Billing code 62281: Neurolytic injectionMedicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Report this service for epidural administration of a neurolytic agent in the cervical or thoracic region to interrupt pain transmission.
Medicare pays $233.44–$256.22 for 62281 in the office in Texas, from Beaumont to Austin. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
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 62281 covers
This procedure places a neurolytic agent, such as phenol or alcohol, into the cervical or thoracic epidural space to interrupt pain transmission. It may be used for selected cases of severe, persistent pain, including cancer-related pain. Anesthesiologists and pain medicine physicians commonly perform it; other physicians with appropriate expertise may also provide the service in an office or procedural setting.
Select this code for the cervical or thoracic epidural route, not for a subarachnoid injection or a lumbar or sacral epidural injection. The record should identify the indication, spinal region and route, and neurolytic agent administered. The 10-day global period includes related postoperative visits during that period. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code; assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted, and co-surgeon and team-surgery payment are 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 62281 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 payment localities
$233.44 to $256.22
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | $256.22 | $138.19 |
| Beaumont | $233.44 | $131.92 |
| Brazoria | $245.67 | $135.11 |
| Dallas | $247.05 | $135.93 |
| Fort Worth | $245.59 | $135.59 |
| Galveston | $246.30 | $135.52 |
| Houston | $249.96 | $139.18 |
| Rest Of Texas | $239.30 | $133.43 |
How the 62281 rate is calculated
Each of 62281’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 · 62281
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work2.59
2.59 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense4.63
4.63 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.20
0.20 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
7.4200
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$247.83
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 62281
62281 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 62281
Neurolytic injection
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 010 | Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 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) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.80/0.10 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 62281
Neurolytic injection
10-day global period ends
Oct 11, 2026
Covers Oct 1, 2026 through Oct 11, 2026 (11 days).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
After the global period ends: visits and procedures are billed normally.
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
62281 without 51 · national office
$247.83
Neurolytic injection
62281-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$123.92
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%).
62281 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 62280Spinal neurolysis
- Choose 62280 when the neurolytic agent is administered into the subarachnoid space. This code is for the cervical or thoracic epidural route.
- 62282Neurolytic injection
- Choose 62282 for a lumbar or sacral epidural neurolytic injection; this code covers the cervical or thoracic epidural region.
- 62321Epidural injection
- Code 62321 describes a cervical or thoracic epidural injection of a therapeutic or diagnostic substance, rather than a neurolytic injection.
62281 billing questions
How does this code differ from 62280?
This code is for neurolytic administration through the cervical or thoracic epidural route. Code 62280 describes the subarachnoid route.
Is a steroid epidural injection reported with this code?
This code represents administration of a neurolytic agent. A non-neurolytic epidural injection is a different service; distinguish the agent and procedure documented.
What documentation supports reporting this service?
Document the pain indication, cervical or thoracic epidural route, and neurolytic agent administered. The record should make the treated region clear.
Can modifier 50 or an assistant-at-surgery be reported?
Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service.
Are related postoperative visits included?
Yes. Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included.
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 62281 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 →