Summary & Overview
CPT 61512: Craniotomy for Supratentorial Meningioma Excision
CPT code 61512 denotes an open neurosurgical craniotomy with excision of a meningioma located above the tentorium cerebelli. This code captures a high-complexity intracranial tumor resection commonly performed in hospital operating rooms by neurosurgeons. Nationally, accurate coding for these procedures affects hospital inpatient and outpatient surgical volumes, resource allocation for neurosurgical services, and reimbursement patterns for complex cranial surgery.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find clinical context about the procedure and typical sites of service, an overview of common modifiers used with this surgical code, and discussion of benchmarks and coverage considerations relevant to hospitals and surgical practices. The publication summarizes typical billing practice, highlights payer considerations, and identifies where policy updates or coding clarifications may influence claim adjudication. Data not available in the input will be noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 61512 describes a neurosurgical procedure in which a portion of the skull (craniotomy) is removed and a meningioma located above the tentorium cerebelli is surgically excised. The procedure targets tumors of the meninges in the supratentorial compartment and involves direct microsurgical tumor resection after skull bone removal.
-
Service type: Open neurosurgical tumor resection (craniotomy with supratentorial meningioma excision)
-
Typical site of service: Inpatient or outpatient hospital operating room, typically performed by a neurosurgeon in a tertiary care or acute care hospital setting
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 56-year-old patient presents with progressive headaches, focal neurological deficits, and new-onset seizures. Brain MRI demonstrates a contrast-enhancing extra-axial mass over the cerebral convexity consistent with a supratentorial meningioma. Neurosurgery schedules an elective craniotomy for resection. Preoperative workflow includes neurosurgical evaluation, informed consent, anesthesia assessment, and preop imaging (MRI with and without contrast, and MR angiography as indicated). Intraoperative steps include a tailored skin incision, craniotomy flap removal of the skull over the lesion, dural opening, microsurgical dissection to devascularize and debulk the meningioma, and resection with dural repair or grafting as needed. Postoperative care involves ICU or step-down monitoring, neurological checks, postoperative imaging (CT or MRI) to assess extent of resection and complications, pain control, and discharge planning with outpatient follow-up and potential adjuvant radiation if pathology indicates atypical or malignant meningioma.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | Default/No modifier | Not used as a specific claim modifier; placeholder in lists when no modifier applies |
11 | Physician or provider primary service |