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Billing code 62180: Brain shuntMedicare rate & RVUs

Neurosurgeons report this procedure when they create a drainage shunt from an intracranial cavity or fluid space to an extracranial destination.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities

Medicare pays $1,572.85 for 62180 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 62180

Brain shunt

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
22.02
Total RVUs
47.09
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$1,572.85

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 62180 → · 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 62180 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 62180 covers

A neurosurgeon creates a new drainage route from an intracranial cavity or fluid space to an extracranial site. The operation may address a subdural or subarachnoid fluid collection or an intracranial cyst requiring diversion; the destination may be peritoneal, pleural, or another extracranial site. It is generally performed in an operating room, with the operative report identifying the source space, destination, and shunt created.

Report the code that matches the specific procedure documented, distinguishing it from sibling shunt codes by the full descriptor and operative details. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. An assistant at surgery may be paid; 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 62180 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

62180 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$1,372.40
Alaska*Unavailable$1,835.70
ArizonaUnavailable$1,511.86
ArkansasUnavailable$1,348.15
AtlantaUnavailable$1,645.80
AustinUnavailable$1,569.57
BakersfieldUnavailable$1,516.26
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$1,696.58
BeaumontUnavailable$1,503.38
BrazoriaUnavailable$1,505.79

62180 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
62180 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 62180 rate is calculated

Each of 62180’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 · 62180

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 22.02Practice expense 15.79Malpractice 9.28

47.0900 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$1,572.85

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 62180

62180 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 62180

Brain shunt

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)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 · 62180

Brain shunt

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

62180 without 51 · national facility

$1,572.85

Brain shunt

62180-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$786.43

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

62180 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

62180 vs 62190 vs 62192 vs 62223 vs 62194: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 62180
    Brain shunt · 22.02 wRVU
    —
  • 62190
    CSF shunt · 11.87 wRVU
    —
  • 62192
    CSF shunt · 13.02 wRVU
    —
  • 62223
    CSF shunt creation · 13.7 wRVU
    —
  • 62194
    Shunt catheter service · 5.64 wRVU
    —

How to choose

62190CSF shunt
Both codes concern intracranial cavity shunting, but the abbreviated descriptors are not enough to distinguish them. Match the full descriptor to the documented anatomy and operative method.
62192CSF shunt
This is another related shunt code. Use the complete descriptor and operative report to determine which code represents the specific procedure performed.
62223CSF shunt creation
This code is for shunt creation originating from a cerebral ventricle. 62180 concerns an intracranial cavity or fluid space rather than ventricular diversion.
62194Shunt catheter service
62194 concerns replacement or irrigation of a shunt catheter; 62180 represents creation of a shunt, not catheter maintenance.

Codes related to 62180

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

Codes related to 62180
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
62190CSF shuntRelated intracranial cavity shunt code; choose according to the full descriptor and operative details.No office rate
62192CSF shuntRelated intracranial cavity shunt code; distinguish it using the full descriptor and documented procedure.No office rate
Used instead
62223CSF shunt creationUsed for shunt creation when the diversion originates from a cerebral ventricle.No office rate
62194Shunt catheter serviceAddresses shunt catheter replacement or irrigation rather than creation of a new shunt.No office rate

62180 billing questions

How do I distinguish 62180 from 62190 or 62192?

These are related intracranial shunt codes with similar abbreviated descriptors. Compare the full code descriptors with the operative approach and anatomy documented; the abbreviated CMS labels alone do not establish which code applies.

Is modifier 50 appropriate for 62180?

No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for this procedure.

Can an assistant surgeon report services for this operation?

CMS indicates that assistant-at-surgery services may be paid. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted for this code.

How does the 90-day global period affect postoperative billing?

The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period. The surgeon should not separately report routine related care during that period.

What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?

Under the standard multiple-procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50% when performed in the same session.

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 62180PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,928 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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