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Billing code 63688: Spinal stimulatorMedicare rate & RVUs

Revision or removal of an implanted spinal cord stimulation generator or receiver is reported when surgery addresses the pulse generator rather than the electrode leads.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities16.5K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $305.62 for 63688 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 63688

Spinal stimulator

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
4.24
Total RVUs
9.15
Global days
010

National rate · 2026

$305.62

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 63688 → · 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 63688 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 63688 covers

This service involves surgically revising or removing the implanted pulse generator or receiver that powers a spinal cord stimulation system. It is commonly performed by a neurosurgeon or pain physician for a generator that has shifted, malfunctioned, or reached the end of its service life, or when the generator pocket requires surgical attention. The work concerns the generator or receiver, not the implanted spinal electrodes.

Report this code when the operative work revises or removes the generator or receiver; documentation should identify the device component and the specific work performed. Use the lead-removal or lead-revision codes when the electrode array or paddle is the target. Medicare assigns a 10-day global period, including related postoperative visits during that period. 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. Bilateral adjustment is not appropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery, and 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 63688 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

63688 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$274.18
Alaska*Unavailable$368.89
ArizonaUnavailable$296.53
ArkansasUnavailable$270.32
AtlantaUnavailable$315.22
AustinUnavailable$309.32
BakersfieldUnavailable$306.81
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$325.66
BeaumontUnavailable$291.53
BrazoriaUnavailable$297.80

63688 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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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
63688 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 63688 rate is calculated

Each of 63688’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 · 63688

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 4.24Practice expense 3.85Malpractice 1.06

9.1500 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$305.62

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 63688

63688 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 63688

Spinal stimulator

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period010Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 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)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.10/0.80/0.10Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 63688

Spinal stimulator

10-day global period ends

Oct 11, 2026

Covers Oct 1, 2026 through Oct 11, 2026 (11 days).

Visit on Oct 31, 2026

After the global period ends: visits and procedures are billed normally.

SurgeryVisit
Sep 28, 2026Oct 14, 2026

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

63688 without 51 · national facility

$305.62

Spinal stimulator

63688-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$152.81

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

63688 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

63688 vs 63685 vs 63661 vs 63662 vs 63663: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 63688
    Spinal stimulator · 4.24 wRVU
    —
  • 63685
    Neurostimulator generator · 5.06 wRVU
    —
  • 63661
    Lead removal · 4.95 wRVU
    $743.50
  • 63662
    Paddle lead removal · 10.73 wRVU
    —
  • 63663
    Lead revision · 7.56 wRVU
    $953.26

How to choose

63685Neurostimulator generator
Choose 63685 when the procedure places or replaces the generator or receiver. Choose 63688 when the existing generator or receiver is revised or removed.
63661Lead removal
63661 concerns removal of a percutaneous spinal electrode array. This code concerns the generator or receiver, not the lead.
63662Paddle lead removal
63662 concerns removal of a paddle-style spinal electrode. Use 63688 for revision or removal of the generator or receiver.
63663Lead revision
63663 is for revision of a percutaneous electrode array. It does not describe revision or removal of the generator or receiver.

Codes related to 63688

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

Codes related to 63688
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
63685Neurostimulator generatorFor placing or replacing the generator or receiver rather than revising or removing it.No office rate
Often billed with
63661Lead removalPercutaneous electrode-array removal may be reported when that component is also removed.$650.72–$987.59
63662Paddle lead removalPaddle electrode removal may be reported when that component is also removed.No office rate
63663Lead revisionFor revision of a percutaneous electrode array when lead revision is also performed.$842.05–$1,258.09
63664Paddle lead revisionFor revision of a paddle electrode when lead revision is also performed.No office rate

63688 billing questions

How does this differ from 63685?

Report 63688 for revision or removal of an existing generator or receiver. Code 63685 describes placing or replacing the generator or receiver.

Can generator and electrode work be reported together?

They describe different implanted components. If the surgeon also removes or revises the electrode array or paddle, document that work separately and consider the applicable lead code.

Should modifier 50 be used for work on both sides?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.

Is an assistant surgeon payable?

No. CMS lists a statutory restriction on assistant-at-surgery payment for this service.

What documentation supports reporting 63688?

The operative report should identify the implanted generator or receiver and describe its revision or removal, distinguishing that work from any electrode procedure.

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 63688PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 7,084 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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