Billing code 61796: Cranial radiosurgeryMedicare rate & RVUs in Utah
Reports stereotactic radiosurgery for one simple cranial lesion, such as an arteriovenous malformation or benign tumor, using focused radiation rather than open resection.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 61796 in Utah.
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 61796 covers
This service delivers focused radiation to a defined intracranial target using stereotactic localization. It is used for a simple cranial lesion, including an arteriovenous malformation or benign tumor, and is commonly provided through a hospital or radiation oncology setting by a physician involved in radiosurgery, such as a radiation oncologist or neurosurgeon. Frame placement, when performed as part of the service, is included.
Report 61796 for the first simple lesion; report 61797 for each additional simple lesion. Documentation should identify the target and support its simple-lesion classification, and record the stereotactic treatment provided. CMS assigns this major surgery a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. An assistant at surgery may be paid. Modifier 50 is inappropriate; 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.
61796 in Utah
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | Unavailable | $971.20 |
How the 61796 rate is calculated
Each of 61796’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 · 61796
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 13.58Practice expense 11.06Malpractice 5.68
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 61796
61796 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 61796
Cranial radiosurgery
| 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 | 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) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| 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 · 61796
Cranial radiosurgery
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 80 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
61796 without 80 · national facility
$1,012.72
Cranial radiosurgery
61796-80 · Assistant: 16%
$162.04
A physician assistant at surgery is paid 16% of the surgeon’s fee schedule amount.
61796 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
61796 vs 61797 vs 61798 vs 61799: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 61797Cranial radiosurgery
- 61796 reports the first simple cranial lesion; 61797 reports each additional simple lesion in the same treatment context.
- 61798Cranial radiosurgery
- Choose 61798 when the cranial lesion is classified as complex rather than simple; lesion complexity, not merely the number of targets, distinguishes the codes.
- 61799Cranial radiosurgery
- 61799 reports an additional complex lesion with the complex-lesion service. It is not the add-on for additional simple lesions; use 61797 for those.
61796 billing questions
When should 61796 be chosen instead of 61798?
Use 61796 for a simple cranial lesion, such as an arteriovenous malformation or benign tumor. Use 61798 when the lesion is classified as complex.
How are additional simple lesions reported?
Report 61796 for the first simple lesion and 61797 for each additional simple lesion treated.
Is frame placement separately reported?
Frame placement, when performed as part of this radiosurgery service, is included in 61796.
What global period applies?
CMS assigns a 90-day global period. The day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during the 90 days are included.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. CMS does not permit co-surgeon or team-surgery payment for this code.
Should modifier 50 be used for bilateral targets?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for 61796; report additional simple lesions using the applicable add-on code instead.
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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