CPT code 64788: Nerve tumor excision, cutaneous nerve2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $391.12 for 64788 nationally in a facility.

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

What 64788 covers

A surgeon uses this code to remove a neurofibroma or schwannoma arising from a cutaneous nerve that can be surgically reached. The service may address a localized, painful or enlarging superficial nerve sheath lesion. The surgeon identifies the involved sensory nerve, excises the lesion, and commonly submits the specimen for pathologic examination. These procedures may be performed in an office procedure setting or a facility, depending on the lesion and planned care.

Choose this code for the lesion type and cutaneous nerve site, not simply because a nerve-associated lump is removed. The operative report should identify the nerve, lesion, and extent of excision; pathology may support the lesion diagnosis. 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 is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay for an assistant at surgery, and 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 64788 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

64788 rates by state

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

How the 64788 rate is calculated

Each of 64788’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 64788

64788 has a 90-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

64788 compared with similar codes

How to choose

64774Neuroma excisionCutaneous nerve, surgically treated

Choose 64774 for excision of a neuroma involving a cutaneous nerve. Code 64788 is for a neurofibroma or schwannoma of a cutaneous nerve.

64776Neuroma excisionDigital nerve, hand or foot

Code 64776 applies to a digital nerve neuroma in the hand or foot; 64788 addresses a neurofibroma or schwannoma of a cutaneous nerve.

64782Neuroma excisionMajor arm or leg nerve

Code 64782 concerns neuroma excision on a major peripheral nerve. Use 64788 when the lesion is a neurofibroma or schwannoma of a cutaneous nerve.

64795Nerve biopsyDiagnostic tissue sampling

Use 64795 for a nerve biopsy when the service is diagnostic sampling. Code 64788 represents excision of a cutaneous nerve neurofibroma or schwannoma.

Codes related to 64788

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