Billing code 22510: VertebroplastyMedicare rate & RVUs in Washington
Percutaneous vertebroplasty stabilizes one cervical or thoracic vertebral body, typically for a painful compression fracture treated with injected bone cement.
Medicare pays $1,835.08–$2,102.08 for 22510 in the office in Washington, from Rest Of Washington to Seattle (King Cnty). 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 22510 covers
Percutaneous vertebroplasty places a needle through the skin into one cervical or thoracic vertebral body and injects bone cement to stabilize a painful compression fracture. Interventional radiologists, neuroradiologists, or spine surgeons typically perform it with fluoroscopic or CT guidance in a hospital or outpatient procedure setting. A biopsy may be obtained through the access when clinically indicated; imaging guidance and any biopsy are included in this service.
Report 22510 for one cervicothoracic vertebral body; unilateral or bilateral injection remains one unit for that body. Report 22512 for each additional treated vertebral body, and distinguish vertebroplasty from vertebral augmentation that creates a cavity. The 10-day global period includes related postoperative visits during that period. In a same-session multiple-procedure claim, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are reduced to 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code; 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.
Where 22510 pays more and less in Washington
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Of Washington | $1,835.08 | $381.81 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $2,102.08 | $408.67 |
How the 22510 rate is calculated
Each of 22510’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 · 22510
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 7.70Practice expense 43.93Malpractice 1.16
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 22510
22510 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 22510
Vertebroplasty
| 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 · 22510
Vertebroplasty
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
22510 without 51 · national office
$1,763.23
Vertebroplasty
22510-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$881.62
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%).
22510 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
22510 vs 22511 vs 22512 vs 22513 vs 22514: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 22511Vertebroplasty
- The distinction is the treated region: 22510 covers cervical or thoracic vertebral bodies, while 22511 covers lumbosacral bodies.
- 22512Vertebroplasty
- 22510 reports the initial cervicothoracic vertebral body; 22512 reports each additional treated vertebral body.
- 22513Vertebral augmentation
- 22513 describes thoracic vertebral augmentation with cavity creation. Choose it when that technique is performed rather than vertebroplasty.
- 22514Vertebral augmentation
- 22514 is vertebral augmentation with cavity creation for a lumbar body; 22510 is vertebroplasty for a cervical or thoracic body.
22510 billing questions
When should 22510 be used instead of 22511?
Use 22510 for a cervical or thoracic vertebral body. Code 22511 applies to a lumbosacral vertebral body.
How many units are reported for bilateral injection?
Report one unit for the treated vertebral body whether cement is injected unilaterally or bilaterally. Modifier 50 is inappropriate.
How is another treated vertebral body reported?
Report 22512 for each additional vertebral body treated. Document the levels and number of bodies treated.
Can imaging guidance or a biopsy be billed separately?
Imaging guidance is included in 22510, and a bone biopsy obtained during the procedure is included when performed.
Are related postoperative visits separately reported during the global period?
Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in the procedure.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for 22510. Co-surgeons and team surgery are 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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