Single interlaminar injection into the lumbar or sacral epidural or subarachnoid space, done without fluoroscopic or CT guidance, for diagnostic or therapeutic drugs such as a steroid or anesthetic.
- Medicare
- $145.63
- Work RVU
- 1.51
- Global, days
- 0
- Region
- Spine
Documentation requirements
What must appear in the operative or office note to support the claim.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in 3 cited references ↓
- Spinal level entered (for example L4-L5) and interlaminar approach
- Statement that no fluoroscopic or CT guidance was used
- Drug name, dose, and volume injected
- Radicular symptoms, duration, and failed conservative care supporting the injection
- Pain and function scores before the injection for comparison at follow-up
- Complications or absence of complications and post-procedure checks
Applicable modifiers
Modifiers commonly billed with this code.
Source · AMA CPT modifier descriptors · CMS NCCI Policy Manual
What this code covers
Source · Editorial summary grounded in 3 cited references ↓
62322 is the lumbar or sacral interlaminar injection done by feel, with no fluoroscopy or CT. It covers a single shot of steroid, anesthetic, or other non-neurolytic drug placed through the space between two laminae. If the physician uses fluoro or CT, the correct code is 62323. The 62323 descriptor names fluoroscopy and CT only, so an ultrasound-guided epidural is a gray area. Check the payer's guidance before you bill one.
In an ortho spine practice this code shows up less than it used to. Most physicians now do lumbar epidural steroid injections under fluoro, and the Medicare ESI LCDs expect fluoroscopic or CT guidance unless there is a documented reason not to use it. Billing 62322 for a steroid injection to a Medicare patient is a fast way to draw a medical necessity denial.
The global period is 0 days. A same-day E/M needs modifier 25 and a separate, documented decision, not just the pre-injection check. Report one unit per session regardless of how much drug was given. The drug itself goes on a separate J code when the practice buys it.
RVU & reimbursement
Component RVUs and Medicare national rate. Actual payment varies by GPCI locality.
Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026
Work RVU vs. total RVU
The work RVU (1.51) is the surgeon's own effort — the figure physician pay and productivity targets are built on. The total RVU (4.36) adds practice overhead and malpractice, and is what drives the Medicare payment below.
| Work RVU | 1.51 |
| Practice expense RVU | 2.7 |
| Malpractice RVU | 0.15 |
| Total RVU | 4.36 |
| Medicare national rate | $145.63 |
| Global period | 0 days |
Payment by site of service
Medicare pays different rates by setting. HOPD typically pays substantially more than ASC for the same procedure.
Source · CMS OPPS Addendum B·ASC HCPCS payment rates·2026
| Setting | Medicare rate (national) |
|---|---|
Office (PFS non-facility) Procedure performed in physician's office | $145.63 |
HOPD (APC 5443) Hospital outpatient department | $903.63 |
ASC (PI G2) Ambulatory surgical center (freestanding) | $485.51 |
Common denial reasons
The recurring reasons claims for CPT 62322 get rejected.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓
- Medicare ESI LCD requires image guidance for epidural steroid injections
- Billed with a separate imaging code instead of moving to 62323
- Same-day E/M billed without modifier 25 or without a separate problem
- Frequency limits exceeded for the lumbar region in a rolling 12 months
- Missing documentation of at least four weeks of conservative care
- Diagnosis code that does not support radiculopathy or stenosis
Frequently asked questions
Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 3 cited references ↓
01What is the difference between CPT 62322 and 62323?
02Can I bill 77003 with 62322?
03Does Medicare pay for 62322 epidural steroid injections?
04How many units of 62322 can I bill?
Sources & references
Editorial content was developed using the following public sources.
Mira Scribe
Mira Scribe's notes record the level, approach, drug and dose, and the fact that no fluoro was used, so the code choice between 62322 and 62323 is clear from the note. The history and failed-therapy timeline are pulled into the same note for payer review.
See how Mira captures CPT 62322 documentation