Billing code 63016: LaminectomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Alaska
A surgeon removes posterior bone across more than two thoracic spinal segments to inspect or decompress the spinal canal without facet, foraminal, or disc removal.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 63016 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 63016 covers
A spine surgeon performs this multilevel thoracic decompression by removing posterior vertebral bone to access and enlarge the spinal canal, typically for thoracic canal narrowing that compresses the spinal cord. The operative work extends across more than two thoracic segments and does not include the facet removal, foraminal enlargement, or disc removal that would distinguish other decompression services. It is generally performed in a hospital operating room by an orthopedic spine surgeon or neurosurgeon.
Select the code from the documented spinal region and number of segments treated. The operative report should identify the thoracic levels and describe the decompression performed, including whether facets, foramina, or disc material were removed. This major surgery has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care 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 50% multiple procedure reduction. Bilateral adjustment is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery and co-surgeon services may be paid; 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.
63016 in Alaska*
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska* | Unavailable | $1,734.18 |
How the 63016 rate is calculated
Each of 63016’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 · 63016
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 21.48Practice expense 14.39Malpractice 7.94
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 63016
63016 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 63016
Laminectomy
| 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) | 2 | Permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.11/0.76/0.13 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 63016
Laminectomy
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
63016 without 51 · national facility
$1,463.29
Laminectomy
63016-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$731.65
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%).
63016 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
63016 vs 63003 vs 63017 vs 63046: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 63003Thoracic decompression
- Both are thoracic laminectomy decompressions without facet, foraminal, or disc removal. 63003 covers one or two segments; 63016 is for more than two.
- 63017Lumbar laminectomy
- This code describes more-than-two-segment decompression in the thoracic region; 63017 is the corresponding lumbar-region service.
- 63046Thoracic decompression
- Use 63046 for thoracic decompression that includes facetectomy and foraminotomy. 63016 describes a different decompression pattern without those procedures or disc removal.
63016 billing questions
How does this differ from 63003?
Both describe thoracic laminectomy decompression without facet, foraminal, or disc removal. Use 63016 when the work spans more than two thoracic segments; 63003 is for one or two.
Is the code reported per thoracic level?
Choose it based on the documented extent of the procedure: more than two thoracic segments. The operative note should name the treated levels rather than presenting the service as a count of separately billed units.
What if the surgeon also removes facet bone or enlarges a foramen?
Those details distinguish other decompression services, including thoracic laminectomy with facetectomy and foraminotomy, such as 63046. The operative report should support the actual work performed.
Should modifier 50 be appended for bilateral decompression?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be paid?
Assistant-at-surgery and co-surgeon services may be paid under the CMS rules for this code. Team surgery is not permitted.
What postoperative care is included in the global period?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during the 90 days after surgery.
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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