CPT code 64771: Cranial nerve transection, other nerve, intracranial2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Reports intentional division or avulsion of an intracranial cranial nerve not represented by a more specifically named transection code.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 64771 in Illinois.
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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What 64771 covers
A surgeon reports this service when an intracranial cranial nerve is intentionally divided or avulsed. It represents destructive nerve surgery, rather than nerve decompression, repair, or removal of a nerve lesion. Neurosurgeons and other surgeons qualified to perform intracranial nerve procedures typically perform it in an operating room. The operative report should identify the nerve, its intracranial location, and the transection or avulsion performed.
Select this code when the treated nerve and operative approach fit the “other cranial nerve” category, rather than a separately named cranial nerve procedure. Documentation should establish the surgical intent and distinguish the work from procedures that preserve or decompress the nerve. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; 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 64771 pays more and less in Illinois
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | Unavailable | $625.46 |
| East St. Louis, IL | Unavailable | $589.05 |
| Rest of Illinois | Unavailable | $565.20 |
| Suburban Chicago, IL | Unavailable | $605.15 |
How the 64771 rate is calculated
Each of 64771’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 · 64771
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work7.95
7.95 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense7.31
7.31 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.47
1.47 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
16.7300
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$558.80
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 64771
64771 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 64771
Cranial nerve transection, other nerve, intracranial
| 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) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| 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 · 64771
Cranial nerve transection, other nerve, intracranial
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
64771 without 51 · national facility
$558.80
Cranial nerve transection, other nerve, intracranial
64771-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$279.40
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%).
64771 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 64716Cranial nerve surgeryRelease or repositioning
- Use 64716 for intracranial transection or avulsion of the facial nerve. This code is for another cranial nerve not covered by a specifically named code.
- 64742Facial nerve surgeryExtracranial nerve division
- Use 64742 for facial nerve transection or avulsion at an extracranial location. This code concerns another cranial nerve within the intracranial category.
- 64772Spinal nerve surgeryExtradural nerve interruption
- Use 64772 for transection or avulsion of a spinal nerve. This code concerns an intracranial cranial nerve.
64771 billing questions
How does this differ from a named cranial nerve transection code?
Use this code for an intracranial cranial nerve not represented by a more specifically named transection code. For example, facial nerve transection has separate codes based on its intracranial or extracranial location.
Does this code describe nerve decompression or repair?
No. It represents intentional division or avulsion of the nerve, not decompression, repair, or removal of a nerve lesion.
What should the operative report document?
Document the specific nerve, its intracranial location, and the intentional transection or avulsion. The report should make clear that the service was not a nerve-preserving procedure.
Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral work?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code, so modifier 50 should not be used.
Can an assistant-at-surgery be reported?
CMS allows assistant-at-surgery payment for this procedure. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
How does the 90-day global period affect postoperative billing?
The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period.
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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