Billing code 22010: Spinal abscess drainageMedicare rate & RVUs in Nevada
Open drainage of a deep, subfascial collection behind the cervical or thoracic spine, typically performed by a spine surgeon in an operating room.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 22010 in Nevada.
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 22010 covers
This service involves an open posterior approach to drain a deep collection beneath the fascia in the cervical spine, thoracic spine, or cervicothoracic region. A neurosurgeon or orthopedic spine surgeon commonly performs it in an operating room for a deep paraspinal abscess or comparable fluid collection. The operative work focuses on reaching and evacuating the collection; the documented depth and spinal region distinguish this service from drainage of a superficial skin or wound abscess.
Report the code when the operative note supports an open posterior drainage of a deep, subfascial collection in the covered spinal region. Document the affected region, depth, approach, and drainage performed. The service has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; 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.
22010 in Nevada**
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada** | Unavailable | $929.07 |
How the 22010 rate is calculated
Each of 22010’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 · 22010
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 12.43Practice expense 12.05Malpractice 3.99
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 22010
22010 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 22010
Spinal abscess drainage
| 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) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| 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) | 0.10/0.69/0.21 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 22010
Spinal abscess drainage
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
22010 without 51 · national facility
$950.92
Spinal abscess drainage
22010-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$475.46
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%).
22010 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
22010 vs 22015 vs 10060 vs 10180: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 22015Spinal abscess drainage
- Choose 22010 for the cervical, thoracic, or cervicothoracic region; choose 22015 for the lumbar or sacral region.
- 10060Abscess drainage
- Code 10060 describes drainage of a simple superficial abscess. Code 22010 requires an open posterior approach to a deep, subfascial spinal collection.
- 10180Wound drainage
- Code 10180 is for complex drainage of a postoperative wound infection. Use 22010 when the documented service is open drainage of a deep posterior spinal collection in its specified region.
22010 billing questions
How do I distinguish this code from 22015?
This code is for a deep posterior collection in the cervical, thoracic, or cervicothoracic region. Code 22015 applies to the lumbar or sacral region.
What documentation supports reporting this service?
The operative report should identify the spinal region, posterior approach, subfascial depth, collection, and drainage performed. A description limited to a superficial skin or wound abscess does not establish this service.
Can I append modifier 50 for bilateral drainage?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code.
Can an assistant surgeon be paid?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is allowed only when the record documents medical necessity. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
How does the multiple-procedure reduction affect payment?
For procedures performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction.
What postoperative care is included?
The code has a 90-day global period that includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during the 90 days after surgery.
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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