Billing code 63273: Spinal lesion surgeryMedicare rate & RVUs in Georgia
Reports laminectomy-based removal or evacuation of a non-neoplastic lesion within the dura at the sacral level.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 63273 in Georgia.
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 63273 covers
This service involves a sacral laminectomy to reach and remove or evacuate a non-neoplastic lesion located inside the dura. A neurosurgeon or spine surgeon typically performs it in an operating room. An intradural arachnoid cyst is one example; the operative record must establish both the sacral location and intradural position. This code is not for an intraspinal neoplasm.
Select the code based on the lesion’s non-neoplastic status, intradural location, and sacral level. The report should describe the lesion, its location relative to the dura, and the work performed. The laminectomy exposure is part of the service. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. An assistant at surgery 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 63273 pays more and less in Georgia
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | Unavailable | $1,915.80 |
| Rest Of Georgia | Unavailable | $1,835.01 |
How the 63273 rate is calculated
Each of 63273’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 · 63273
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 25.81Practice expense 18.09Malpractice 10.90
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 63273
63273 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 63273
Spinal lesion 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) | 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 · 63273
Spinal lesion 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
63273 without 51 · national facility
$1,830.37
Spinal lesion surgery
63273-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$915.19
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%).
63273 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
63273 vs 63268 vs 63272 vs 63283 vs 63278: national Medicare rates
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How to choose
- 63268Spinal lesion excision
- Both address non-neoplastic lesions at the sacral level. Choose 63273 for a lesion inside the dura and 63268 for one outside it.
- 63272Spinal lesion surgery
- This is the corresponding non-neoplastic intradural lesion service at the lumbar level; 63273 is for the sacral level.
- 63283Spinal tumor surgery
- This code is for a sacral intradural neoplasm requiring biopsy or excision. Code 63273 describes treatment of a non-neoplastic intradural lesion.
- 63278Spinal lesion surgery
- This code addresses a sacral extradural neoplasm. Code 63273 is for a non-neoplastic lesion inside the dura.
63273 billing questions
How does this differ from code 63268?
Both describe treatment of a non-neoplastic lesion at the sacral level. This code is for an intradural lesion; 63268 is for an extradural lesion.
Can this code be used for an intradural tumor?
No. This code is for a non-neoplastic lesion. Code selection for an intradural neoplasm depends on its location and other operative details.
Is the laminectomy reported separately?
The laminectomy exposure used to reach the lesion is part of this service and should not be unbundled as a separate access procedure.
Should modifier 50 be added for bilateral work?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code.
What assistant and global-surgery rules apply?
An assistant at surgery may be paid, but co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted. The 90-day global includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
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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