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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

62291 in Merced

Office / nonfacility

$357.75

Base rate per service

Facility setting

$134.45

Base rate per service

Amounts below use the non-QP conversion factor for participating physicians. These are base physician payments before claim-level adjustments, not patient costs or total hospital charges.

Spine procedures

About 62291: Cervical or thoracic discography injection

Reports contrast injection into cervical or thoracic intervertebral disc levels for discography, generally to assess disc structure and help evaluate suspected disc-related pain.

A physician, commonly a radiologist or spine specialist, places a needle into one or more cervical or thoracic intervertebral discs and injects contrast for discographic evaluation. The study can help assess disc morphology and whether injection reproduces a patient’s symptoms during evaluation of suspected disc-related pain. This code identifies the injection procedure at each level, not lumbar discography.

Report the code for each cervical or thoracic disc level injected, supported by the procedure note’s documented site and number of levels. Radiological supervision and interpretation for cervical or thoracic discography is represented by 72285 when performed and documented. The 0-day global includes same-day preoperative and 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% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service, and co-surgeon and team-surgery payment is not permitted.

CMS billing rules for 62291

Global period
Minor procedure with a 0-day global period: same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included.
Multiple procedures
Standard multiple procedure reduction: the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50% when performed in the same session.
Bilateral procedures
Bilateral adjustment does not apply; the descriptor or anatomy makes modifier 50 inappropriate.
Assistant at surgery
Statutory restriction: assistant at surgery is not paid.
Co-surgeons
Co-surgeons not permitted.
Team surgery
Team surgery not permitted.

Where the value comes from

  • Work RVU2.84 · 28%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU7.02 · 70%
  • Malpractice RVU0.24 · 2%

670

Medicare services in 2024 · #3300 by national volume

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.

62291 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Merced, from the same CMS release.

62290

Discography

Lumbar level injection

$393.02

62290 reports discography injection at lumbar levels; 62291 is for cervical or thoracic levels.

72285

Discography

Cervical or thoracic

$154.96

72285 represents radiological supervision and interpretation for cervical or thoracic discography, while 62291 reports the disc injection procedure.

62267

Disc aspiration

Diagnostic lumbar sampling

$269.80

62267 describes percutaneous aspiration of an intervertebral disc for diagnostic sampling; 62291 is the contrast injection used for discography.

The same code, a different location

How does Merced compare?

In Bakersfield, the office rate for 62291 is $358.53—$0.78 higher than the $357.75 rate in Merced. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

62291 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Merced · This locality

    $357.75

  2. Bakersfield

    $358.53

    $0.78 higher than Merced

  3. Chico

    $357.75

    The same base rate than Merced

  4. El Centro

    $357.79

    $0.04 higher than Merced

  5. Fresno

    $357.75

    The same base rate than Merced

  6. Hanford-Corcoran

    $357.75

    The same base rate than Merced

  7. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty)

    $381.45

    $23.70 higher than Merced

Other payment areas listed in California appear first, followed by selected cross-country examples. The chart compares amounts, not distance.

Across 109 of 109 CMS payment localities with a supported office rate, 62291 ranges from $300.40 in Arkansas to $447.70 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty). This is a geographic range, not an average.

The code’s RVUs stay the same in these comparisons. Geographic adjustments to work, practice expense and malpractice change the dollar amount. A city name alone may not identify the payment area for a service address.

Compare all 108 other payment areas

  • Madera

    California · 62291

    Office

    $357.75

    Facility

    $134.45

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 62291

    Office

    $357.75

    Facility

    $134.45

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 62291

    Office

    $413.94

    Facility

    $145.41

    $56.19 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 62291

    Office

    $379.66

    Facility

    $138.83

    $21.91 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 62291

    Office

    $357.75

    Facility

    $134.45

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 62291

    Office

    $357.75

    Facility

    $134.45

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 62291

    Office

    $360.39

    Facility

    $137.08

    $2.64 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 62291

    Office

    $375.26

    Facility

    $138.31

    $17.51 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 62291

    Office

    $373.85

    Facility

    $137.71

    $16.10 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 62291

    Office

    $382.48

    Facility

    $138.80

    $24.73 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 62291

    Office

    $438.16

    Facility

    $150.88

    $80.41 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty)

    California · 62291

    Office

    $437.89

    Facility

    $150.60

    $80.14 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty)

    California · 62291

    Office

    $447.70

    Facility

    $153.90

    $89.95 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty)

    California · 62291

    Office

    $446.59

    Facility

    $152.79

    $88.84 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 62291

    Office

    $367.83

    Facility

    $135.77

    $10.08 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 62291

    Office

    $386.03

    Facility

    $138.48

    $28.28 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 62291

    Office

    $375.21

    Facility

    $137.64

    $17.46 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 62291

    Office

    $389.94

    Facility

    $139.74

    $32.19 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 62291

    Office

    $357.75

    Facility

    $134.45

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 62291

    Office

    $413.55

    Facility

    $145.01

    $55.80 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 62291

    Office

    $357.75

    Facility

    $134.45

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 62291

    Office

    $357.75

    Facility

    $134.45

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 62291

    Office

    $385.11

    Facility

    $145.10

    $27.36 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 62291

    Office

    $359.22

    Facility

    $147.12

    $1.47 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 62291

    Office

    $349.57

    Facility

    $144.80

    $8.18 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 62291

    Office

    $386.10

    Facility

    $149.35

    $28.35 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 62291

    Office

    $396.42

    Facility

    $179.43

    $38.67 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 62291

    Office

    $304.56

    Facility

    $126.28

    $53.19 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 62291

    Office

    $300.40

    Facility

    $125.38

    $57.35 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 62291

    Office

    $328.93

    Facility

    $131.50

    $28.82 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 62291

    Office

    $351.74

    Facility

    $134.95

    $6.01 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 62291

    Office

    $358.98

    Facility

    $139.55

    $1.23 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 62291

    Office

    $334.20

    Facility

    $132.90

    $23.55 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 62291

    Office

    $346.87

    Facility

    $140.48

    $10.88 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 62291

    Office

    $331.06

    Facility

    $136.28

    $26.69 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 62291

    Office

    $343.00

    Facility

    $135.99

    $14.75 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 62291

    Office

    $313.56

    Facility

    $131.82

    $44.19 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 62291

    Office

    $366.10

    Facility

    $134.44

    $8.35 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 62291

    Office

    $312.58

    Facility

    $126.16

    $45.17 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 62291

    Office

    $314.37

    Facility

    $126.92

    $43.38 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 62291

    Office

    $326.72

    Facility

    $139.27

    $31.03 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 62291

    Office

    $321.46

    Facility

    $135.44

    $36.29 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 62291

    Office

    $350.53

    Facility

    $141.29

    $7.22 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 62291

    Office

    $316.11

    Facility

    $127.24

    $41.64 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 62291

    Office

    $310.86

    Facility

    $126.68

    $46.89 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 62291

    Office

    $310.64

    Facility

    $129.51

    $47.11 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 62291

    Office

    $324.61

    Facility

    $132.88

    $33.14 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 62291

    Office

    $310.05

    Facility

    $129.73

    $47.70 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 62291

    Office

    $385.84

    Facility

    $142.57

    $28.09 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 62291

    Office

    $349.67

    Facility

    $135.12

    $8.08 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 62291

    Office

    $357.88

    Facility

    $139.26

    $0.13 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 62291

    Office

    $340.45

    Facility

    $134.26

    $17.30 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 62291

    Office

    $315.56

    Facility

    $128.12

    $42.19 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 62291

    Office

    $332.28

    Facility

    $130.37

    $25.47 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 62291

    Office

    $334.64

    Facility

    $138.03

    $23.11 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 62291

    Office

    $317.98

    Facility

    $131.96

    $39.77 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 62291

    Office

    $338.51

    Facility

    $128.85

    $19.24 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 62291

    Office

    $322.86

    Facility

    $131.54

    $34.89 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 62291

    Office

    $326.11

    Facility

    $132.14

    $31.64 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 62291

    Office

    $304.78

    Facility

    $129.15

    $52.97 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 62291

    Office

    $302.66

    Facility

    $127.24

    $55.09 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 62291

    Office

    $337.33

    Facility

    $133.59

    $20.42 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 62291

    Office

    $318.75

    Facility

    $128.65

    $39.00 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 62291

    Office

    $332.59

    Facility

    $128.84

    $25.16 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 62291

    Office

    $314.31

    Facility

    $126.25

    $43.44 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 62291

    Office

    $345.96

    Facility

    $133.86

    $11.79 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 62291

    Office

    $381.39

    Facility

    $145.04

    $23.64 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 62291

    Office

    $363.49

    Facility

    $141.00

    $5.74 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 62291

    Office

    $319.50

    Facility

    $132.66

    $38.25 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 62291

    Office

    $336.24

    Facility

    $132.30

    $21.51 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 62291

    Office

    $394.61

    Facility

    $152.35

    $36.86 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 62291

    Office

    $365.58

    Facility

    $142.47

    $7.83 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 62291

    Office

    $389.64

    Facility

    $148.81

    $31.89 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 62291

    Office

    $323.24

    Facility

    $129.69

    $34.51 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 62291

    Office

    $317.01

    Facility

    $130.99

    $40.74 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 62291

    Office

    $310.47

    Facility

    $128.53

    $47.28 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 62291

    Office

    $362.84

    Facility

    $136.48

    $5.09 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 62291

    Office

    $334.03

    Facility

    $131.10

    $23.72 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 62291

    Office

    $350.22

    Facility

    $138.12

    $7.53 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 62291

    Office

    $317.68

    Facility

    $130.64

    $40.07 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 62291

    Office

    $339.81

    Facility

    $133.82

    $17.94 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 62291

    Office

    $346.02

    Facility

    $135.55

    $11.73 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 62291

    Office

    $318.33

    Facility

    $130.07

    $39.42 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 62291

    Office

    $332.03

    Facility

    $128.28

    $25.72 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 62291

    Office

    $312.30

    Facility

    $127.10

    $45.45 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Austin

    Texas · 62291

    Office

    $350.22

    Facility

    $134.66

    $7.53 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Beaumont

    Texas · 62291

    Office

    $315.68

    Facility

    $130.27

    $42.07 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Brazoria

    Texas · 62291

    Office

    $334.23

    Facility

    $132.32

    $23.52 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Dallas

    Texas · 62291

    Office

    $336.13

    Facility

    $133.20

    $21.62 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Fort Worth

    Texas · 62291

    Office

    $333.89

    Facility

    $132.99

    $23.86 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Galveston

    Texas · 62291

    Office

    $335.09

    Facility

    $132.77

    $22.66 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Houston

    Texas · 62291

    Office

    $339.48

    Facility

    $137.16

    $18.27 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 62291

    Office

    $324.61

    Facility

    $131.26

    $33.14 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 62291

    Office

    $322.46

    Facility

    $130.94

    $35.29 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 62291

    Office

    $331.01

    Facility

    $130.72

    $26.74 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 62291

    Office

    $339.81

    Facility

    $133.82

    $17.94 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 62291

    Office

    $331.04

    Facility

    $129.34

    $26.71 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 62291

    Office

    $349.09

    Facility

    $134.55

    $8.66 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 62291

    Office

    $393.85

    Facility

    $143.86

    $36.10 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 62291

    Office

    $321.95

    Facility

    $126.77

    $35.80 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 62291

    Office

    $310.09

    Facility

    $133.03

    $47.66 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 62291

    Office

    $335.26

    Facility

    $131.52

    $22.49 lower than Merced for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

62291 · Office / nonfacility · Non-QP. Choose a state to explore its payment localities. A range means the amount varies within that state.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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.

$300.40

$402.73

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$396.421
AL$304.561
AR$300.401
AZ$328.931
CA$357.75–$447.7029
CO$351.741
CT$358.981
DC$385.111
DE$334.201
FL$331.06–$359.223
GA$313.56–$343.002
GU$366.101
HI$366.101
IA$312.581
ID$314.371
IL$321.46–$350.534
IN$316.111
KS$310.861
KY$310.641
LA$310.05–$324.612
MA$349.67–$385.842
MD$340.45–$385.113
ME$315.56–$332.282
MI$317.98–$334.642
MN$338.511
MO$304.78–$326.113
MS$302.661
MT$337.331
NC$318.751
ND$332.591
NE$314.311
NH$345.961
NJ$363.49–$381.392
NM$319.501
NV$336.241
NY$323.24–$394.615
OH$317.011
OK$310.471
OR$334.03–$362.842
PA$317.68–$350.222
PR$339.811
RI$346.021
SC$318.331
SD$332.031
TN$312.301
TX$315.68–$350.228
UT$322.461
VA$331.01–$385.112
VI$339.811
VT$331.041
WA$349.09–$393.852
WI$321.951
WV$310.091
WY$335.261

Explore 62291 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

Merced is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 24 cities and communities in California, including the examples shown here.

Some communities span more than one payment area. Follow a city link to compare all of its mapped areas, or check the service-location ZIP above for an address-level starting point.

Browse all communities in California →

Why are the office and facility amounts different?

For 62291 in Merced, the physician’s office rate is $357.75 and the facility-setting rate is $134.45: a difference of $223.30.

The calculation uses a different practice-expense RVU for each setting. Both amounts here are physician fee-schedule amounts. The facility figure does not include a hospital’s separate charges, so this comparison does not tell you the total cost of receiving care in each setting.

See the inputs behind this difference →

Use this rate

What is a percentage of Medicare worth?

Turn a percentage into dollars for 62291 in Merced. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$393.53

$357.75 × 110% = $393.53

A contract may specify another Medicare year or additional adjustments. This is percentage arithmetic on the displayed base rate, not a claim adjudication.

Working with a whole code list?

Compare an offer across your annual code mix, including an older Medicare schedule or flat per-code rates.

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How this local rate is calculated

Each RVU component is multiplied by its own geographic practice cost index (GPCI). The three adjusted components are added, then multiplied by the conversion factor. These are the inputs used for 62291 in Merced.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

6,957

Code
62291
Physician work
2.84
Practice expense
7.02
Malpractice
0.24

GPCI2026.csv

15

Locality
Merced
Physician work
1.017
Practice expense
1.096
Malpractice
0.536
Office / nonfacility calculation for 62291 in Merced
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.84× 1.0172.8883
Practice expense7.02× 1.0967.6939
Malpractice0.24× 0.5360.1286
Total RVUs10.7108
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Merced$357.75

Values as parsed from CMS release RVU26D, effective 2026-10-01. The amount is rounded to the nearest cent only at the end.

Open 62291 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work2.841.017
Practice expense7.021.096
Malpractice0.240.536

(2.84 × 1.017 + 7.02 × 1.096 + 0.24 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $357.75

Facility

Facility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work2.841.017
Practice expense0.921.096
Malpractice0.240.536

(2.84 × 1.017 + 0.92 × 1.096 + 0.24 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $134.45

The office and facility calculations use their respective practice-expense RVUs. The facility amount here is the physician fee, not a separate hospital or facility bill.

How this rate has changed

62291 · Office / nonfacility

$357.75

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $47.95 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $309.80 to $357.75 (15.5%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $309.80changed to$357.75

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 2.91 changed to 2.84
    • Practice expense RVU 5.94 changed to 7.02
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.017
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.093 changed to 1.096
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.560 changed to 0.536

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    Earliest loaded release: $309.80

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

Explore release dates and calculate this code in an earlier period →

Each row uses the accepted CMS release effective on that date and the same contractor and locality identifiers. Missing rates stay visible. Historical boundaries may differ; verify the service address for an older claim.

Inspect every release and its CMS source
Effective fromOffice / nonfacilityFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$357.75$134.45RVU26D
2026-07-01$357.75$134.45RVU26C
2026-04-01$357.75$134.45RVU26B
2026-01-01$357.75$134.45RVU26A
2025-10-01$309.80$138.68RVU25D
2025-07-01$309.80$138.68RVU25C
2025-04-01$309.80$138.68RVU25B
2025-01-01$309.80$138.68RVU25A

62291 billing questions

When should 62291 be chosen instead of 62290?

Use 62291 for cervical or thoracic disc levels. Code 62290 is the lumbar discography injection counterpart.

How are units determined?

The code is reported for each cervical or thoracic disc level injected. Document the levels treated in the procedure note.

Is the imaging supervision and interpretation included?

Radiological supervision and interpretation for cervical or thoracic discography is represented by 72285 when performed and documented.

Should modifier 50 be used for bilateral discography?

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

How does the multiple-procedure reduction affect payment?

For multiple procedures performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense, and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indices and the applicable conversion factor. Unavailable or separately priced services are labeled rather than assigned a made-up amount.

Source: RVU26D. Effective 2026-10-01 through the day before 2027-01-01.

RVUs for 62291PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,957 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for MercedGPCI2026.csv, line 15 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet