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Billing code 22802: Spinal fusionMedicare rate & RVUs

Posterior fusion for spinal deformity across 7 to 12 vertebral segments is reported for operative correction of conditions such as scoliosis or kyphosis.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities864 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $1,936.25 for 22802 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 22802

Spinal fusion

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
31.31
Total RVUs
57.97
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$1,936.25

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 22802 → · 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 22802 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 22802 covers

This code describes posterior spinal arthrodesis for a deformity when the fusion spans 7 to 12 vertebral segments. Spine surgeons, including orthopedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons, use it in operative correction of conditions such as scoliosis or kyphosis. The service is typically performed in a hospital or other surgical facility and may be part of a larger deformity-correction procedure.

Select the code based on the posterior approach, the deformity indication, and the documented extent of the fusion; the operative report should identify the levels treated and the fusion performed. Instrumentation and bone graft services may be separately coded when supported by the operative work. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 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 for this spinal service. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is 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 22802 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

22802 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$1,734.12
Alaska*Unavailable$2,365.94
ArizonaUnavailable$1,875.43
ArkansasUnavailable$1,709.58
AtlantaUnavailable$2,008.01
AustinUnavailable$1,939.43
BakersfieldUnavailable$1,898.46
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$2,066.19
BeaumontUnavailable$1,861.69
BrazoriaUnavailable$1,874.58

22802 rates by state

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

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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
22802 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 22802 rate is calculated

Each of 22802’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 · 22802

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 31.31Practice expense 17.86Malpractice 8.80

57.9700 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$1,936.25

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 22802

22802 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 22802

Spinal fusion

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period090Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.10/0.69/0.21Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 22802

Spinal fusion

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.

  • 24 Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79 Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58 Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78 Unplanned return to the operating room for a related complication
SurgeryVisit
Sep 23, 2026Jan 10, 2027

Pre-op dayGlobal period

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

22802 without 51 · national facility

$1,936.25

Spinal fusion

22802-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$968.13

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%).

When to use modifier 51

22802 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

22802 vs 22800 vs 22804 vs 22808 vs 22843: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 22802
    Spinal fusion · 31.31 wRVU
    —
  • 22800
    Spinal fusion · 19.01 wRVU
    —
  • 22804
    Spinal deformity fusion · 36.56 wRVU
    —
  • 22808
    Anterior fusion · 26.82 wRVU
    —
  • 22843
    Spinal fixation · 13.1 wRVU
    —

How to choose

22800Spinal fusion
Both describe posterior deformity arthrodesis; 22800 is for fewer than 6 vertebral segments, rather than this code's 7-to-12-segment span.
22804Spinal deformity fusion
Both describe posterior deformity arthrodesis; 22804 is for 13 or more vertebral segments.
22808Anterior fusion
22808 describes anterior deformity arthrodesis over 2 to 3 segments. Use 22802 for the posterior deformity fusion spanning 7 to 12 segments.
22843Spinal fixation
22843 reports posterior segmental instrumentation across 7 to 12 segments, not the arthrodesis itself; it may accompany 22802 when supported.

Codes related to 22802

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

Codes related to 22802
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
22800Spinal fusionPosterior deformity arthrodesis for a shorter span of fewer than 6 vertebral segments.No office rate
22804Spinal deformity fusionPosterior deformity arthrodesis for a longer span of 13 or more vertebral segments.No office rate
Often billed with
22843Spinal fixationPosterior segmental instrumentation for 7 to 12 vertebral segments may accompany the fusion.No office rate
20930Sp bone algrft morsel add-onMorselized allograft may be reported with spinal fusion when used and documented.No office rate
20936Sp bone agrft local add-onLocal autograft may be reported with spinal fusion when harvested and documented.No office rate
Used instead
22808Anterior fusionAnterior deformity arthrodesis for 2 to 3 segments, rather than posterior fusion across 7 to 12.No office rate

22802 billing questions

How is this code distinguished from 22800 or 22804?

Choose 22802 for posterior deformity arthrodesis spanning 7 to 12 vertebral segments. Code 22800 covers fewer than 6, while 22804 covers 13 or more.

Can spinal instrumentation be reported with this fusion?

Instrumentation may be reported separately when performed and documented. For posterior segmental instrumentation spanning 7 to 12 vertebral segments, consider 22843.

What operative documentation supports 22802?

Document the deformity being treated, the posterior approach, the fusion performed, and the vertebral levels establishing the 7-to-12-segment extent.

Does the code have a global period?

Yes. CMS assigns a 90-day global period that includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

CMS allows assistant-at-surgery payment. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.

Should modifier 50 be appended for bilateral spinal treatment?

No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code; report the service based on the documented posterior fusion construct.

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 22802PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,101 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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