No office rate
61531 describes implantation of cortical neurostimulator electrodes through a craniectomy approach; 61535 describes removal of previously placed brain electrodes.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
61535 Electrode removal Medicare reimbursement rates in Connecticut
Reports craniotomy-based removal of previously placed intracranial brain electrodes, commonly after seizure monitoring with electrodes used to localize an epileptic focus. Compare 61535 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in Connecticut.
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.
What does Medicare pay for 61535 in Connecticut?
Connecticut has 1 payment locality in this comparison. Use the service location to choose the applicable amount. These are the supported base rates for the payment area shown below, using the same CMS release.
Office / nonfacility
No supported rate
Facility setting
$1103.59
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Connecticut
One mapped payment locality.
These are locality ranges, not averages or address-specific quotes. A facility-setting amount covers the physician service; it does not include a hospital’s separate bill. Choose a locality below to inspect its calculation, compare other payment areas, or price a percentage of Medicare.
Neurosurgery
About 61535: Craniotomy removal of brain electrodes
Reports craniotomy-based removal of previously placed intracranial brain electrodes, commonly after seizure monitoring with electrodes used to localize an epileptic focus.
A neurosurgeon uses a craniotomy to remove previously placed electrodes from the brain. A typical setting is the operating room after intracranial EEG monitoring for epilepsy, when temporary electrodes have helped identify seizure activity and the patient returns for removal. The procedure concerns electrode removal, rather than excision of the brain tissue identified during monitoring.
Report the service for the operative removal documented in the surgeon’s report, including the craniotomy approach and the electrodes removed. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, which includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of 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% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is not permitted.
CMS billing rules for 61535
- Global period
- Major surgery with a 90-day global period: the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are 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
- Assistant at surgery may be paid.
- Co-surgeons
- Co-surgeons paid only with supporting documentation.
- Team surgery
- Team surgery not permitted.
Where the value comes from
- Work RVU12.82 · 42%
- Practice expense (office) RVU12.47 · 41%
- Malpractice RVU5.40 · 18%
13
Medicare services in 2024 · #6133 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.
61535 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Connecticut, from the same CMS release.
No office rate
61533 describes electrode implantation through a craniotomy. Choose 61535 for the later craniotomy-based removal service, not placement.
No office rate
61880 addresses revision or removal of an intracranial neurostimulator electrode array. Distinguish it from 61535 by the electrode service and operative approach documented.
Compare 61535 by payment locality
Find the payment area for your service address, then open its rate page for calculation inputs, release history and the percentage-of-Medicare tool. A city may cross payment-area boundaries; the ZIP lookup above helps resolve the location.
1 of 1 payment localities
Connecticut →
Office / nonfacility
Unavailable
Facility
$1103.59
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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 61535 in Connecticut.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
6,795
- Code
- 61535
- Physician work
- 12.82
- Practice expense
- 12.47
- Malpractice
- 5.40
GPCI2026.csv
38
- Locality
- Connecticut
- Physician work
- 1.020
- Practice expense
- 1.077
- Malpractice
- 1.210
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 12.82 | × 1.020 | 13.0764 |
| Practice expense | 12.47 | × 1.077 | 13.4302 |
| Malpractice | 5.40 | × 1.210 | 6.5340 |
| Total RVUs | 33.0406 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Facility rate, Connecticut$1103.59
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Facility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 12.82 | 1.02 |
| Practice expense | 12.47 | 1.077 |
| Malpractice | 5.4 | 1.21 |
(12.82 × 1.02 + 12.47 × 1.077 + 5.4 × 1.21) × $33.4009 = $1103.59
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.
61535 billing questions
Is this code for electrode removal or removal of the seizure focus?
It reports craniotomy-based removal of intracranial electrodes. Removal of brain tissue identified as a seizure focus is a different service.
Can electrode implantation and removal be reported together?
The implantation codes describe placement, while this code describes removal. They may occur at different stages of epilepsy monitoring; report each service when it is actually performed and documented.
Should modifier 50 be appended when electrodes are removed from both sides?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is 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.
6,79261531,,Implant brain electrodes,A,,16.00,14.29,NA,14.29,,6.74,37.03,37.03,0,090,0.11,0.76,0.13,2,0,2,2,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
6,79361533,,Implant brain electrodes,A,,20.92,15.31,NA,15.31,,8.83,45.06,45.06,0,090,0.11,0.76,0.13,2,0,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
6,79461534,,Removal of brain lesion,A,,22.43,16.90,NA,16.90,,9.47,48.80,48.80,0,090,0.11,0.76,0.13,2,0,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
6,79561535,,Remove brain electrodes,A,,12.82,12.47,NA,12.47,,5.40,30.69,30.69,0,090,0.11,0.76,0.13,2,0,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
6,79661536,,Removal of brain lesion,A,,36.78,21.94,NA,21.94,,15.53,74.25,74.25,0,090,0.11,0.76,0.13,2,0,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
6,79761537,,Removal of brain tissue,A,,35.54,19.96,NA,19.96,,15.01,70.51,70.51,0,090,0.11,0.76,0.13,2,0,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
6,79861538,,Removal of brain tissue,A,,38.46,21.47,NA,21.47,,16.24,76.17,76.17,0,090,0.11,0.76,0.13,2,0,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
3501112,CA,70,YUBA CITY,1.017,1.096,0.536
3601112,CA,75,REST OF CALIFORNIA,1.017,1.096,0.536
3704112,CO,01,COLORADO,1.012,1.064,0.781
3813102,CT,00,CONNECTICUT,1.020,1.077,1.210
3912202,DC,01,DC + MD/VA SUBURBS,1.054,1.178,1.113
4012102,DE,01,DELAWARE,1.005,0.988,0.899
4109102,FL,03,FORT LAUDERDALE,1.000,1.013,1.808