61154 Hematoma drainage Medicare reimbursement rates in Alabama

A neurosurgeon creates one or more burr holes in the skull to reach and evacuate or drain an extradural (epidural) or subdural hematoma. The procedure may be used for acute or chronic blood collections when burr-hole access is the selected operative approach. It is typically performed in a hospital operating room, often for a patient with symptomatic intracranial bleeding or pressure from a hematoma.

Select this code for the hematoma’s extradural or subdural location and the burr-hole approach; a twist-drill procedure, intracerebral aspiration, or open craniotomy represents a different service. The operative report should identify the hematoma location, approach, and evacuation or drainage performed. The code has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care through day 90. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Modifier 50 applies to bilateral performance and is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; co-surgeons require supporting documentation, and team surgery is not permitted.