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CPT 22600: Posterior Cervical Spinal Fusion, Single Level
CPT code 22600 denotes posterior cervical arthrodesis (spinal fusion) to permanently join two vertebral segments using bone graft material. This surgical procedure is a key intervention for stabilizing the cervical spine and relieving chronic pain or neurologic compromise from conditions such as degenerative disc disease, trauma, infection, or deformity. Nationally, spinal fusion procedures are significant drivers of surgical specialty utilization and hospital resource use, with implications for payer coverage policies and bundling decisions.
Key payers included in this analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical context for the procedure, common coding adjacencies, and payer coverage considerations relevant to preauthorization and claims adjudication. The publication outlines typical sites of service and service type, compares 22600 to related CPT entries for additional segments, and summarizes diagnostic indications commonly billed with the code. It also highlights where input data is available and notes when specific benchmark or policy data are not provided.
Intended audience includes billing and coding professionals, surgical and spine specialists, revenue cycle managers, and policy analysts seeking a concise reference on the clinical and coding profile of CPT code 22600.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 22600 describes an arthrodesis (spinal fusion) of the cervical spine, performed to permanently join two vertebrae. The procedure involves placement of bone graft material to achieve fusion at the posterior elements of the vertebrae, or at both the posterior and lateral aspects, with the intent of stabilizing the spine and alleviating persistent neck pain caused by degenerative disease, injury, or other spinal pathology.
Service Type: Surgical — posterior cervical spinal fusion
Typical Site of Service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgery center, where operative spinal procedures and anesthesia services are provided.
National Reimbursement Benchmarks
National means show a clear split between Medicare and average commercial results: Medicare’s mean is $1,294.10 while BUCA’s mean (a commercial aggregate) is $3,995.00, so BUCA’s average commercial rate is roughly $2,700.90 higher than Medicare. Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Aetna, and UnitedHealth Group all have mean rates sitting between those endpoints, with variability around their means that signals different negotiation footprints across payers.
Dispersion (P75 minus P25) highlights where rates are tight versus wide: Blue Cross Blue Shield’s dispersion is $7,204.20 (from $1,467.60 to $8,671.80), the widest spread, followed by BUCA at $4,692.60, and UnitedHealth Group at $1,440.60. Cigna’s range is $1,427.20 and Aetna’s is $1,138.70, making Aetna and Cigna the tightest among the commercial payers listed; Medicare’s interquartile spread is comparatively narrow at $123.00.