Billing code 64738: Nerve neurectomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Reports operative interruption or removal of a nerve serving the jaw, selected when the surgeon treats that specific nerve rather than another facial nerve.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 64738 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 64738 covers
This operation surgically interrupts or removes a nerve serving the jaw, rather than simply releasing pressure around it. It may be performed for selected cases of severe neuralgic pain involving the jaw when the surgeon’s plan is to treat the identified nerve. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons, neurosurgeons, or other surgeons experienced with nerve procedures may perform it in an operating room.
Select the code based on the nerve treated, not just the location where the patient feels pain. The operative report should identify the jaw nerve and describe the surgical work, indication, and laterality. The 90-day global includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. 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 64738 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 | $457.45 |
| East St. Louis | Unavailable | $432.33 |
| Rest Of Illinois | Unavailable | $417.52 |
| Suburban Chicago | Unavailable | $445.67 |
How the 64738 rate is calculated
Each of 64738’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 · 64738
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work6.20
6.20 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense5.36
5.36 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.90
0.90 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
12.4600
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$416.18
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 64738
64738 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 64738
Nerve neurectomy
| 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) | 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 · 64738
Nerve neurectomy
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
64738 without 50 · national facility
$416.18
Nerve neurectomy
64738-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$624.27
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).
64738 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 64736Mental nerve surgery
- Use 64736 when the operative target is the chin nerve; use 64738 when the surgeon identifies the jaw nerve as the nerve treated.
- 64740Nerve neurotomy
- Use 64740 for surgery on the tongue nerve. A jaw-pain presentation alone does not make that code appropriate.
- 64734Nerve transection
- Use 64734 when the cheek nerve is treated; this code is for the jaw nerve.
64738 billing questions
How is this code distinguished from the chin or tongue nerve codes?
Choose this code when the operative report identifies the jaw nerve as the nerve treated. The chin and tongue nerve codes apply when the surgeon treats those specifically identified nerves.
What documentation supports reporting this code?
The operative report should name the jaw nerve, describe its surgical interruption or removal, and state the indication and laterality. A symptom description alone does not establish which nerve was treated.
How is bilateral surgery reported?
For a bilateral procedure, report modifier 50; CMS pays it at 150% under the supplied fee schedule rule.
What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50%. The 90-day global also includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant participate in this surgery?
CMS permits payment for an assistant at surgery. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted for this code.
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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