Billing code 22800: Spinal fusionMedicare rate & RVUs in Alaska
Reports posterior spinal fusion performed to correct a deformity when the fusion spans no more than six vertebral segments.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 22800 in Alaska.
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 9 sections
What 22800 covers
This code describes a posterior approach arthrodesis performed to correct a spinal deformity, such as scoliosis or kyphosis, across up to six vertebral segments. Orthopedic or neurosurgical spine surgeons commonly perform it in a hospital operating room. The procedure may be done with or without a cast; the defining features are the deformity indication, posterior approach, and extent of the fusion.
Select the code by counting the vertebral segments fused for deformity correction, not by the number of incisions or implants. The operative report should identify the deformity, posterior approach, and fused levels. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. 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 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; 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.
22800 in Alaska*
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska* | Unavailable | $1,575.65 |
How the 22800 rate is calculated
Each of 22800’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 · 22800
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 19.01Practice expense 14.54Malpractice 5.76
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 22800
22800 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 22800
Spinal fusion
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.69/0.21 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 22800
Spinal fusion
90-day global period ends
Dec 30, 2026
Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
22800 without 51 · national facility
$1,312.99
Spinal fusion
22800-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$656.50
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%).
22800 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
22800 vs 22802 vs 22804 vs 22808 vs 22842: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 22802Spinal fusion
- Both describe posterior deformity arthrodesis; choose 22802 when the fusion spans seven to twelve vertebral segments rather than up to six.
- 22804Spinal deformity fusion
- This is the posterior deformity arthrodesis level for thirteen or more vertebral segments; 22800 is limited to six.
- 22808Anterior fusion
- 22808 describes anterior deformity arthrodesis across two to three segments. The approach, not just the number of levels, distinguishes it from this posterior fusion code.
- 22842Spinal fixation
- 22842 describes posterior segmental instrumentation across three to six vertebral segments, not the deformity arthrodesis itself; it may be reported for instrumentation placed during the fusion.
22800 billing questions
How many segments can be reported with this code?
Use it when posterior deformity fusion spans up to six vertebral segments. For a longer fusion, select the corresponding higher-level posterior deformity code.
How does this differ from anterior deformity fusion?
This code describes a posterior approach. Anterior deformity arthrodesis is reported from the anterior code series, with the level determined by the number of segments.
Can spinal instrumentation be reported with the fusion?
Instrumentation may be separately reported when performed and documented. For example, posterior segmental instrumentation across three to six vertebral segments is described by 22842.
Should modifier 50 be appended?
No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate because the descriptor and anatomy do not define a bilateral service.
What documentation supports the segment level?
The operative report should establish deformity correction, the posterior approach, and the vertebral segments fused. The count determines whether this code or a higher-level sibling is appropriate.
How does the global period affect postoperative billing?
The 90-day global includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
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
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