CPT / HCPCS code · 2026 CMS data · Verified 2026-08-31
CPT 61686 RVU and Medicare Payment (2026)
Intracranial vessel surgery — 65.81 work RVU, about $4,248.59 non-facility Medicare payment at the 2026 conversion factor.
- Work RVU
- 65.81
- PE RVU (non-facility)
- 33.61
- PE RVU (facility)
- 33.61
- MP RVU
- 27.78
- Office payment
- $4,248.59
- Facility payment
- $4,248.59
How the payment is calculated
Total RVU is work plus practice expense plus malpractice, each adjusted by its GPCI factor, then multiplied by the conversion factor. For 61686 in a non-facility setting with national GPCI: (65.81 + 33.61 + 27.78) × $33.4009 ≈ $4,248.59. The same code in a facility setting pays about $4,248.59 because facility PE RVU (33.61) replaces office PE RVU.
What changes by locality
GPCI moves 61686 non-facility payment from $3,559.35 to $5,713.35 across CMS localities — from Wisconsin to Miami. Check your exact locality in the GPCI calculator rather than using a state average.
Related codes
Checking a different code or locality? Open the full RVU calculator to run any of the 7,790 CPT/HCPCS codes with your own GPCI factors.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 2026 work RVU for CPT 61686?
65.81. Work RVU measures physician time, skill, and intensity — it does not change by setting or locality. Total payment adds practice expense and malpractice RVUs plus the conversion factor.
How much does Medicare pay for CPT 61686 in 2026?
About $4,248.59 non-facility ($4,248.59 facility) at national GPCI with the 2026 $33.4009 conversion factor. Your locality GPCI moves the number — see the range above.
Does the work RVU change between office and facility?
No. Work RVU (65.81) and malpractice RVU stay fixed; only practice expense changes (33.61 office vs 33.61 facility). That is the entire office-vs-facility payment gap.