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Billing code 22870: Spinal stabilizationMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports placement of a lumbar interspinous stabilization device at each additional segment when the initial segment is treated without decompression.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities600 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $100.87 for 22870 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 22870

Spinal stabilization

Work RVUs
2.28
Total RVUs
3.02
Global days
ZZZ

National rate · 2026

$100.87

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 22870 →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 22870 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 22870 covers

This add-on represents placement of an interspinous stabilization or distraction device at an additional lumbar segment. A spine surgeon, commonly an orthopedic spine surgeon or neurosurgeon, places the implant between adjacent spinous processes to provide stabilization or distraction. The procedure is performed without decompression at the treated level; the initial lumbar level is represented by the corresponding primary procedure. These implants are typically placed in an operating room for selected degenerative lumbar conditions.

Report one unit for each additional lumbar segment beyond the initial level, with the operative report identifying the treated levels and documenting device placement without decompression. Pair the code with the primary procedure for the initial level, typically 22869. CMS classifies 22870 as an add-on code: it is billed only with a primary procedure and paid 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 22870 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

22870 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$95.61
Alaska*Unavailable$136.95
ArizonaUnavailable$99.31
ArkansasUnavailable$94.97
AtlantaUnavailable$102.79
AustinUnavailable$101.25
BakersfieldUnavailable$101.27
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$105.04
BeaumontUnavailable$98.78
BrazoriaUnavailable$99.78

22870 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
22870 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 22870 rate is calculated

Each of 22870’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 · 22870

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Work2.28

2.28 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.53

0.53 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.21

0.21 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

3.0200

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$100.87

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 22870

The CMS indicators that decide how 22870 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 22870

Spinal 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

22870 without 80 · national facility

$100.87

Spinal stabilization

22870-80 · Assistant: 16%

$16.14

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

When to use modifier 80

22870 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

  • 22870

    Spinal stabilization2.28 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 22869

    Spinal stabilization6.85 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 22868

    Lumbar stabilization3.9 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 22867

    Spinal stabilization14.63 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

22869Spinal stabilization
22869 reports the initial lumbar segment treated without decompression; 22870 reports each additional segment in that procedure.
22868Lumbar stabilization
Use 22868 for each additional lumbar segment when decompression is performed. 22870 is for additional segments treated without decompression.
22867Spinal stabilization
22867 reports the initial lumbar segment when decompression is performed. For additional decompressed segments, the corresponding add-on is 22868, not 22870.

Codes related to 22870

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

Codes related to 22870
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Add-on codes
22869Spinal stabilizationPrimary code for the initial lumbar segment treated without decompression.No office rate
Used instead
22868Lumbar stabilizationAdditional-segment code for the corresponding procedure when decompression is performed.No office rate
22867Spinal stabilizationPrimary-level counterpart when the lumbar stabilization procedure includes decompression.No office rate

22870 billing questions

When is 22870 reported instead of 22869?

22869 represents the initial lumbar segment treated without decompression. Use 22870 for each additional lumbar segment treated in the same manner.

Can 22870 be billed by itself?

No. It is an add-on code and must be reported with the primary procedure for the initial segment, typically 22869.

How many units should be reported?

Report one unit for each additional lumbar segment beyond the initial segment. The operative documentation should identify the levels treated.

How does 22870 differ from 22868?

22870 is for an additional segment treated without decompression. 22868 is the additional-segment code for the corresponding procedure performed with decompression.

What documentation supports 22870?

Document the additional lumbar level or levels, the placement of the interspinous stabilization device, and that decompression was not performed at those levels.

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 22870PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,139 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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