Removal of one or more percutaneously placed spinal neurostimulator electrode arrays, including fluoroscopy when used, typically for infection, failure, or loss of benefit.
- Medicare
- $743.50
- Work RVU
- 4.95
- Global, days
- 10
- 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 ↓
- Number of arrays removed and whether they were permanent implants
- Reason for removal (infection, fracture, migration, loss of benefit)
- Anchor and lead removal technique
- Generator status and whether it was also removed
- Cultures or wound findings if infection
- Plan for re-implant if any
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 ↓
63661 covers removing percutaneous spinal cord stimulator leads that were implanted for a permanent system. Fluoroscopy is included when used. Reasons include infection, lead fracture, migration that cannot be fixed, loss of benefit, or a patient who needs an MRI the system cannot support.
The most common mistake is billing 63661 at the end of a trial. Pulling temporary trial leads that were placed for an external generator is not reported with this code. It is part of the trial. Use 63661 when the leads were anchored for a permanent implant and now need to come out.
If leads are removed and new ones placed in the same session, the correct code is 63663 (revision including replacement), not 63661 plus 63650. If the generator is also removed, that is reported with 63688. Global period is 10 days. If removal falls inside another procedure's global, add modifier 78 for a related complication. The diagnosis should explain why the hardware came out, such as infection or mechanical complication codes.
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 (4.95) is the surgeon's own effort — the figure physician pay and productivity targets are built on. The total RVU (22.26) adds practice overhead and malpractice, and is what drives the Medicare payment below.
| Work RVU | 4.95 |
| Practice expense RVU | 16.33 |
| Malpractice RVU | 0.98 |
| Total RVU | 22.26 |
| Medicare national rate | $743.50 |
| Global period | 10 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 | $743.50 |
HOPD (APC 5431) Hospital outpatient department | $1,995.02 |
ASC (PI G2) Ambulatory surgical center (freestanding) | $948.66 |
Common denial reasons
The recurring reasons claims for CPT 63661 get rejected.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓
- Billed for removal of temporary trial leads
- Billed with 63650 when 63663 should be used for replacement
- Missing diagnosis explaining the removal
- No modifier 78 inside a related global period
- Generator removal billed on the wrong code
- Fluoroscopy billed separately
Frequently asked questions
Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 3 cited references ↓
01Can you bill 63661 for removing trial leads?
02What code is used to remove and replace SCS leads?
03Is fluoroscopy included in 63661?
Sources & references
Editorial content was developed using the following public sources.
Mira Scribe
Mira Scribe's notes record why the leads came out and what happens next, which supports the diagnosis coding and any later re-implant authorization.
See how Mira captures CPT 63661 documentation