Billing code 61860: Cortical electrodesMedicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Cranial surgery to place neurostimulator electrodes on the cerebral cortex when cortical electrode implantation requires a craniotomy or craniectomy.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 61860 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 61860 covers
A neurosurgeon exposes the cerebral cortex through a craniotomy or craniectomy and places neurostimulator electrodes at the planned cortical target. The procedure may be part of treatment planning for a patient who needs cortical neuromodulation, such as for epilepsy. It is performed in an operating room, typically in a hospital facility. The operative report should identify the cortical target and document the surgical exposure and electrode placement.
Report 61860 for cortical electrode implantation using craniotomy or craniectomy, rather than the burr-hole approach represented by 61850. The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in its 90-day global period. If other procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery services may be paid; co-surgeons and team surgery are 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 61860 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 | $1,785.08 |
| Miami | Unavailable | $2,019.91 |
| Rest Of Florida | Unavailable | $1,663.16 |
How the 61860 rate is calculated
Each of 61860’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 · 61860
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 21.70Practice expense 14.97Malpractice 9.17
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 61860
61860 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 61860
Cortical electrodes
| 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) | 0 | Not 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 · 61860
Cortical electrodes
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
61860 without 51 · national facility
$1,531.10
Cortical electrodes
61860-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$765.55
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%).
61860 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
61860 vs 61850 vs 61863 vs 61867: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 61850Cortical electrode implant
- Both involve cortical neurostimulator electrodes. 61850 uses a twist-drill or burr-hole approach; 61860 involves craniotomy or craniectomy.
- 61863Brain electrode placement
- 61863 is for subcortical electrode-array implantation using a stereotactic frame. 61860 concerns electrodes placed at a cerebral cortical target.
- 61867Neuroelectrode placement
- 61867 involves subcortical electrode-array implantation with connection to a pulse generator or receiver during the session; 61860 is cortical electrode implantation.
61860 billing questions
How does 61860 differ from 61850?
Both concern cortical neurostimulator electrode placement. Use 61860 when the electrodes are implanted through a craniotomy or craniectomy; 61850 represents a twist-drill or burr-hole approach.
Does 61860 include cranial pulse-generator placement?
61860 describes cortical electrode implantation. When a cranial pulse generator is also implanted in the same operative session, the applicable generator code may be reported separately.
Should modifier 50 be appended for electrodes on both sides?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply to 61860, and modifier 50 is inappropriate.
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 surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery services may be paid. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted for this code under the listed CMS rules.
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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