Billing code 22802: Spinal fusionMedicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Posterior fusion for spinal deformity across 7 to 12 vertebral segments is reported for operative correction of conditions such as scoliosis or kyphosis.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 22802 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 22802 covers
This code describes posterior spinal arthrodesis for a deformity when the fusion spans 7 to 12 vertebral segments. Spine surgeons, including orthopedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons, use it in operative correction of conditions such as scoliosis or kyphosis. The service is typically performed in a hospital or other surgical facility and may be part of a larger deformity-correction procedure.
Select the code based on the posterior approach, the deformity indication, and the documented extent of the fusion; the operative report should identify the levels treated and the fusion performed. Instrumentation and bone graft services may be separately coded when supported by the operative work. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 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. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this spinal service. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and 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 22802 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 | $2,327.19 |
| East St. Louis | Unavailable | $2,186.57 |
| Rest Of Illinois | Unavailable | $2,049.83 |
| Suburban Chicago | Unavailable | $2,186.59 |
How the 22802 rate is calculated
Each of 22802’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 · 22802
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 31.31Practice expense 17.86Malpractice 8.80
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 22802
22802 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 22802
Spinal fusion
| 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) | 0.10/0.69/0.21 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 22802
Spinal fusion
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
22802 without 51 · national facility
$1,936.25
Spinal fusion
22802-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$968.13
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%).
22802 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
22802 vs 22800 vs 22804 vs 22808 vs 22843: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 22800Spinal fusion
- Both describe posterior deformity arthrodesis; 22800 is for fewer than 6 vertebral segments, rather than this code's 7-to-12-segment span.
- 22804Spinal deformity fusion
- Both describe posterior deformity arthrodesis; 22804 is for 13 or more vertebral segments.
- 22808Anterior fusion
- 22808 describes anterior deformity arthrodesis over 2 to 3 segments. Use 22802 for the posterior deformity fusion spanning 7 to 12 segments.
- 22843Spinal fixation
- 22843 reports posterior segmental instrumentation across 7 to 12 segments, not the arthrodesis itself; it may accompany 22802 when supported.
22802 billing questions
How is this code distinguished from 22800 or 22804?
Choose 22802 for posterior deformity arthrodesis spanning 7 to 12 vertebral segments. Code 22800 covers fewer than 6, while 22804 covers 13 or more.
Can spinal instrumentation be reported with this fusion?
Instrumentation may be reported separately when performed and documented. For posterior segmental instrumentation spanning 7 to 12 vertebral segments, consider 22843.
What operative documentation supports 22802?
Document the deformity being treated, the posterior approach, the fusion performed, and the vertebral levels establishing the 7-to-12-segment extent.
Does the code have a global period?
Yes. CMS assigns a 90-day global period that includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
CMS allows assistant-at-surgery payment. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.
Should modifier 50 be appended for bilateral spinal treatment?
No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code; report the service based on the documented posterior fusion construct.
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
Fee sheets
Put 22802 and the rest of your codes on one sheet
Build a fee sheet from your own code list at your locality, put your payer contracts beside Medicare, and see what changed each quarter.
Build my fee sheetOr price your code list free →