Billing code 61521: Brain lesion removalMedicare rate & RVUs in Oregon
Reports craniectomy to remove a nonmeningioma tumor in the cerebellopontine angle, such as a vestibular schwannoma, through an infratentorial approach.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 61521 in Oregon.
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 61521 covers
This code describes an infratentorial craniectomy to remove a brain tumor in the cerebellopontine angle, the region between the cerebellum and pons. A typical clinical example is removal of a vestibular schwannoma through a suboccipital approach. A neurosurgeon performs the operation in a hospital operating room; the operative report should establish the tumor site, pathology or suspected diagnosis, and surgical approach.
Select the code based on the documented location and operative work, distinguishing a cerebellopontine angle tumor from other infratentorial tumors and from meningioma, abscess, or cyst procedures. The 90-day global period includes 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 multiple procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this service. An assistant at surgery may be paid; 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 61521 pays more and less in Oregon
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Portland | Unavailable | $2,968.74 |
| Rest Of Oregon | Unavailable | $2,820.56 |
How the 61521 rate is calculated
Each of 61521’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 · 61521
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 45.82Practice expense 25.49Malpractice 18.83
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 61521
61521 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 61521
Brain lesion removal
| 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 · 61521
Brain lesion removal
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
61521 without 51 · national facility
$3,010.76
Brain lesion removal
61521-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$1,505.38
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%).
61521 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
61521 vs 61519 vs 61522 vs 61524: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 61519Meningioma removal
- 61519 is for infratentorial meningioma removal. 61521 is for a nonmeningioma tumor in the cerebellopontine angle.
- 61522Brain abscess removal
- 61522 describes removal of an infratentorial brain abscess. Use 61521 for a cerebellopontine angle tumor.
- 61524Brain cyst excision
- 61524 is for infratentorial cyst removal; 61521 is for a nonmeningioma tumor in the cerebellopontine angle.
61521 billing questions
When is 61521 selected instead of another infratentorial tumor code?
Use 61521 for a nonmeningioma tumor in the cerebellopontine angle. The operative report should support that location and the approach; other infratentorial sites may map to different codes.
How does 61521 differ from the code for a meningioma?
61521 describes removal of a nonmeningioma tumor in the cerebellopontine angle. A meningioma removal is represented by a different code in the infratentorial family.
Are related postoperative visits included?
Yes. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, with other procedures subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for 61521.
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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