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Billing code 22868: Lumbar stabilizationMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports each additional lumbar interspace treated with an interlaminar or interspinous stabilization device and open decompression beyond the initial level.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities201 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $214.77 for 22868 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 22868

Lumbar stabilization

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
3.9
Total RVUs
6.43
Global days
ZZZ

National rate · 2026

$214.77

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 22868 → · 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 22868 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 22868 covers

This add-on represents placement of a stabilization device at an additional lumbar interspace where the surgeon also performs open decompression. It is used in selected lumbar stenosis operations in which decompression and stabilization are performed without spinal fusion. Orthopedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons typically perform the work in an operating room; Medicare recorded use in facility settings, not office settings, in 2024.

Report 22868 for each qualifying additional interspace beyond the initial level, together with 22867 for the primary level. The operative report should identify the treated levels and document device placement and open decompression at each additional interspace. Do not use this code for an additional level treated with stabilization without open decompression. Medicare treats 22868 as an add-on: it is billed only with a primary procedure, and payment is within that 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 22868 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

22868 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$191.61
Alaska*Unavailable$264.45
ArizonaUnavailable$207.54
ArkansasUnavailable$188.83
AtlantaUnavailable$224.05
AustinUnavailable$212.92
BakersfieldUnavailable$205.51
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$229.70
BeaumontUnavailable$207.94
BrazoriaUnavailable$206.45

22868 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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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
22868 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 22868 rate is calculated

Each of 22868’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 · 22868

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 3.90Practice expense 1.31Malpractice 1.22

6.4300 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$214.77

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 22868

The CMS indicators that decide how 22868 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 22868

Lumbar stabilization

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

22868 without 80 · national facility

$214.77

Lumbar stabilization

22868-80 · Assistant: 16%

$34.36

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

When to use modifier 80

22868 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

22868 vs 22867 vs 22869 vs 22870: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 22868
    Lumbar stabilization · 3.9 wRVU
    —
  • 22867
    Spinal stabilization · 14.63 wRVU
    —
  • 22869
    Spinal stabilization · 6.85 wRVU
    —
  • 22870
    Spinal stabilization · 2.28 wRVU
    —

How to choose

22867Spinal stabilization
22867 covers the initial lumbar interspace treated with stabilization and open decompression. Use 22868 for each qualifying additional interspace.
22869Spinal stabilization
22869 is for the initial lumbar stabilization level without open decompression; 22868 applies only to an additional level with open decompression.
22870Spinal stabilization
22870 covers an additional stabilization level without open decompression. Choose 22868 when open decompression is performed at the additional interspace.

Codes related to 22868

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

Codes related to 22868
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Primary code
22867Spinal stabilizationPrimary-level lumbar stabilization with open decompression; report with 22868 for additional levels.No office rate
Used instead
22869Spinal stabilizationPrimary-level lumbar stabilization without open decompression.No office rate
22870Spinal stabilizationAdditional-level stabilization without open decompression, rather than the decompression-based add-on.No office rate

22868 billing questions

What primary code must accompany 22868?

Report 22868 with 22867 for the initial lumbar interspace. It is not a stand-alone code.

How many units should be reported?

Report one unit for each additional lumbar interspace that receives the stabilization device and open decompression beyond the initial level.

When is 22870 more appropriate?

Use 22870 for each additional level in the corresponding stabilization procedure without open decompression. Code 22868 requires open decompression at the additional interspace.

What documentation supports an additional unit?

The operative report should identify the additional lumbar interspace and describe both device placement and open decompression at that level.

How does Medicare treat payment for 22868?

It is an add-on code that must be billed with a primary procedure, and its payment falls within that procedure’s 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

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 22868PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,137 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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