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CPT 61313: Frontal Hematoma Evacuation via Burr Holes

CPT code 61313 denotes a neurosurgical hematoma evacuation involving burr holes and possible skull opening to access the frontal supratentorial brain for drainage and decompression. This procedure is used to treat intracranial hematomas that raise intracranial pressure and threaten neurologic function; it is performed emergently for trauma, procedure-related bleeding, or spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Nationally, accurate coding and appropriate site-of-service reporting for this high-acuity surgical intervention affect hospital case mix, emergency surgical workflows, and payer authorization processes.

Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical context for the procedure, expected service setting, and which payers commonly cover the intervention. The publication also outlines where to find benchmarking and policy updates, summarizes common modifiers used with high-acuity surgical CPT codes, and highlights coding considerations relevant to billing departments and revenue cycle operations.

What readers will learn: the clinical indication and procedural scope of CPT code 61313, typical hospital-based care settings, payer coverage landscape, and guidance on locating reimbursement benchmarks and policy notices. Data not available in the input for procedure-specific national utilization rates and payer-specific fee schedules.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 61313 describes a neurosurgical procedure to evacuate an intracranial hematoma by creating burr holes and, if necessary, opening the skull to access the frontal supratentorial region of the brain. The procedure is performed to drain a clot and relieve elevated intracranial pressure caused by hemorrhage within the brain tissue, which can result from trauma, iatrogenic injury, or spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (stroke).

Service type: Neurosurgical hematoma evacuation (burr hole craniotomy / cranial decompression)
Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or emergency neurosurgical suite; inpatient setting when associated with acute intracranial hemorrhage or traumatic brain injury.

Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, and related codes.

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CPT 61313: Frontal Hematoma Evacuation via Burr Holes

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Billing Code Overview

Service type: Neurosurgical hematoma evacuation (burr hole craniotomy / cranial decompression)
Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or emergency neurosurgical suite; inpatient setting when associated with acute intracranial hemorrhage or traumatic brain injury.

Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, and related codes.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 68-year-old male is brought to the emergency department after a fall with loss of consciousness and progressive left-sided weakness. CT head demonstrates a symptomatic acute intracerebral hematoma with mass effect and midline shift in the right frontal lobe. The neurosurgery team evaluates the patient, obtains informed consent from the surrogate, and prepares for urgent surgical evacuation. The clinical workflow includes preoperative stabilization (airway, blood pressure control, reversal of anticoagulation if applicable), neuroimaging confirmation, operative planning, general endotracheal anesthesia, placement of burr holes and a limited craniotomy or craniectomy as indicated, microsurgical hematoma evacuation and hemostasis, intraoperative monitoring, and postoperative ICU care with repeat imaging and neurologic assessments. Typical sites of service are the hospital operating room for the procedure and the intensive care unit for postoperative management. Typical scenario drivers include traumatic brain injury, spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage, or hemorrhagic conversion of an ischemic stroke causing mass effect and elevated intracranial pressure.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when work, time, or complexity substantially exceeds typical for `61313` due to difficult exposure, prolonged hemostasis, or unusually challenging evacuation.
`23`	Unusual anesthesia	Use when general anesthesia is not possible and an unusual anesthetic technique is required for emergent craniotomy or burr hole procedure.
`26`	Professional component	Use when reporting only the surgeon's professional component separate from technical facility charges (rare for operative CPT).
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Use if bilateral burr hole/evacuation is performed and payer requires bilateral modifier reporting.
`51`	Multiple procedures	Use when `61313` is reported with additional distinct neurosurgical procedures during the same session.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure is attempted but not completed to the full extent (e.g., aborted due to instability).
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when the procedure is terminated for documented extenuating circumstances prior to completion.
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct, substantive portions of `61313`.
`63`	Procedure performed on infants less than 4 kg	Use per payer policy when patient weight criteria apply.
`78`	Return to OR for related procedure during postoperative period	Use when reoperation for recurrent hematoma evacuation is required during the global period.
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician during the postoperative period	Use when an unrelated procedure is performed during the global period.
`80`	Assistant surgeon	Use when an assistant surgeon performs standard assisting duties during `61313`.
`81`	Minimum assistant surgeon	Use when minimal assistance is provided and the payer recognizes modifier `81`.
`AS`	Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services provided in part	Use when an advanced practice provider performs billable assistant or documented qualifying services related to the case per payer rules.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
208800000X	Neurosurgery	Primary specialty performing intracranial hematoma evacuation.
207L00000X	Neurological Surgery (Neurosurgeon)	Alternate taxonomy for board-certified neurosurgeons performing operative brain procedures.
2086S0122X	Critical Care Medicine	Critical care physicians manage perioperative ICU care after evacuation.
207Q00000X	Anesthesiology	Provides general endotracheal anesthesia and intraoperative monitoring for `61313`.
363LF0000X	Emergency Medicine	Initial stabilization and triage prior to operative transfer.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`I61.9`	Intracerebral hemorrhage, unspecified	Direct indication for surgical hematoma evacuation when causing mass effect and neurologic deterioration.
`S06.5X0A`	Traumatic subdural hemorrhage without loss of consciousness, initial encounter	Traumatic subdural collections often require burr hole or craniotomy for evacuation.
`I62.9`	Nontraumatic intracranial hemorrhage, unspecified	Includes spontaneous intraparenchymal or subarachnoid bleeding that may necessitate evacuation.
`I60.9`	Subarachnoid hemorrhage, unspecified	SAH with localized clot causing focal mass effect may prompt neurosurgical intervention.
`I69.398`	Sequelae of intracerebral hemorrhage	Used for coding subsequent encounters related to prior hemorrhage complications and potential reoperations.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`61313`	Craniectomy or craniotomy for evacuation of intracranial hematoma; supratentorial, complicated/large	Primary procedure for surgical evacuation of a supratentorial hematoma causing mass effect.
`61312`	Craniectomy or craniotomy for evacuation of intracranial hematoma; supratentorial, small or localized	May be used for smaller or more localized supratentorial hematomas when appropriate.
`61154`	Burr hole(s) for drainage of chronic subdural hematoma including catheter placement	Performed when burr hole drainage is chosen for a subdural collection rather than open craniotomy; may be an alternative technique.
`61210`	Craniectomy for trauma, decompressive craniectomy (supratentorial)	Performed when decompression rather than isolated evacuation is required for refractory intracranial hypertension after hematoma evacuation.
`99152`	Moderate sedation services provided by the same physician performing a procedure, initial 30 minutes	Used if monitored sedation (instead of general anesthesia) is employed for a limited burr hole drainage when payer allows.

CPT 61304: Supratentorial Brain Inspection via Anterior Cranial Access

CPT-61305-POSTERIOR-FOSSA-INSPECTION-SUBTENTORIAL-APPROACH

CPT 61305: Inspection of Posterior Fossa via Subtentorial Approach

CPT-61312-SUPRATENTORIAL-HEMATOMA-EVACUATION-CRANIOTOMY

CPT 61312: Supratentorial Intracranial Hematoma Evacuation

CPT-61314-NEUROSURGICAL-HEMATOMA-EVACUATION-BURR-HOLES

CPT 61314: Neurosurgical Hematoma Evacuation, Burr Holes

CPT-61315-POSTERIOR-FOSSA-CRANIOTOMY-HEMATOMA-EVACUATION

CPT 61315: Posterior Fossa Craniotomy for Cerebellar Hematoma Evacuation

CPT-61316-CRANIAL-BONE-GRAFT-POCKETING-TEMPORARY-ABDOMINAL-STORAGE

CPT 61316: Temporary Subcutaneous Cranial Bone Graft Pocketing

CPT-61320-INTRACRANIAL-ABSCESS-DRAINAGE-SUPRATENTORIAL

CPT 61320: Supratentorial Intracranial Abscess Drainage

CPT-61321-CRANIAL-ABSCESS-DRAINAGE

CPT 61321: Cranial Drainage of Brain Abscess

CPT-61322-DECOMPRESSIVE-CRANIECTOMY-DURAPLASTY

CPT 61322: Decompressive Craniectomy with Possible Duraplasty

CPT-61323-DECOMPRESSIVE-CRANIECTOMY-PARTIAL-BRAIN-RESECTION-DURAPLASTY

CPT 61323: Decompressive Craniectomy with Partial Brain Resection and Duraplasty

Showing 1–10 of 62

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

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Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when work, time, or complexity substantially exceeds typical for `61313` due to difficult exposure, prolonged hemostasis, or unusually challenging evacuation.
`23`	Unusual anesthesia	Use when general anesthesia is not possible and an unusual anesthetic technique is required for emergent craniotomy or burr hole procedure.
`26`	Professional component	Use when reporting only the surgeon's professional component separate from technical facility charges (rare for operative CPT).
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Use if bilateral burr hole/evacuation is performed and payer requires bilateral modifier reporting.
`51`	Multiple procedures	Use when `61313` is reported with additional distinct neurosurgical procedures during the same session.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure is attempted but not completed to the full extent (e.g., aborted due to instability).
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when the procedure is terminated for documented extenuating circumstances prior to completion.
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct, substantive portions of `61313`.
`63`	Procedure performed on infants less than 4 kg	Use per payer policy when patient weight criteria apply.
`78`	Return to OR for related procedure during postoperative period	Use when reoperation for recurrent hematoma evacuation is required during the global period.
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician during the postoperative period	Use when an unrelated procedure is performed during the global period.
`80`	Assistant surgeon	Use when an assistant surgeon performs standard assisting duties during `61313`.
`81`	Minimum assistant surgeon	Use when minimal assistance is provided and the payer recognizes modifier `81`.
`AS`	Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services provided in part	Use when an advanced practice provider performs billable assistant or documented qualifying services related to the case per payer rules.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
208800000X	Neurosurgery	Primary specialty performing intracranial hematoma evacuation.
207L00000X	Neurological Surgery (Neurosurgeon)	Alternate taxonomy for board-certified neurosurgeons performing operative brain procedures.
2086S0122X	Critical Care Medicine	Critical care physicians manage perioperative ICU care after evacuation.
207Q00000X	Anesthesiology	Provides general endotracheal anesthesia and intraoperative monitoring for `61313`.
363LF0000X	Emergency Medicine	Initial stabilization and triage prior to operative transfer.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`I61.9`	Intracerebral hemorrhage, unspecified	Direct indication for surgical hematoma evacuation when causing mass effect and neurologic deterioration.
`S06.5X0A`	Traumatic subdural hemorrhage without loss of consciousness, initial encounter	Traumatic subdural collections often require burr hole or craniotomy for evacuation.
`I62.9`	Nontraumatic intracranial hemorrhage, unspecified	Includes spontaneous intraparenchymal or subarachnoid bleeding that may necessitate evacuation.
`I60.9`	Subarachnoid hemorrhage, unspecified	SAH with localized clot causing focal mass effect may prompt neurosurgical intervention.
`I69.398`	Sequelae of intracerebral hemorrhage	Used for coding subsequent encounters related to prior hemorrhage complications and potential reoperations.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`61313`	Craniectomy or craniotomy for evacuation of intracranial hematoma; supratentorial, complicated/large	Primary procedure for surgical evacuation of a supratentorial hematoma causing mass effect.
`61312`	Craniectomy or craniotomy for evacuation of intracranial hematoma; supratentorial, small or localized	May be used for smaller or more localized supratentorial hematomas when appropriate.
`61154`	Burr hole(s) for drainage of chronic subdural hematoma including catheter placement	Performed when burr hole drainage is chosen for a subdural collection rather than open craniotomy; may be an alternative technique.
`61210`	Craniectomy for trauma, decompressive craniectomy (supratentorial)	Performed when decompression rather than isolated evacuation is required for refractory intracranial hypertension after hematoma evacuation.
`99152`	Moderate sedation services provided by the same physician performing a procedure, initial 30 minutes	Used if monitored sedation (instead of general anesthesia) is employed for a limited burr hole drainage when payer allows.

CPT 61304: Supratentorial Brain Inspection via Anterior Cranial Access

CPT-61305-POSTERIOR-FOSSA-INSPECTION-SUBTENTORIAL-APPROACH

CPT 61305: Inspection of Posterior Fossa via Subtentorial Approach

CPT-61312-SUPRATENTORIAL-HEMATOMA-EVACUATION-CRANIOTOMY

CPT 61312: Supratentorial Intracranial Hematoma Evacuation

CPT-61314-NEUROSURGICAL-HEMATOMA-EVACUATION-BURR-HOLES

CPT 61314: Neurosurgical Hematoma Evacuation, Burr Holes

CPT-61315-POSTERIOR-FOSSA-CRANIOTOMY-HEMATOMA-EVACUATION

CPT 61315: Posterior Fossa Craniotomy for Cerebellar Hematoma Evacuation

CPT-61316-CRANIAL-BONE-GRAFT-POCKETING-TEMPORARY-ABDOMINAL-STORAGE

CPT 61316: Temporary Subcutaneous Cranial Bone Graft Pocketing

CPT-61320-INTRACRANIAL-ABSCESS-DRAINAGE-SUPRATENTORIAL

CPT 61320: Supratentorial Intracranial Abscess Drainage

CPT-61321-CRANIAL-ABSCESS-DRAINAGE

CPT 61321: Cranial Drainage of Brain Abscess

CPT-61322-DECOMPRESSIVE-CRANIECTOMY-DURAPLASTY

CPT 61322: Decompressive Craniectomy with Possible Duraplasty

CPT-61323-DECOMPRESSIVE-CRANIECTOMY-PARTIAL-BRAIN-RESECTION-DURAPLASTY

CPT 61323: Decompressive Craniectomy with Partial Brain Resection and Duraplasty

Showing 1–10 of 62

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

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CPT 61313: Frontal Hematoma Evacuation via Burr Holes

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Billing Code Overview

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CPT 61313: Frontal Hematoma Evacuation via Burr Holes

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Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References