Neurological Surgery in the ASC: CPT Codes and Coverage
Neurological surgery treats the brain, spine, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. In an ambulatory surgery center, the outpatient work is largely spine and nerve based: decompressions, laminotomies, and peripheral nerve procedures. The CPT family runs from 61000 through 64999, with higher-volume ASC codes clustering in the spine decompression and nerve ranges. Examples include 63030 (laminotomy for decompression of a single lumbar nerve root) and 63047 (lumbar laminectomy with facetectomy and foraminotomy).
Whether Medicare pays a given code in an ASC depends on the CMS addenda: codes on Addendum AA are on the ASC Covered Procedures List, meaning Medicare pays them in an ASC, while Addendum EE codes are excluded. Coders should confirm each code against the current ASC Covered Procedures List rather than assume the whole 61000-64999 range is payable.
Neurological Surgery codes(1–60 of 531)
- 63030Lamot dcmprn nrv rt 1 lmbr
- 63047Lam facetec & foramot lumbar
- 64721Carpal tunnel surgery
- 61000Remove cranial cavity fluid
- 61001Remove cranial cavity fluid
- 61020Remove brain cavity fluid
- 61026Injection into brain canal
- 61050Remove brain canal fluid
- 61055Injection into brain canal
- 61070Brain canal shunt procedure
- 61105Tdh sdrl/ventr pnxr
- 61107Tdh pnxr implt ventr cath
- 61108Tdh pnxr evac&/drg sdrl hmta
- 61120Burr hole for ventr puncture
- 61140Burr hole/treph bx brain/les
- 61150Bur hol/trph drg brn abs/cst
- 61151Burr hole/treph sbsq tapping
- 61154Burr hole w/evac&/drg hmtma
- 61156Burr hol aspir hmtm/cst icer
- 61210Burr hole implt ventr cath
- 61215Ins subq rsvr pmp/nfs sys
- 61250Burr hole/treph sttl expl
- 61253Burr hole treph ittl uni/bi
- 61304Crnec/crnot expl supratntorl
- 61305Crnec/crnot expl infratntorl
- 61312Crnec/crnot sttl xdrl/sdrl
- 61313Crnec/crnot sttl icere
- 61314Crnec/crnot ittl xdrl/sdrl
- 61315Crnec/crnot ittl ntracereblr
- 61316Inc&subq plmt crnl bone grf
- 61320Crnec/crnot drg icr abs sttl
- 61321Crnec/crnot drg icr abs ittl
- 61322Crnec/crnot dcmprv w/o lobec
- 61323Crnec/crnot dcmprv w/lobec
- 61330Dcmprn orbit only transcrnl
- 61333Expl orbit w/removal lesion
- 61340Subtemporal cranial dcmprn
- 61343Crnec sopl crv lam dcmprn
- 61345Oth cranial dcmprn pst fossa
- 61450Crnec stpl sctj cmprn/dcmprn
- 61458Crnec sopl xpl/dcmpr crl nrv
- 61460Crnec sopl sctj 1+crnl nrv
- 61500Crnec exc tum/bone les skull
- 61501Craniectomy f/osteomyelitis
- 61510Crnec treph exc brn tum sttl
- 61512Crnec treph exc mngioma sttl
- 61514Crnec treph exc brn abs sttl
- 61516Crnec treph exc cyst sttl
- 61517Implt brn intrcv chemotx agt
- 61518Removal of brain lesion
- 61519Remove brain lining lesion
- 61520Removal of brain lesion
- 61521Removal of brain lesion
- 61522Removal of brain abscess
- 61524Removal of brain lesion
- 61526Removal of brain lesion
- 61530Removal of brain lesion
- 61531Implant brain electrodes
- 61533Implant brain electrodes
- 61534Removal of brain lesion
Are neurosurgery procedures done in an ASC?
Yes, many are. Spine decompressions such as 63030 and 63047 and peripheral nerve releases such as 64721 (carpal tunnel surgery) are commonly performed in ambulatory surgery centers and billed under place of service 24. Higher-acuity intracranial and complex spinal procedures generally remain in the hospital setting. Whether Medicare pays a specific code in an ASC depends on whether it appears on the CMS ASC Covered Procedures List (Addendum AA).
What CPT codes does neurological surgery use?
Neurosurgery uses the CPT family from 61000 through 64999, spanning the skull and brain, spine and spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system. In the ASC context the most relevant codes are in the spine decompression range, such as 63030 and 63047, and the peripheral nerve range, such as 64721. Our dataset maps 531 codes in this specialty to ASC relevance, and each linked page shows the descriptor and coverage status.
How do I know if a neurosurgery code is covered in an ASC?
Check the code against the current CMS addenda. Codes on Addendum AA are on the ASC Covered Procedures List, meaning Medicare pays them in an ASC. Addendum BB lists covered ancillary services, and Addendum EE codes are excluded from ASC payment. Because this specialty ranges from simple nerve releases to complex spine work, confirm each code individually rather than assuming the entire 61000-64999 range is payable in an ASC.