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Billing code 62256: Shunt removalMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports surgical removal of a complete cerebrospinal fluid shunt system when the system is taken out without replacement.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities563 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $639.96 for 62256 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 62256

Shunt removal

Work RVUs
7.2
Total RVUs
19.16
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$639.96

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 62256 →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 62256 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 62256 covers

A neurosurgeon surgically removes the complete CSF diversion system, including its intracranial catheter and connected valve and drainage tubing. A common example is explantation of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt because of infection when the shunt is not replaced during the procedure. The service is generally performed in an operating room; it is distinct from revising one component or adjusting a programmable valve.

Report 62256 when the complete shunt system is removed and no replacement is performed. If a complete system is removed and replaced, compare 62258; if only a catheter or other shunt component is revised, consider the code for that service instead. Documentation should identify the shunt components removed and clarify whether replacement occurred. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted. Do not append modifier 50 for this service.

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 62256 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

62256 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$559.27
Alaska*Unavailable$735.01
ArizonaUnavailable$616.33
ArkansasUnavailable$549.40
AtlantaUnavailable$665.49
AustinUnavailable$646.49
BakersfieldUnavailable$634.41
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$689.29
BeaumontUnavailable$605.90
BrazoriaUnavailable$617.29

62256 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
62256 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 62256 rate is calculated

Each of 62256’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 · 62256

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Work7.20

7.20 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense8.98

8.98 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice2.98

2.98 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

19.1600

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$639.96

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 62256

62256 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 62256

Shunt removal

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 · 62256

Shunt removal

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 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

62256 without 51 · national facility

$639.96

Shunt removal

62256-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$319.98

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

62256 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

5 codes, side by side

  • 62256

    Shunt removal7.2 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 62258

    Shunt exchange15.25 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 62230

    Shunt revision11.14 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 62225

    Ventricular catheter6.04 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 62252

    Shunt reprogramming0.72 wRVU

    $103.88

How to choose

62258Shunt exchange
Use 62258 when the complete CSF shunt system is removed and replaced. Use 62256 when removal is performed without replacement.
62230Shunt revision
62230 addresses revision or replacement of shunt hardware; 62256 is for removal of the complete system without replacement.
62225Ventricular catheter
62225 concerns ventricular catheter replacement or irrigation, not explantation of the complete shunt system.
62252Shunt reprogramming
62252 is valve reprogramming, a non-explant service; 62256 involves surgical removal of the complete shunt system.

Codes related to 62256

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

Codes related to 62256
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
62258Shunt exchangeComplete shunt removal when replacement is performed.No office rate
Used instead
62230Shunt revisionFor shunt revision or replacement rather than complete removal without replacement.No office rate
62225Ventricular catheterFor ventricular catheter replacement or irrigation rather than complete system removal.No office rate
62252Shunt reprogrammingReprograms a CSF shunt valve instead of surgically removing the system.$89.40–$133.33

62256 billing questions

When should 62256 be reported instead of 62258?

Use 62256 when the complete shunt system is removed without replacement. Use 62258 when the complete system is removed and replaced.

Can 62256 be used for removal of only a shunt catheter?

No. This code describes removal of the complete CSF shunt system; a procedure limited to a catheter or another component is a different service.

What documentation supports reporting 62256?

Document the shunt system components removed and make clear that no replacement was performed. For example, note whether the ventricular catheter, valve, and connected drainage tubing were explanted.

What is the Medicare global period for 62256?

It has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.

How are other procedures in the same session paid?

Under the standard multiple procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50%. An assistant at surgery may be paid, but co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

Should modifier 50 be appended?

No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for removal of this shunt system.

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 62256PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,941 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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