Billing code 61535: Electrode removalMedicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Reports craniotomy-based removal of previously placed intracranial brain electrodes, commonly after seizure monitoring with electrodes used to localize an epileptic focus.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 61535 in Florida.
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 61535 covers
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.
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.
Where 61535 pays more and less in Florida
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | Unavailable | $1,176.22 |
| Miami | Unavailable | $1,317.93 |
| Rest Of Florida | Unavailable | $1,097.47 |
How the 61535 rate is calculated
Each of 61535’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 · 61535
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work12.82
12.82 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense12.47
12.47 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice5.40
5.40 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
30.6900
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,025.07
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 61535
61535 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 61535
Electrode removal
| 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 · 61535
Electrode removal
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
61535 without 51 · national facility
$1,025.07
Electrode removal
61535-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$512.54
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%).
61535 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 61531Brain electrode implant
- 61531 describes implantation of cortical neurostimulator electrodes through a craniectomy approach; 61535 describes removal of previously placed brain electrodes.
- 61533Brain electrode placement
- 61533 describes electrode implantation through a craniotomy. Choose 61535 for the later craniotomy-based removal service, not placement.
- 61880Neuroelectrode surgery
- 61880 addresses revision or removal of an intracranial neurostimulator electrode array. Distinguish it from 61535 by the electrode service and operative approach documented.
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 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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