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Billing code 61885: Neurostimulator generatorMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports insertion or replacement of a cranial neurostimulator generator or receiver connected to one electrode array, commonly in deep brain stimulation.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities3.6K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $557.46 for 61885 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 61885

Neurostimulator generator

Work RVUs
5.9
Total RVUs
16.69
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$557.46

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 61885 →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 61885 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 61885 covers

A neurosurgeon inserts or replaces the pulse generator or receiver for a cranial neurostimulation system and connects it to one electrode array. This service is commonly part of deep brain stimulation for movement disorders, such as Parkinson disease or essential tremor. The generator is typically placed in a subcutaneous pocket and connected to the implanted intracranial lead; the electrode-implantation procedure is distinct. These operations are generally performed in a hospital operating room.

Select this code when the generator or receiver service connects to one array; use the related generator code for two or more arrays. The operative report should support whether the device was newly inserted or replaced and document the array connection. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued is paid in full and the others at 50%. For a bilateral procedure reported with modifier 50, payment is 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; 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 61885 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

61885 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$487.95
Alaska*Unavailable$638.73
ArizonaUnavailable$537.34
ArkansasUnavailable$479.41
AtlantaUnavailable$578.46
AustinUnavailable$565.14
BakersfieldUnavailable$557.25
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$599.91
BeaumontUnavailable$526.53
BrazoriaUnavailable$539.09

61885 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
61885 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 61885 rate is calculated

Each of 61885’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 · 61885

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Work5.90

5.90 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense8.42

8.42 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice2.37

2.37 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

16.6900

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$557.46

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 61885

61885 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 61885

Neurostimulator generator

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)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.11/0.76/0.13Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 61885

Neurostimulator generator

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.

  • 24Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78Unplanned 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 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

61885 without 50 · national facility

$557.46

Neurostimulator generator

61885-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$836.19

Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).

When to use modifier 50

61885 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

  • 61885

    Neurostimulator generator5.9 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 61886

    Neurostimulator generator9.68 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 61888

    Neurostimulator surgery5.1 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 61867

    Neuroelectrode placement32.2 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

61886Neurostimulator generator
Choose 61885 for connection to one electrode array; choose 61886 when the generator or receiver connects to two or more arrays.
61888Neurostimulator surgery
61885 covers insertion or replacement of the generator or receiver. 61888 is for revision or removal rather than insertion or replacement.
61867Neuroelectrode placement
61867 reports stereotactic implantation of a subcortical electrode array. 61885 reports the generator or receiver service and its connection to one array.

Codes related to 61885

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

Codes related to 61885
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
61886Neurostimulator generatorGenerator or receiver service connected to two or more electrode arrays.No office rate
Often billed with
61863Brain electrode placementAn electrode-placement service that may be reported with generator placement in the same operation.No office rate
61867Neuroelectrode placementA stereotactic electrode-placement service that may accompany generator placement in the same operation.No office rate
61850Cortical electrode implantCortical neuroelectrode implantation may be reported with generator placement in the same operation.No office rate

61885 billing questions

How is this code distinguished from 61886?

This code is for a generator or receiver connected to one electrode array. Code 61886 is the related choice when the connection is to two or more arrays.

Does this code include implantation of the brain electrode?

It represents the generator or receiver service and its connection to the array. When intracranial electrode implantation is also performed, the applicable electrode-placement code may be reported for that distinct service.

What documentation supports reporting this code?

Document insertion or replacement of the generator or receiver and the connection to one electrode array. The operative note should make clear the number of arrays connected.

How does the global period affect postoperative billing?

The 90-day global includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. CMS applies the multiple-procedure reduction when other procedures are performed in the same session.

Can modifier 50 be used for a bilateral service?

When the service is bilateral and reported with modifier 50, CMS pays it at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity.

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 61885PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,901 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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