Billing code 62147: CranioplastyMedicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Reports surgical reconstruction of a skull defect larger than 5 cm using the patient's own bone graft, commonly after trauma or craniectomy.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 62147 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 62147 covers
This service reconstructs a skull defect larger than 5 cm using the patient’s own bone as graft material. Neurosurgeons typically perform it in an operating room to restore cranial protection and contour after decompressive craniectomy, traumatic bone loss, or prior skull surgery. The reconstruction is distinct from simply removing or replacing an existing bone flap or prosthetic plate.
Select this code when the operative report supports both the defect size and use of an autograft. Document the defect dimensions, graft source, and reconstruction performed; a smaller defect or a large reconstruction without an autograft points to a different code. Medicare treats this as major surgery: the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included. 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. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is not permitted. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this service.
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 62147 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 | $1,358.66 |
| Beaumont | Unavailable | $1,305.36 |
| Brazoria | Unavailable | $1,306.28 |
| Dallas | Unavailable | $1,329.54 |
| Fort Worth | Unavailable | $1,328.68 |
| Galveston | Unavailable | $1,319.72 |
| Houston | Unavailable | $1,463.40 |
| Rest Of Texas | Unavailable | $1,315.20 |
How the 62147 rate is calculated
Each of 62147’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 · 62147
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 20.15Practice expense 12.79Malpractice 7.85
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 62147
62147 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 62147
Cranioplasty
| 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 · 62147
Cranioplasty
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
62147 without 51 · national facility
$1,362.42
Cranioplasty
62147-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$681.21
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%).
62147 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
62147 vs 62146 vs 62141 vs 62143 vs 62142: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 62146Cranioplasty
- Both use an autograft for skull reconstruction. The defect-size distinction is 5 cm or smaller for 62146 versus larger than 5 cm for 62147.
- 62141Cranioplasty
- This code is for a defect larger than 5 cm reconstructed without the autograft feature of 62147.
- 62143Skull reconstruction
- 62143 addresses replacement of a bone flap or prosthetic plate; 62147 describes reconstruction using the patient’s own bone graft.
- 62142Cranial implant removal
- 62142 is for removal of a bone flap or prosthetic plate, not reconstruction of a large skull defect with an autograft.
62147 billing questions
How does this differ from 62146?
Both describe skull-defect reconstruction using an autograft. Use 62147 for a defect larger than 5 cm and 62146 for a defect 5 cm or smaller.
When would 62141 be more appropriate?
62141 describes reconstruction of a skull defect larger than 5 cm without the autograft feature specified by 62147. The operative report should support which reconstruction method was performed.
Does the 90-day global include routine postoperative care?
Yes. The global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can modifier 50 be reported?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for this service.
How are assistants and co-surgeons handled?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; 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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