Billing code 63020: Cervical laminotomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Reports posterior decompression of cervical nerve roots at one interspace, with limited bone removal and possible removal of a herniated disc.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 63020 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 63020 covers
A spine surgeon uses a posterior approach to relieve pressure on cervical nerve root tissue at one interspace. The operation may involve removing part of the lamina or facet and widening the nerve exit opening; a herniated disc may also be removed when needed. Typical indications include cervical radiculopathy associated with a disc herniation or narrowing around the nerve root. These procedures are commonly performed in a hospital or ambulatory surgery facility.
Report this code for one cervical interspace, documenting the level, side, nerve-root compression, and decompression performed. For another cervical interspace treated during the same session, report the additional-level code 63035 rather than repeating this code. The service has a 90-day global period that includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care for 90 days. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued is paid in full and the others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery and co-surgeon services may be paid; 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 63020 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 | $1,198.07 |
| Miami | Unavailable | $1,324.45 |
| Rest Of Florida | Unavailable | $1,125.67 |
How the 63020 rate is calculated
Each of 63020’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 · 63020
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work14.54
14.54 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense12.56
12.56 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice4.76
4.76 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
31.8600
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,064.15
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 63020
63020 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 63020
Cervical laminotomy
| 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) | 1 | Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount. |
| 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 · 63020
Cervical laminotomy
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 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
63020 without 50 · national facility
$1,064.15
Cervical laminotomy
63020-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,596.23
Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).
63020 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 63030Lumbar decompression
- The corresponding single-interspace nerve-root decompression applies to the lumbar spine; 63020 is for the cervical spine.
- 63035Nerve-root decompression
- 63035 reports each additional cervical interspace in the same session; 63020 reports the primary single interspace.
- 63040Cervical laminotomy
- 63040 is used for cervical re-exploration. 63020 describes the applicable single-interspace operation without that re-exploration circumstance.
- 63045Cervical decompression
- 63045 describes segmental cervical decompression for stenosis using laminectomy, facetectomy, and foraminotomy; 63020 is the single-interspace laminotomy-based nerve-root procedure.
63020 billing questions
When should 63020 be used instead of 63030?
Use 63020 for a single cervical interspace and 63030 for a single lumbar interspace when the comparable nerve-root decompression is performed.
How is a second cervical interspace reported?
Report 63035 for each additional cervical interspace treated in the same session with the primary procedure. Document each level treated.
What documentation supports 63020?
The operative report should identify the cervical interspace and side, the nerve-root compression, and the work performed to decompress it, including any disc removal.
Can modifier 50 be reported?
CMS identifies this as a bilateral procedure; bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. The operative documentation should support work on both sides.
How does 63020 differ from 63040?
63040 is for cervical nerve-root decompression performed as a re-exploration. Use 63020 for the applicable single-interspace procedure when it is not a re-exploration.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care for 90 days.
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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