Billing code 61522: Brain abscess removalMedicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Reports craniotomy or craniectomy to excise an abscess in the infratentorial brain, such as the cerebellum or posterior fossa.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 61522 in Texas.
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 61522 covers
A neurosurgeon uses a craniotomy or craniectomy to reach and remove an abscess in the infratentorial portion of the brain. A cerebellar or other posterior fossa abscess is a typical clinical example. The service is performed in an operating room, generally in a hospital setting, and is distinct from removal of a tumor or meningioma.
Select this code when the operative report supports excision of an infratentorial brain abscess through the described cranial approach; document the abscess location and the work performed. CMS assigns a 90-day major-surgery global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of 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. 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.
Where 61522 pays more and less in Texas
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | Unavailable | $2,113.65 |
| Beaumont | Unavailable | $2,032.27 |
| Brazoria | Unavailable | $2,029.51 |
| Dallas | Unavailable | $2,067.66 |
| Fort Worth | Unavailable | $2,066.68 |
| Galveston | Unavailable | $2,051.64 |
| Houston | Unavailable | $2,289.22 |
| Rest Of Texas | Unavailable | $2,046.81 |
How the 61522 rate is calculated
Each of 61522’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 · 61522
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 30.75Practice expense 19.82Malpractice 12.98
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 61522
61522 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 61522
Brain abscess 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 · 61522
Brain abscess 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
61522 without 51 · national facility
$2,122.63
Brain abscess removal
61522-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$1,061.32
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%).
61522 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
61522 vs 61514 vs 61518 vs 61519 vs 61524: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 61514Brain abscess surgery
- Both address brain abscess excision, but 61514 is for a supratentorial abscess; 61522 is for an infratentorial abscess.
- 61518Brain tumor excision
- 61518 is used for infratentorial brain-lesion excision in a different lesion category. Choose 61522 when the operative diagnosis and work support abscess excision.
- 61519Meningioma removal
- 61519 identifies infratentorial meningioma removal. 61522 is for excision of an infratentorial brain abscess.
- 61524Brain cyst excision
- 61524 is for infratentorial cyst excision, not abscess excision. Base selection on the lesion treated and the documented operative work.
61522 billing questions
How does this differ from 61514?
61522 is for an infratentorial brain abscess, while 61514 is for a supratentorial brain abscess. Use the documented location of the abscess.
Is this code for stereotactic aspiration?
This code describes excision through a craniotomy or craniectomy. Do not select it solely because an abscess was treated; the operative approach and work must support excision.
Can modifier 50 be reported for abscesses on both sides?
No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this procedure. The operative report should support the service and the treated abscess location.
What postoperative care is included?
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.
What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?
CMS pays the highest-valued procedure in full and applies the standard multiple-procedure reduction to the other procedures.
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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