CPT 61850: Cortical electrode implantMedicare rate & RVUs in Utah
Reports placement of a cortical neurostimulator electrode array through twist-drill or burr-hole access without stereotactic guidance, commonly for epilepsy treatment.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 61850 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 61850 covers
Code 61850 describes cranial access through one or more small twist-drill or burr holes to place an electrode array on the cerebral cortex. A neurosurgeon may perform this for cortical neurostimulation in a patient with focal epilepsy. The code includes securing the array when fixation is performed; it does not describe a craniotomy-based cortical approach or implantation of a subcortical array.
Choose this code when the operative report supports cortical electrode placement through burr-hole or twist-drill access without stereotactic guidance. Document the target, approach, electrode placement, and any fixation performed. CMS classifies the service as major surgery: the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this service. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons and team surgery 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.
61850 in Utah
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | Unavailable | $948.99 |
How the 61850 rate is calculated
Each of 61850’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 · 61850
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 13.01Practice expense 11.15Malpractice 5.48
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 61850
61850 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 61850
Cortical electrode implant
| 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) | 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 · 61850
Cortical electrode implant
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
61850 without 51 · national facility
$990.00
Cortical electrode implant
61850-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$495.00
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%).
61850 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
61850 vs 61860 vs 61863 vs 61867: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 61860Cortical electrodes
- Both codes concern cortical electrode implantation without stereotactic guidance. Choose 61850 for twist-drill or burr-hole access and 61860 when the operative approach is craniotomy or craniectomy.
- 61863Brain electrode placement
- Code 61850 is for a cortical target; 61863 is for a subcortical array placed without stereotactic guidance.
- 61867Neuroelectrode placement
- Code 61867 describes subcortical array placement with stereotactic guidance, unlike 61850's cortical target and nonstereotactic approach.
61850 billing questions
When should 61850 be chosen instead of 61860?
Use 61850 for cortical electrode placement through twist-drill or burr-hole access. Code 61860 describes a craniotomy or craniectomy approach for cortical electrode placement.
Does 61850 include the neurostimulator generator?
No. This code represents cortical electrode placement, not implantation of a pulse generator or receiver. A separately performed generator service may be reported using the code that matches the device and configuration.
Is array fixation separately reported?
Fixation performed as part of placing the array is included in 61850. The operative note should support the electrode placement and the approach used.
Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral placement?
No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for 61850. Report the service according to its descriptor and documented procedure.
How does the 90-day global period affect postoperative visits?
The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global surgical service.
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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