Billing code 22552: Cervical fusionMedicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Reports each additional cervical interspace fused through an anterior approach after the primary-level procedure in a multilevel cervical fusion.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 22552 in Illinois.
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 22552 covers
22552 represents an additional cervical interspace fused through an anterior approach after the surgeon performs the primary-level work. A spine surgeon prepares the additional disc space and creates an interbody fusion; disc removal and neural decompression are part of the service when performed. Typical cases include multilevel cervical degenerative disc disease or stenosis treated in an operating room.
Report 22552 only with 22551, for each additional interspace beyond the first qualifying cervical level. The operative report should identify the fused interspaces, the anterior approach, and the work at each level. This is an add-on code, not a stand-alone service, and CMS pays it within the primary procedure’s global period. Report instrumentation or graft services under their own codes when separately reportable.
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 22552 pays more and less in Illinois
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | Unavailable | $445.72 |
| East St. Louis | Unavailable | $418.48 |
| Rest Of Illinois | Unavailable | $386.35 |
| Suburban Chicago | Unavailable | $410.60 |
How the 22552 rate is calculated
Each of 22552’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 · 22552
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 6.34Practice expense 2.13Malpractice 2.10
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 22552
The CMS indicators that decide how 22552 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 22552
Cervical fusion
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | ZZZ | Add-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| 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. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 80 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
22552 without 80 · national facility
$353.05
Cervical fusion
22552-80 · Assistant: 16%
$56.49
A physician assistant at surgery is paid 16% of the surgeon’s fee schedule amount.
22552 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
22552 vs 22551 vs 22554 vs 22585: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 22551ACDF
- 22551 represents the primary cervical interspace fusion. Use 22552 only for each additional interspace fused in the same anterior operative service.
- 22554Cervical fusion
- 22554 describes anterior cervical fusion without the decompression work represented by 22551; 22552 is the additional-level code paired with 22551.
- 22585Anterior fusion
- 22585 applies to additional thoracic or lumbar interspaces in the corresponding anterior interbody fusion family; 22552 is specific to additional cervical interspaces.
22552 billing questions
Can 22552 be reported without 22551?
No. Report 22552 with 22551 when the surgeon fuses one or more additional cervical interspaces through the anterior approach.
How many units of 22552 should be reported?
Report one unit for each additional fused interspace beyond the first level represented by 22551.
What documentation supports an additional-level claim?
The operative report should identify each interspace fused, confirm the anterior approach, and distinguish the additional level from the primary level.
Is disc removal or decompression separately reported at the added level?
Disc preparation and decompression performed as part of the anterior fusion service are included in the 22551/22552 coding structure; do not unbundle that work.
How does 22552 differ from 22585?
22552 is for additional cervical interspaces paired with 22551. 22585 is the additional-interspace code used for the corresponding anterior interbody fusion work in the thoracic or lumbar region.
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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