CPT code 61616 identifies a skull base neurosurgical resection performed to remove defective tissue or lesions located at the base of the skull, within or beneath the brain’s covering. The code captures complex cranial surgery typically performed in an operating room setting and often requires multidisciplinary surgical and anesthetic resources. Nationally, accurate coding for 61616 matters because it affects clinical documentation, surgical case mix classification, and payment for high-complexity neurosurgical care.

Key payers included in the analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context for the procedure, common payer coverage patterns, typical settings where the service is delivered, and the operational considerations that influence coding and billing. The publication also outlines related benchmarking and policy topics relevant to high-acuity neurosurgical services, including documentation expectations and service-line impacts. Data not available in the input are noted where applicable.