Billing code 61552: Suture releaseMedicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Reports operative release of multiple prematurely fused cranial sutures in a patient with craniosynostosis, generally performed by a neurosurgeon or craniofacial surgeon.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 61552 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 61552 covers
This operation treats craniosynostosis when more than one cranial suture has fused prematurely, limiting skull growth or contributing to an abnormal head shape. A neurosurgeon, often working with a craniofacial surgical team, removes or opens bone along the affected suture lines to release the restriction. It is typically performed in a hospital operating room, often for an infant or child whose skull growth is affected by the fused sutures.
Select this code when the operative report supports release of multiple cranial sutures; the documented extent of the operation distinguishes it from a single-suture release. The record should identify the sutures treated and describe the operative work. This major surgery has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is not permitted. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code.
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 61552 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 | $1,712.10 |
| Miami | Unavailable | $1,928.88 |
| Rest Of Florida | Unavailable | $1,596.25 |
How the 61552 rate is calculated
Each of 61552’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 · 61552
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 19.89Practice expense 16.01Malpractice 8.38
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 61552
61552 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 61552
Suture release
| 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 · 61552
Suture release
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
61552 without 51 · national facility
$1,478.99
Suture release
61552-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$739.50
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%).
61552 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
61552 vs 61550 vs 61556 vs 61558: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 61550Craniosynostosis surgery
- 61550 applies to release of one cranial suture. Report 61552 when the operative documentation supports treatment of multiple sutures.
- 61556Suture surgery
- 61556 describes a skull or suture incision procedure. Use 61552 for the multiple-suture craniosynostosis release when that is the operation documented.
- 61558Craniosynostosis surgery
- 61558 describes a skull or suture excision procedure. Distinguish it from 61552 by the specific operation documented, rather than assuming the codes are interchangeable.
61552 billing questions
How is 61552 distinguished from 61550?
61552 is for release involving multiple cranial sutures. Use 61550 when the documented operation treats a single cranial suture.
What documentation supports reporting 61552?
The operative report should identify the fused sutures treated and describe the release performed. The documented extent should support a multiple-suture operation.
Does the 90-day global period include related postoperative care?
Yes. It 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 available. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.
Should modifier 50 be used for release on both sides?
No. The descriptor and anatomy make a bilateral adjustment inappropriate for 61552.
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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