Billing code 61518: Brain tumor excisionMedicare rate & RVUs in Delaware
Open resection of an infratentorial brain tumor other than meningioma, typically reported for posterior fossa tumors treated by craniectomy.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 61518 in Delaware.
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 61518 covers
A neurosurgeon uses an open cranial approach to remove an infratentorial brain tumor, meaning a tumor below the tentorium, in the posterior fossa. A cerebellar tumor is a typical example. This code distinguishes such tumors from meningiomas and from supratentorial tumors; the operative report should establish the lesion’s location and that it was removed.
Report the service when the operative work matches the infratentorial, non-meningioma tumor category. Documentation should identify the tumor site and describe the surgical exposure and resection. 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 one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons are paid only with supporting documentation. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this service, 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.
61518 in Delaware
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | Unavailable | $2,626.27 |
How the 61518 rate is calculated
Each of 61518’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 · 61518
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 38.89Practice expense 25.12Malpractice 16.38
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 61518
61518 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 61518
Brain tumor excision
| 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) | 0.11/0.76/0.13 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 61518
Brain tumor excision
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
61518 without 51 · national facility
$2,685.10
Brain tumor excision
61518-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$1,342.55
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%).
61518 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
61518 vs 61519 vs 61510 vs 61512: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 61519Meningioma removal
- Use 61519 for an infratentorial meningioma; 61518 is for an infratentorial tumor other than meningioma.
- 61510Brain tumor excision
- 61510 is for a supratentorial tumor other than meningioma. The key distinction from 61518 is the tumor’s location above rather than below the tentorium.
- 61512Meningioma excision
- 61512 applies to a supratentorial meningioma. For an infratentorial tumor other than meningioma, use 61518.
61518 billing questions
How does this code differ from 61519?
Both concern infratentorial tumors, but 61518 is for a tumor other than a meningioma. Use 61519 when the infratentorial lesion is a meningioma.
Does a supratentorial tumor qualify?
No. This code is for an infratentorial tumor. Codes 61510 and 61512 address supratentorial tumors, with 61512 for meningioma.
Should modifier 50 be reported?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inapplicable to this code, so modifier 50 is inappropriate.
What documentation supports this code?
The operative report should identify the infratentorial location, establish that the lesion was not a meningioma, and describe its removal.
How are other procedures from the same session paid?
Under the standard multiple-procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50% when performed in the same session.
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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