CPT / HCPCS code · 2026 CMS data · Verified 2026-08-31
CPT 63170 RVU and Medicare Payment (2026)
Incise spinal cord tract(s) — 21.65 work RVU, about $1,576.19 non-facility Medicare payment at the 2026 conversion factor.
- Work RVU
- 21.65
- PE RVU (non-facility)
- 16.38
- PE RVU (facility)
- 16.38
- MP RVU
- 9.16
- Office payment
- $1,576.19
- Facility payment
- $1,576.19
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 63170 in a non-facility setting with national GPCI: (21.65 + 16.38 + 9.16) × $33.4009 ≈ $1,576.19. The same code in a facility setting pays about $1,576.19 because facility PE RVU (16.38) replaces office PE RVU.
What changes by locality
GPCI moves 63170 non-facility payment from $1,341.49 to $2,066.42 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 63170?
21.65. 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 63170 in 2026?
About $1,576.19 non-facility ($1,576.19 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 (21.65) and malpractice RVU stay fixed; only practice expense changes (16.38 office vs 16.38 facility). That is the entire office-vs-facility payment gap.