuation performed. CMS assigns major-surgery status with a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued is paid in full and the others at 50%. Modifier 50 is not appropriate for this code. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team-surgery payment is 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 63266 pays more and less in Texas
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | Unavailable | $1,656.04 |
| Beaumont, TX | Unavailable | $1,587.00 |
| Brazoria, TX | Unavailable | $1,591.57 |
| Dallas, TX | Unavailable | $1,619.20 |
| Fort Worth, TX | Unavailable | $1,617.76 |
| Galveston, TX | Unavailable | $1,607.49 |
| Houston, TX | Unavailable | $1,776.80 |
| Rest of Texas | Unavailable | $1,600.23 |
How the 63266 rate is calculated
Each of 63266’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 · 63266
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work24.06
24.06 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense16.33
16.33 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice9.25
9.25 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
49.6400
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,658.02
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 63266
63266 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 63266
Spinal lesion excision, thoracic, extradural
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.11/0.76/0.13 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 63266
Spinal lesion excision, thoracic, extradural
90-day global period ends
Dec 30, 2026
Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
63266 without 51 · national facility
$1,658.02
Spinal lesion excision, thoracic, extradural
63266-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$829.01
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%).
63266 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 63265Spinal lesion removalCervical extradural, nonneoplastic
- Use 63265 for a nonneoplastic extradural lesion in the cervical region; this code is for the thoracic region.
- 63271Spinal lesion excisionThoracic, intradural extramedullary
- Use 63271 when the thoracic lesion is intradural and extramedullary. This code is for an extradural lesion.
- 63276Spinal lesion surgeryThoracic, extradural neoplasm
- Use 63276 for biopsy or excision of an extradural thoracic spinal neoplasm. This code is for a nonneoplastic lesion.
63266 billing questions
How is this distinguished from code 63270?
This code is for a nonneoplastic lesion outside the dura in the thoracic canal. Code 63270 describes excision or evacuation of an intradural, extramedullary lesion in the cervical region.
When would code 63276 be more appropriate?
Use 63276 for biopsy or excision of an extradural thoracic spinal neoplasm. This code describes removal or evacuation of a nonneoplastic extradural lesion.
What operative documentation supports the code?
Document the thoracic level, that the lesion is extradural and nonneoplastic, and the removal or evacuation performed. The operative report should make the lesion’s compartment clear.
Can modifier 50 be reported?
No. The thoracic operative anatomy and descriptor make modifier 50 inappropriate for this code.
How does the global period affect postoperative billing?
The major-surgery global includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be paid?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team-surgery payment is 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
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