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CPT code 63053: Lumbar decompression2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports an additional lumbar segment decompressed for neural stenosis during posterior interbody arthrodesis, beyond the initial segment reported with 63052.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities23.7K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $204.75 for 63053 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 63053

Lumbar decompression

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
3.69
Total RVUs
6.13
Global days
ZZZ

National rate · 2026

$204.75

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 63053 →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.

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 63053 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 63053 covers

Code 63053 describes decompression of an additional lumbar vertebral segment during posterior interbody arthrodesis. The surgeon removes bone and related structures, such as lamina, facet, or foraminal tissue, to relieve compression of spinal nerve roots, the cauda equina, or the spinal cord. It is used in lumbar fusion operations for conditions such as degenerative stenosis when decompression extends beyond the initial segment. Orthopedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons typically perform the service in a hospital or other surgical facility.

Report 63053 only as an add-on for each additional segment decompressed after the initial segment reported with 63052. The fusion may be reported with 22630 for posterior interbody arthrodesis or 22633 when the procedure also includes posterolateral fusion. The operative report should identify the additional segment and the neural compression requiring decompression; routine exposure or work inherent to placing the interbody fusion construct alone does not establish a separate decompression service. CMS treats this add-on as paid within the primary procedure’s global period, so it is not reported as a stand-alone 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 63053 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

63053 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$182.07
AlaskaUnavailable$250.90
ArizonaUnavailable$197.65
ArkansasUnavailable$179.35
Atlanta, GAUnavailable$213.90
Austin, TXUnavailable$202.77
Bakersfield, CAUnavailable$195.23
Baltimore area, MDUnavailable$219.30
Beaumont, TXUnavailable$198.18
Brazoria, TXUnavailable$196.47

63053 rates by state

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

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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
63053 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 63053 rate is calculated

Each of 63053’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 · 63053

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work3.69

3.69 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense1.23

1.23 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice1.21

1.21 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

6.1300

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$204.75

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 63053

The CMS indicators that decide how 63053 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 63053

Lumbar decompression

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

63053 without 80 · national facility

$204.75

Lumbar decompression

63053-80 · Assistant: 16%

$32.76

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

When to use modifier 80

63053 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 63053

    Lumbar decompression3.69 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 63052

    Spinal decompression4.14 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 63047

    Lumbar decompression14.99 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 63048

    Spinal decompression3.38 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

63052Spinal decompression
63052 reports the initial lumbar segment decompressed during posterior interbody arthrodesis; 63053 reports each additional segment in that same setting.
63047Lumbar decompression
63047 covers lumbar decompression for stenosis outside the posterior interbody arthrodesis context. Use 63053 for an additional decompressed segment during that arthrodesis.
63048Spinal decompression
63048 is an additional-level code for the decompression represented by 63047. It is not the add-on for decompression performed during posterior interbody arthrodesis.

Codes related to 63053

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

Codes related to 63053
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Primary code
63052Spinal decompressionReports the initial lumbar decompression segment in the posterior interbody arthrodesis setting.No office rate
Add-on codes
22630Lumbar fusionPosterior interbody arthrodesis code that may accompany the decompression add-on.No office rate
22633Lumbar fusionCombined posterolateral and posterior interbody fusion code that may accompany the add-on.No office rate
Used instead
63047Lumbar decompressionLumbar decompression for stenosis when it is not performed during posterior interbody arthrodesis.No office rate
63048Spinal decompressionAdditional-level lumbar decompression for stenosis outside the posterior interbody arthrodesis setting.No office rate

63053 billing questions

How does 63053 differ from 63052?

63052 represents decompression at the initial lumbar segment during posterior interbody arthrodesis. Use 63053 for each additional segment decompressed in that setting.

Which fusion codes may accompany 63053?

It is reported as an add-on with the applicable posterior interbody arthrodesis, such as 22630 or 22633, along with 63052 for the initial decompressed segment.

Can 63053 be reported for routine fusion exposure?

No. The record should support additional decompression for neural compression, rather than only the exposure or bone work inherent to performing the fusion.

What supports reporting an additional unit?

Document the additional lumbar segment treated and the decompression performed there. The code represents an additional segment, not an additional side.

Is 63053 reported as a stand-alone service?

No. It is an add-on code reported with the primary procedure and is paid 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 63053PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 7,011 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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