Billing code 61863: Brain electrode placementMedicare rate & RVUs in Ohio
Reports stereotactic placement of a subcortical neurostimulator electrode array without intraoperative microelectrode recording, commonly for deep brain stimulation.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 61863 in Ohio.
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 61863 covers
A functional neurosurgeon uses a twist drill or burr hole to place a neurostimulator electrode array in a subcortical brain target. This approach is used for deep brain stimulation, including treatment plans for movement disorders such as Parkinson disease, essential tremor, or dystonia. The code distinguishes placement performed without intraoperative microelectrode recording from the related technique that uses recording. It describes intracranial electrode placement, not implantation of the pulse generator or extension system.
Report 61863 for the first array when the operative record supports subcortical placement without microelectrode recording; use the additional-array code when another array is placed in the same applicable procedure. The code has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; 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.
61863 in Ohio
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | Unavailable | $1,451.61 |
How the 61863 rate is calculated
Each of 61863’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 · 61863
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 20.19Practice expense 16.07Malpractice 8.53
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 61863
61863 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 61863
Brain electrode placement
| 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) | 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 · 61863
Brain electrode placement
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
61863 without 50 · national facility
$1,496.03
Brain electrode placement
61863-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$2,244.05
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).
61863 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
61863 vs 61867 vs 61864 vs 61850 vs 61885: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 61867Neuroelectrode placement
- Both cover the first subcortical array, but 61867 is selected when intraoperative microelectrode recording is used; 61863 is for placement without it.
- 61864Brain electrode implant
- 61863 reports the first array in its technique pathway. 61864 reports an additional array placed during the same applicable procedure.
- 61850Cortical electrode implant
- 61850 is for cortical electrode-array placement. Choose 61863 for subcortical placement without intraoperative microelectrode recording.
- 61885Neurostimulator generator
- 61885 covers pulse-generator implantation, not intracranial subcortical electrode placement; it may be reported when both services are performed.
61863 billing questions
When is 61863 chosen instead of 61867?
Use 61863 for subcortical array placement without intraoperative microelectrode recording. When the operative technique includes that recording, 61867 is the corresponding first-array code.
Does 61863 include the pulse generator?
No. It reports placement of the intracranial subcortical electrode array; a separately performed pulse-generator or receiver implantation may be reported with the applicable code, such as 61885.
How is a second array reported?
When another array is placed in the same procedure without microelectrode recording, report the applicable additional-array code, 61864, with 61863.
How is bilateral placement reported?
For bilateral work, report modifier 50; CMS payment for this code with modifier 50 is 150%.
What documentation supports 61863?
The operative report should establish subcortical electrode-array placement, the number of arrays, and that intraoperative microelectrode recording was not used.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care for 90 days.
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 61863 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 →