Billing code 63744: Spinal shunt revisionMedicare rate & RVUs in Nevada
Surgical revision of an existing spinal cerebrospinal-fluid shunt is reported when the surgeon corrects a shunt problem rather than placing or removing it.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 63744 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 63744 covers
A neurosurgeon revises an existing spinal shunt used to divert cerebrospinal fluid from the spinal subarachnoid space. The operation addresses a problem with the shunt, such as impaired function or displacement, by surgically correcting the existing system. These procedures are generally performed in an operating room; the operative report should identify the shunt and describe the revision performed.
Report 63744 for revision work on an existing shunt, not for initial installation or removal alone. Documentation should state the clinical reason for revision and distinguish the work from placement of a new shunt or simple removal. CMS assigns a 90-day major-surgery 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. 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.
63744 in Nevada**
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada** | Unavailable | $716.01 |
How the 63744 rate is calculated
Each of 63744’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 · 63744
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 8.72Practice expense 9.65Malpractice 3.67
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 63744
63744 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 63744
Spinal shunt revision
| 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) | 0.11/0.76/0.13 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 63744
Spinal shunt revision
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
63744 without 51 · national facility
$736.16
Spinal shunt revision
63744-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$368.08
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%).
63744 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
63744 vs 63740 vs 63741 vs 63746 vs 63709: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 63740Spinal shunt
- Use 63744 for revision of an existing spinal shunt; 63740 describes installation of a spinal shunt.
- 63741Spinal shunt
- 63741 is an installation code. Choose 63744 when the operative work revises an existing shunt instead of placing one.
- 63746Shunt removal
- 63746 represents spinal shunt removal. Use 63744 when the surgeon performs revision work on the existing shunt rather than removal alone.
- 63709CSF leak repair
- 63709 addresses repair of a spinal fluid leak; 63744 is for revision of a spinal shunt.
63744 billing questions
When should 63744 be used instead of a spinal shunt insertion code?
Use 63744 when the surgeon revises an already existing spinal shunt. Initial installation is reported with the applicable insertion code, such as 63740 or 63741.
Is 63744 reported for removing a spinal shunt?
No. Removal alone is distinguished from revision and is reported with 63746. The operative report should make clear whether the surgeon revised the shunt or removed it.
What documentation supports 63744?
Document the existing spinal shunt, the reason for surgery, and the specific revision work performed. This helps distinguish revision from new placement or removal alone.
Should modifier 50 be appended for revision of paired shunts?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this descriptor and anatomy; modifier 50 should not be used.
How does the 90-day global period affect postoperative billing?
The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the major-surgery global period.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, while team surgery is not permitted.
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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