CPT code 64553: Neurostimulator lead, percutaneous, cranial nerve2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $4,841.46 for 64553 nationally in the office and $450.91 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $4,158.02–$6,838.81.

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

What 64553 covers

A neurosurgeon or pain specialist uses a percutaneous approach to place a neurostimulator electrode array at a cranial nerve. The service may be performed in a surgical or procedure setting when cranial nerve stimulation is planned, including cases involving a targeted branch of the trigeminal nerve. This code identifies electrode-array placement, not an open implantation approach that includes a pulse generator.

Select the code based on the nerve targeted and the percutaneous technique documented. The operative or procedure note should identify the cranial nerve, describe the percutaneous placement, and document the array implanted. CMS assigns a 10-day global period, so related postoperative visits during that period are included. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, CMS pays the highest-valued procedure in full and applies the standard reduction to the others. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this descriptor or anatomy. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity; 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.

Where 64553 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

64553 rates by state

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

How the 64553 rate is calculated

Each of 64553’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 64553

64553 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 51

64553 compared with similar codes

How to choose

64555Nerve stimulationPercutaneous peripheral nerve

Choose 64553 for percutaneous electrode-array placement at a cranial nerve; choose 64555 when the documented target is a peripheral nerve.

64568Nerve stimulatorElectrode array and pulse generator

64568 describes open cranial nerve implantation and includes a pulse generator. 64553 describes percutaneous placement of the electrode array.

64569Vagus nerve electrodeRevision or replacement

64569 is for revision or replacement of a vagus nerve electrode. 64553 is for initial percutaneous electrode-array placement at a cranial nerve.

Codes related to 64553

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

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