Billing code 61548: Pituitary surgeryMedicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Reports pituitary gland or tumor removal through a transnasal or transseptal route, rather than an intracranial approach or endoscopic procedure.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 61548 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 61548 covers
This code describes surgery to remove pituitary tissue or a pituitary tumor through the nose or nasal septum and into the sphenoid region. It is typically performed in a hospital operating room by a neurosurgeon. An otolaryngologist may participate in the nasal or sinus access as a co-surgeon. Common clinical situations include pituitary tumors causing hormone-related disease or pressure on nearby structures. For an endoscopic transnasal pituitary tumor operation, compare 62165.
Report the code when the operative record supports the transnasal or transseptal route and pituitary removal. The major-surgery global period 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. Bilateral adjustment is inappropriate for this midline procedure. An assistant at surgery may be paid, co-surgeons are permitted, 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 61548 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 | $1,711.79 |
| Miami | Unavailable | $1,919.84 |
| Rest Of Florida | Unavailable | $1,603.24 |
How the 61548 rate is calculated
Each of 61548’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 · 61548
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work22.79
22.79 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense13.62
13.62 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice8.11
8.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
44.5200
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,487.01
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 61548
61548 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 61548
Pituitary surgery
| 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 · 61548
Pituitary surgery
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
61548 without 51 · national facility
$1,487.01
Pituitary surgery
61548-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$743.51
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%).
61548 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
61548 vs 61546 vs 62165: Medicare rates
How to choose
- 61546Pituitary surgery
- Choose 61548 for the transnasal or transseptal route. Choose 61546 when the surgeon reaches the pituitary through an intracranial approach.
- 62165Pituitary tumor removal
- 62165 describes neuroendoscopic transnasal removal of a pituitary tumor. Use 61548 when the documented procedure is not the neuroendoscopic service described by 62165.
61548 billing questions
How does this differ from 61546?
61548 is for pituitary removal through a transnasal or transseptal route. 61546 describes an intracranial approach.
When should 62165 be considered instead?
Compare 62165 when the pituitary tumor is removed using a neuroendoscopic transnasal approach. The operative report should support the method performed.
Does the code include the related postoperative visits?
The 90-day global period includes related postoperative care for 90 days and the preoperative visit on the day before surgery.
Can modifier 50 be reported?
No. Bilateral adjustment is inappropriate for this midline pituitary procedure.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon participate?
CMS permits payment for an assistant at surgery and permits co-surgeons. Team surgery is not permitted.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction.
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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