CPT code 64760: Vagus nerve surgery2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $510.70 for 64760 nationally in a facility.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 64760 covers

This code represents surgical division of the vagus nerve to interrupt its signaling. A surgeon may perform a vagotomy during an upper abdominal operation, classically as part of treatment for peptic ulcer disease that has not responded to medical management. The service is uncommon in current practice; the operative report should identify the vagus nerve and describe the division performed, rather than only documenting exposure, manipulation, or stimulation.

Select this code when the surgeon actually divides the vagus nerve, not another named nerve or nerve fibers serving the stomach. Documentation should support the nerve targeted and the operative work. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is 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 64760 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

64760 rates by state

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

How the 64760 rate is calculated

Each of 64760’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 64760

64760 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 51

64760 compared with similar codes

How to choose

64755Vagal nerve surgery

Use this code for division of the vagus nerve. Code 64755 concerns stomach nerves, so the operative report's identified nerve target is the key distinction.

64746Phrenic neurotomy

Code 64746 is directed at the phrenic nerve. This code applies when the surgeon divides the vagus nerve.

64771Cranial nerve transection

Code 64771 describes a different cranial nerve procedure. Select this code when the documented nerve divided is the vagus nerve.

Codes related to 64760

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

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates