CPT code 64636: Facet nerve ablation, additional lumbar or sacral joint2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in New Mexico

Reports neurolytic treatment of each additional lumbar or sacral facet joint, typically during radiofrequency ablation for facet-mediated low back pain.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality251.3K Medicare services in 2024

In New Mexico, Medicare pays $234.81 for 64636 in the office and $50.73 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$234.81Office (non-facility)
$50.73Hospital or facility
−6.6%vs the national office rate ($251.51)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 64636 nationwide

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

We’ll open 64636 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in New Mexico
  2. What 64636 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 64636 covers

This add-on code represents neurolytic treatment of another lumbar or sacral facet joint after the first joint is treated. In a common radiofrequency procedure, an interventional pain physician uses imaging to guide treatment of the medial branch nerves that supply the targeted facet joint. The procedure is used for selected patients with chronic axial low back pain attributed to lumbar or sacral facet joints, often after diagnostic medial branch blocks. Imaging guidance is included in the procedure.

Report 64636 for each additional lumbar or sacral facet joint treated, alongside 64635 for the first joint. The procedure note should identify the treated joint levels, laterality, nerves targeted, and imaging guidance. CMS classifies 64636 as an add-on code: it must be billed with its primary procedure and is paid within that procedure's global period. For a bilateral procedure reported with modifier 50, 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.

How New Mexico compares for 64636

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 64636 runs from $220.10 in Arkansas to $346.82 in San Benito County, CA. New Mexico pays $234.81. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

64636 in New Mexico vs other payment areas
  1. New Mexico · this page$234.81
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$290.27+$55.46
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$291.36+$56.55
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$265.74+$30.93
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$257.58+$22.77
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$290.11+$55.30
  7. Alaska · Alaska$282.39+$47.58

Other areas in New Mexico first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

64636 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$223.65$48.01
ArkansasArkansas$220.10$47.67
ArizonaArizona$244.47$49.95
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$270.96$50.95
Chico, CACalifornia$270.61$50.60
El Centro, CACalifornia$270.63$50.62
Fresno, CACalifornia$270.61$50.60
Hanford, CACalifornia$270.61$50.60

64636 rates by state

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

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.

$220.10

$308.72

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
64636 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$282.391
AL$223.651
AR$220.101
AZ$244.471
CA$270.61–$346.8229
CO$264.601
CT$269.211
DC$291.361
DE$248.811
FL$244.11–$265.743
GA$229.52–$255.722
GU$278.741
HI$278.741
IA$231.441
ID$232.771
IL$235.30–$260.284
IN$234.281
KS$229.521
KY$227.881
LA$227.19–$239.612
MA$262.50–$293.412
MD$254.11–$291.363
ME$233.31–$248.262
MI$233.70–$246.682
MN$255.011
MO$222.42–$241.433
MS$221.351
MT$251.501
NC$236.111
ND$249.331
NE$233.051
NH$259.661
NJ$272.70–$287.752
NM$234.811
NV$251.111
NY$239.91–$296.785
OH$233.261
OK$228.211
OR$249.58–$274.492
PA$234.08–$261.512
PR$253.761
RI$258.761
SC$234.991
SD$249.071
TN$230.691
TX$232.34–$263.358
UT$238.531
VA$246.86–$291.362
VI$253.761
VT$247.591
WA$262.26–$300.412
WI$240.141
WV$225.571
WY$250.551

See 64636 in every payment locality

How the 64636 rate is calculated

Each of 64636’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 · 64636

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.13

1.13 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense6.29

6.29 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.11

0.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

7.5300

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$251.51

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

The exact New Mexico inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

7,183

Code
64636
Physician work
1.13
Practice expense
6.29
Malpractice
0.11

GPCI2026.csv

77

Locality
New Mexico
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.917
Malpractice
1.201
Office calculation for 64636 in New Mexico
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.13× 1.0001.1300
Practice expense6.29× 0.9175.7679
Malpractice0.11× 1.2010.1321
Total RVUs7.0300
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, New Mexico$234.81

Office: (1.13 × 1 + 6.29 × 0.917 + 0.11 × 1.201) × $33.4009 = $234.81

Facility: (1.13 × 1 + 0.28 × 0.917 + 0.11 × 1.201) × $33.4009 = $50.73

Open 64636 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 64636

The CMS indicators that decide how 64636 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 64636

Facet nerve ablation, additional lumbar or sacral joint

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)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
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

64636 without 50 · national office

$251.51

Facet nerve ablation, additional lumbar or sacral joint

64636-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$377.27

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

How 64636 has changed in New Mexico

64636 · Office / nonfacility

$234.81

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $24.74 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $210.07 to $234.81 (11.8%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release
  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $210.07changed to$234.81

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.16 changed to 1.13
    • Practice expense RVU 5.72 changed to 6.29
    • Malpractice RVU 0.12 changed to 0.11
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.908 changed to 0.917
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.172 changed to 1.201

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $222.14changed to$210.07

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 5.93 changed to 5.72
    • Malpractice RVU 0.11 changed to 0.12

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $218.51changed to$222.14

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $226.45changed to$218.51

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 5.98 changed to 5.93
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.902 changed to 0.908
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.169 changed to 1.172
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $234.97changed to$226.45

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 6.14 changed to 5.98
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.896 changed to 0.902
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.166 changed to 1.169

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $166.57changed to$234.97

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 3.89 changed to 6.14

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $164.63changed to$166.57

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 3.60 changed to 3.89
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.908 changed to 0.896
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.207 changed to 1.166

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $165.34changed to$164.63

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.11
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.921 changed to 0.908
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.247 changed to 1.207

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $165.82changed to$165.34

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 3.62 changed to 3.60

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $164.05changed to$165.82

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 3.59 changed to 3.62
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.920 changed to 0.921
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.204 changed to 1.247

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $166.36changed to$164.05

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 3.68 changed to 3.59
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.919 changed to 0.920
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.161 changed to 1.204

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $163.99changed to$166.36

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 3.59 changed to 3.68

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $163.17changed to$163.99

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $169.67changed to$163.17

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 3.79 changed to 3.59
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.918 changed to 0.919
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.079 changed to 1.161

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $159.08changed to$169.67

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 3.74 changed to 3.79
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.916 changed to 0.918
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.997 changed to 1.079

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $159.08

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$234.81$50.73RVU26D
2026-07-01$234.81$50.73RVU26C
2026-04-01$234.81$50.73RVU26B
2026-01-01$234.81$50.73RVU26A
2025-10-01$210.07$56.17RVU25D
2025-07-01$210.07$56.17RVU25C
2025-04-01$210.07$56.17RVU25B
2025-01-01$210.07$56.17RVU25A
2024-10-01$222.14$57.11RVU24D
2024-07-01$222.14$57.11RVU24C
2024-04-01$222.14$57.11RVU24B
2024-03-09$222.14$57.11RVU24AR
2024-01-01$218.51$56.18RVU24A
2023-10-01$226.45$58.03RVU23D
2023-07-01$226.45$58.03RVU23C
2023-04-01$226.45$58.03RVU23B
2023-01-01$226.45$58.03RVU23A
2022-10-01$234.97$58.85RVU22D
2022-07-01$234.97$58.85RVU22C
2022-04-01$234.97$58.85RVU22B
2022-01-01$234.97$58.85RVU22A
2021-10-01$166.57$59.65RVU21D
2021-07-01$166.57$59.65RVU21C
2021-04-01$166.57$59.65RVU21B
2021-01-01$166.57$59.65RVU21A
2020-10-01$164.63$61.40RVU20D
2020-07-01$164.63$61.40RVU20C
2020-04-01$164.63$61.40RVU20B
2020-01-01$164.63$61.40RVU20A
2019-10-01$165.34$61.12RVU19D
2019-07-01$165.34$61.12RVU19C
2019-04-01$165.34$61.12RVU19B
2019-01-01$165.34$61.12RVU19A
2018-10-01$165.82$61.05RVU18D
2018-07-01$165.82$61.05RVU18C
2018-04-01$165.82$61.05RVU18B
2018-01-01$165.82$61.05RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$164.05$60.71RVU17D
2017-07-01$164.05$60.71RVU17C
2017-04-01$164.05$60.71RVU17B
2017-01-01$164.05$60.71RVU17A
2016-10-01$166.36$61.07RVU16D
2016-07-01$166.36$61.07RVU16C
2016-04-01$166.36$61.07RVU16B
2016-01-01$166.36$61.07RVU16A
2015-10-01$163.99$61.29RVU15D
2015-07-01$163.99$61.29RVU15C
2015-04-01$163.17$60.98RVU15B
2015-01-01$163.17$60.98RVU15A
2014-10-01$169.67$61.15RVU14D
2014-07-01$169.67$61.15RVU14C
2014-04-01$169.67$61.15RVU14B
2014-01-01$169.67$61.15RVU14A
2013-10-01$159.08$57.17RVU13D
2013-07-01$159.08$57.17RVU13C
2013-04-01$159.08$57.17RVU13B
2013-01-01$159.08$57.17RVU13AR

Price 64636 for an earlier date of service

Where the New Mexico rate applies

New Mexico is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 528 cities and communities in New Mexico. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Abeytas
  • Abiquiu
  • Acomita Lake
  • Adelino
  • Agua Fria
  • Alamillo
  • Alamo
  • Alamogordo

Browse all communities in New Mexico

64636 billing questions

When should 64636 be reported instead of 64635?

Use 64635 for the first lumbar or sacral facet joint treated. Report 64636 for each additional joint treated in the same procedure.

Is 64636 reported per nerve or per facet joint?

It is reported for each additional facet joint, not for each individual medial branch nerve treated to reach that joint.

Can 64636 be billed by itself?

No. It is an add-on code and must be billed with the primary procedure, 64635, for the first lumbar or sacral facet joint.

Can imaging guidance be billed separately?

Imaging guidance for the facet nerve destruction procedure is included in the code. The documentation should identify the guidance used.

How is bilateral treatment reported?

For a bilateral procedure reported with modifier 50, CMS pays 150% of the applicable amount.

What documentation supports multiple units of 64636?

Document each additional lumbar or sacral facet joint treated, its laterality, the nerves targeted, and the imaging guidance used.

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 64636PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 7,183 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for New MexicoGPCI2026.csv, line 77 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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