Anterior cervical discectomy at one interspace with decompression of the cord or nerve roots, including removal of osteophytes, when no fusion or arthroplasty is performed at that level.
- Medicare
- $1,288.27
- Work RVU
- 19.11
- Global, days
- 90
- 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 ↓
- Cervical interspace treated
- Disc and osteophyte removal and structures decompressed
- Statement that no interbody fusion or arthroplasty was done at that level
- Radiculopathy or myelopathy findings with MRI or CT correlation
- Failed conservative care or progressive deficit
- Co-surgeon or approach surgeon role if applicable
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 ↓
63075 is a standalone anterior cervical discectomy at one interspace. The surgeon removes the disc and osteophytes through an anterior approach to decompress the cord or roots. Each additional interspace done the same way reports add-on 63076.
In practice, most anterior cervical discectomies are coded as ACDF with 22551 (and 22552 per added level), which already includes the discectomy and decompression. Billing 63075 with 22551 at the same interspace is double billing, and NCCI edits block it. The same goes for 22554 and for cervical disc arthroplasty (22856), which also include the discectomy. So 63075 is the right choice only when the disc is removed and nothing is put in the space for fusion or motion preservation, or in uncommon cases where a different level is decompressed without fusion.
Global period is 90 days. Approach surgeons who open the neck for the spine surgeon may co-bill with modifier 62 if the payer allows co-surgery for the code. Document the interspace, the pathology, and that no interbody device was placed.
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 (19.11) is the surgeon's own effort — the figure physician pay and productivity targets are built on. The total RVU (38.57) adds practice overhead and malpractice, and is what drives the Medicare payment below.
| Work RVU | 19.11 |
| Practice expense RVU | 13.12 |
| Malpractice RVU | 6.34 |
| Total RVU | 38.57 |
| Medicare national rate | $1,288.27 |
| Global period | 90 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 | $1,288.27 |
HOPD (APC 5114) Hospital outpatient department | $7,413.38 |
ASC (PI G2) Ambulatory surgical center (freestanding) | $3,695.53 |
Common denial reasons
The recurring reasons claims for CPT 63075 get rejected.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓
- Billed with 22551 or 22554 at the same interspace
- Billed with cervical disc arthroplasty at the same level
- Additional levels billed as units instead of 63076
- Medical necessity not documented for radiculopathy or myelopathy
- Co-surgery modifier on a payer that does not allow it for the code
- Post-op visits billed during the 90-day global
Frequently asked questions
Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 3 cited references ↓
01Can 63075 be billed with 22551?
02When is 63075 the correct code?
03What is the add-on code for 63075?
04Is 63075 billed with cervical disc replacement?
Sources & references
Editorial content was developed using the following public sources.
Mira Scribe
Mira Scribe's clinic notes record the radicular or myelopathic exam, the imaging levels, and the conservative care timeline, so the decompression level on the claim matches the pre-op record.
See how Mira captures CPT 63075 documentation