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Billing code 22585: Anterior fusionMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports an additional intervertebral space fused through an anterior interbody approach, alongside the primary code for the first space treated.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities26.6K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $287.58 for 22585 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 22585

Anterior fusion

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
5.38
Total RVUs
8.61
Global days
ZZZ

National rate · 2026

$287.58

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 22585 → · Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

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

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 22585 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 22585 covers

22585 represents fusion at an additional intervertebral space using an anterior interbody approach. The surgeon removes disc material as needed to prepare the space for fusion; this code describes preparation for fusion, not a separate nerve-root or spinal-cord decompression. It may be used for additional cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spaces when the corresponding primary anterior interbody fusion procedure is performed. Spine surgeons, including orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons, typically perform these operations in an operating room.

Report 22585 only with the appropriate primary code for the first interspace, such as 22554, 22556, or 22558. The operative report should identify each fused interspace and support that 22585 represents an additional space beyond the one reported by the primary code. CMS classifies 22585 as an add-on code: it is not billed by itself, and its payment falls within the primary procedure’s global period.

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 22585 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

22585 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$257.48
Alaska*Unavailable$356.80
ArizonaUnavailable$278.16
ArkansasUnavailable$253.87
AtlantaUnavailable$299.80
AustinUnavailable$284.95
BakersfieldUnavailable$275.16
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$307.15
BeaumontUnavailable$278.89
BrazoriaUnavailable$276.70

22585 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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.

View every state and territory as a table
22585 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 22585 rate is calculated

Each of 22585’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 · 22585

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 5.38Practice expense 1.62Malpractice 1.61

8.6100 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$287.58

All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 22585

The CMS indicators that decide how 22585 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 22585

Anterior fusion

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodZZZAdd-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)2Permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 80 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

22585 without 80 · national facility

$287.58

Anterior fusion

22585-80 · Assistant: 16%

$46.01

A physician assistant at surgery is paid 16% of the surgeon’s fee schedule amount.

When to use modifier 80

22585 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

22585 vs 22558 vs 22552 vs 22551: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 22585
    Anterior fusion · 5.38 wRVU
    —
  • 22558
    Anterior fusion · 22.94 wRVU
    —
  • 22552
    Cervical fusion · 6.34 wRVU
    —
  • 22551
    ACDF · 24.38 wRVU
    —

How to choose

22558Anterior fusion
22558 reports the primary lumbar anterior interbody fusion space; 22585 reports an additional space when the applicable primary procedure is also performed.
22552Cervical fusion
22552 is used for an additional level with 22551, the cervical fusion code that includes decompression. 22585 is used with the applicable anterior interbody fusion primary code for a different procedure structure.
22551ACDF
22551 describes cervical anterior fusion that includes decompression. 22585 describes an additional interspace with the applicable non-decompressive anterior interbody fusion procedure.

Codes related to 22585

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

Codes related to 22585
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Primary code
22554Cervical fusionPrimary anterior interbody fusion code for a cervical interspace.No office rate
22556Thoracic fusionPrimary anterior interbody fusion code for a thoracic interspace.No office rate
22558Anterior fusionPrimary anterior interbody fusion code for a lumbar interspace.No office rate
Used instead
22552Cervical fusionAdditional-level code associated with decompressive cervical fusion reported with 22551.No office rate
22551ACDFPrimary cervical fusion code when the procedure includes decompression.No office rate

22585 billing questions

Can 22585 be billed by itself?

No. Report it only with the appropriate primary anterior interbody fusion code for the first treated interspace.

Which primary codes may be paired with 22585?

Use the primary code that matches the region and procedure, such as 22554 for cervical, 22556 for thoracic, or 22558 for lumbar fusion.

How many units should be reported?

Report an additional unit for each separately documented interspace beyond the first, following the applicable coding instructions.

How is 22585 different from 22552?

22585 is used for an additional space with the anterior interbody fusion procedures represented by 22554, 22556, or 22558. 22552 is the additional-level code associated with the decompressive cervical fusion code 22551.

Does 22585 have its own global period?

CMS identifies it as an add-on code paid within the global period of the primary procedure.

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 22585PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,088 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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