CPT code 63280: Spinal tumor surgery, cervical, intradural extramedullary2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
Reports an open cervical spinal procedure to obtain a biopsy or remove a tumor located inside the dura but outside the spinal cord.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 63280 in California.
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 63280 covers
A neurosurgeon uses an open approach, typically with a laminectomy and opening of the dura, to biopsy or remove a cervical spinal tumor that lies within the dural sac but outside the spinal cord. Examples of intradural extramedullary tumors include spinal meningiomas and schwannomas. These procedures are generally performed in a hospital operating room when imaging and clinical findings support tissue diagnosis or removal.
Select this code when the operative report supports a neoplasm, a cervical level, and an intradural but extramedullary location; distinguish it from extradural lesions and tumors arising within the cord. Document the level, lesion location, and whether the surgeon obtained a biopsy or performed excision. The code has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For separately reportable procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons require supporting documentation, and team surgery 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 63280 pays more and less in California
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
29 of 29 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | Unavailable | $1,984.81 |
| Chico, CA | Unavailable | $1,952.89 |
| El Centro, CA | Unavailable | $1,954.95 |
| Fresno, CA | Unavailable | $1,952.89 |
| Hanford, CA | Unavailable | $1,952.89 |
| Los Angeles, CA | Unavailable | $2,087.01 |
| Madera, CA | Unavailable | $1,952.89 |
| Marin County, CA | Unavailable | $2,207.37 |
| Merced, CA | Unavailable | $1,952.89 |
| Modesto, CA | Unavailable | $1,952.89 |
| Napa, CA | Unavailable | $2,134.64 |
| Oxnard, CA | Unavailable | $2,056.71 |
| Redding, CA | Unavailable | $1,952.89 |
| Rest of California | Unavailable | $1,952.89 |
| Riverside, CA | Unavailable | $2,083.90 |
| Sacramento, CA | Unavailable | $2,016.26 |
| Salinas, CA | Unavailable | $2,008.66 |
| San Benito County, CA | Unavailable | $2,275.06 |
| San Diego, CA | Unavailable | $2,034.78 |
| San Francisco, CA | Unavailable | $2,193.43 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | Unavailable | $1,981.53 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | Unavailable | $2,218.05 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | Unavailable | $2,036.10 |
| Santa Maria, CA | Unavailable | $2,010.37 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | Unavailable | $2,053.63 |
| Stockton, CA | Unavailable | $1,952.89 |
| Vallejo, CA | Unavailable | $2,114.54 |
| Visalia, CA | Unavailable | $1,952.89 |
| Yuba City, CA | Unavailable | $1,952.89 |
How the 63280 rate is calculated
Each of 63280’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 · 63280
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work29.53
29.53 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense19.94
19.94 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice12.28
12.28 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
61.7500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$2,062.51
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 63280
63280 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 63280
Spinal tumor surgery, cervical, intradural extramedullary
| 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 · 63280
Spinal tumor surgery, cervical, intradural extramedullary
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
63280 without 51 · national facility
$2,062.51
Spinal tumor surgery, cervical, intradural extramedullary
63280-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$1,031.26
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%).
63280 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 63275Spinal lesion surgeryCervical, extradural
- Choose 63280 for a cervical tumor within the dura and outside the cord; 63275 is for a tumor outside the dura.
- 63285Spinal cord lesionCervical, intramedullary
- Choose 63280 for a cervical intradural tumor outside the spinal cord. Code 63285 is for a tumor within the cord.
- 63281Spinal lesion surgeryThoracic intradural lesion
- The lesion compartment and procedure are the same, but 63281 is for the thoracic level rather than the cervical level.
63280 billing questions
How is this distinguished from 63275?
This code is for a cervical neoplasm inside the dura but outside the spinal cord. Code 63275 concerns an extradural neoplasm.
When is 63285 a better choice?
Use 63285 when the cervical neoplasm is within the spinal cord itself. This code describes an intradural lesion outside the cord.
Can modifier 50 be reported?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons are paid only when supporting documentation is provided; team surgery is not permitted.
What does the 90-day global include?
It includes the preoperative visit on the day before surgery and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction are paid at 50%.
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
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