Billing code 61533: Brain electrode placementMedicare rate & RVUs in Oregon
Reports craniotomy-based placement of cortical electrodes, commonly for invasive seizure monitoring when noninvasive testing has not localized an epilepsy focus.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 61533 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 61533 covers
A neurosurgeon opens the skull and raises a bone flap to place electrodes on the cerebral cortex, often using subdural grids or strips to record seizure activity. The electrodes support presurgical evaluation when a patient with drug-resistant epilepsy needs more precise localization of a seizure focus. This is an intracranial monitoring procedure, not the later removal of electrodes or resection of brain tissue.
Report 61533 for cortical electrode placement through a craniotomy; placement through burr holes is reported with 61531. The operative report should support the craniotomy approach and electrode placement. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. No bilateral adjustment is made. 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.
Where 61533 pays more and less in Oregon
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Portland | Unavailable | $1,497.48 |
| Rest Of Oregon | Unavailable | $1,415.40 |
How the 61533 rate is calculated
Each of 61533’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 · 61533
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 20.92Practice expense 15.31Malpractice 8.83
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 61533
61533 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 61533
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) | 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 · 61533
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 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
61533 without 51 · national facility
$1,505.04
Brain electrode placement
61533-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$752.52
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%).
61533 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
61533 vs 61531 vs 61760 vs 61535: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 61531Brain electrode implant
- Both codes concern cortical electrode placement. Choose 61533 for the craniotomy approach and 61531 for placement through burr holes.
- 61760Depth electrodes
- This code is for stereotactic intracranial electrode placement, a different approach from craniotomy-based cortical electrode placement.
- 61535Electrode removal
- 61535 reports removal of previously placed brain electrodes; 61533 reports their initial placement through a craniotomy.
61533 billing questions
How is 61533 distinguished from 61531?
61533 describes cortical electrode placement through a craniotomy with a bone flap. Use 61531 when cortical electrodes are placed through burr holes.
Does 61533 include later electrode removal?
No. Electrode removal is a separate procedure, reported with 61535 when performed.
When is 61533 used instead of resecting an epilepsy focus?
Use 61533 when electrodes are placed for invasive monitoring to help localize seizure onset. Resection of an identified epileptogenic focus is a different surgical service.
What documentation supports 61533?
The operative report should describe the craniotomy approach and cortical electrode placement. Include the clinical purpose, such as invasive seizure monitoring, when documented.
How do multiple procedures and surgical assistance affect reporting?
When procedures are performed in the same session, Medicare pays the highest-valued procedure in full and others at 50%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; co-surgeon payment needs supporting documentation.
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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