Billing code 63086: Vertebral corpectomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Reports removal of each additional thoracic vertebral body segment during a corpectomy performed to decompress the spinal cord or nerve roots.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 63086 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 63086 covers
A spine surgeon removes an additional thoracic vertebral body segment to create space for spinal cord or nerve-root decompression. This work is performed through an anterior transthoracic exposure, typically in an operating room. It is reported when the operation requires removal of more than one thoracic vertebral segment, rather than for work limited to the first segment.
Report 63086 with the primary thoracic corpectomy code 63085, counting each additional segment beyond the first. The operative report should identify the thoracic levels treated, the approach, and the extent of vertebral body removal supporting the additional segment. This is an add-on code and is not reported by itself; CMS treats its payment as part of the primary procedure’s global period.
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 63086 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 | $169.20 |
| Beaumont | Unavailable | $165.62 |
| Brazoria | Unavailable | $163.98 |
| Dallas | Unavailable | $166.93 |
| Fort Worth | Unavailable | $167.05 |
| Galveston | Unavailable | $165.70 |
| Houston | Unavailable | $184.55 |
| Rest Of Texas | Unavailable | $166.01 |
How the 63086 rate is calculated
Each of 63086’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 · 63086
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 3.11Practice expense 0.98Malpractice 1.03
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 63086
The CMS indicators that decide how 63086 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 63086
Vertebral corpectomy
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | ZZZ | Add-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 2 | Permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 2 | Permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 80 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
63086 without 80 · national facility
$171.01
Vertebral corpectomy
63086-80 · Assistant: 16%
$27.36
A physician assistant at surgery is paid 16% of the surgeon’s fee schedule amount.
63086 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
63086 vs 63085 vs 63082 vs 63088 vs 63091: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 63085Thoracic corpectomy
- 63085 covers the initial thoracic segment; 63086 reports each additional thoracic segment and is used with the primary code.
- 63082Vertebral decompression
- Both are additional-segment corpectomy codes, but 63082 is for cervical segments and 63086 is for thoracic segments.
- 63088Vertebral resection
- 63088 covers additional thoracolumbar segments with the specified transperitoneal or retroperitoneal approach; 63086 is for additional thoracic segments.
- 63091Vertebral body removal
- 63091 reports additional lumbar corpectomy segments; 63086 reports additional thoracic segments.
63086 billing questions
Which primary code is reported with 63086?
Report 63086 with 63085 for the initial thoracic segment. It is an add-on code and should not be submitted by itself.
How many units of 63086 should be reported?
Report an additional unit for each thoracic vertebral segment removed beyond the first. The operative documentation should make the levels and number of segments clear.
How does 63086 differ from 63082?
63086 is for additional thoracic segments in a corpectomy. 63082 is the corresponding additional-segment code for a cervical corpectomy.
How does 63086 differ from 63088?
63086 applies to additional thoracic segments. 63088 is for additional segments in a thoracolumbar corpectomy performed through a transperitoneal or retroperitoneal approach.
What documentation supports reporting an additional segment?
The operative report should identify each thoracic vertebral level treated and describe the additional body removal and decompression work, along with the approach.
How does the global period affect 63086?
CMS treats this add-on service as paid within the global period of the primary procedure.
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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