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CPT 61715: MRI-Guided Stereotactic Focused Ultrasound Brain Ablation

Headline: CPT code 61715 defines MRI-guided, stereotactic focused ultrasound ablation of brain lesions, an image‑guided neurosurgical therapy that preserves surrounding tissue.

Lead: CPT code 61715 represents a minimally invasive, MRI-guided procedure that uses high‑frequency ultrasound to thermally ablate damaged or diseased brain tissue with stereotactic precision. The technique matters nationally as an evolving option for selected neurological conditions where targeted lesion ablation can improve symptoms while avoiding open surgery.

Why it matters: The procedure aligns with advances in image‑guided neurosurgery and noninvasive therapeutic technologies. Payers are increasingly defining coverage criteria and payment pathways for high‑intensity image‑guided therapies; Medicare and major national commercial plans are central to access and reimbursement policy discussions.

Payers covered: This overview addresses major national payers including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.

What readers will learn: The publication provides clinical context for the procedure, outlines service and site‑of‑care implications, and summarizes typical payer coverage considerations and benchmarking topics. Readers will find a concise description of the service represented by CPT code 61715, the expected clinical settings, and the policy and billing themes that influence access and payment for MRI‑guided focused ultrasound brain ablation.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 61715 describes a procedure using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guidance to deliver focused, high-frequency ultrasound energy to create heat and ablate (destroy) targeted brain tissue. The technique may use a stereotactic frame with markers placed on the head to enable precise targeting of a lesion while preserving surrounding healthy tissue.

Service type: Image-guided focused ultrasound ablation of brain tissue (stereotactic MRI-guided therapeutic ultrasound)
Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient department, ambulatory surgical center, or specialized inpatient neurosurgical unit depending on clinical need and patient monitoring requirements.

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CPT 61715: MRI-Guided Stereotactic Focused Ultrasound Brain Ablation

Headline: CPT code 61715 defines MRI-guided, stereotactic focused ultrasound ablation of brain lesions, an image‑guided neurosurgical therapy that preserves surrounding tissue.

Payers covered: This overview addresses major national payers including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.

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Billing Code Overview

Service type: Image-guided focused ultrasound ablation of brain tissue (stereotactic MRI-guided therapeutic ultrasound)
Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient department, ambulatory surgical center, or specialized inpatient neurosurgical unit depending on clinical need and patient monitoring requirements.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A typical patient is a 60-year-old with medication-refractory essential tremor or a small, well-circumscribed, symptomatic thalamic or subcortical lesion deemed appropriate for noninvasive thermal ablation. The clinical workflow begins with neurologic and neurosurgical evaluation confirming failed medical therapy or high surgical risk for open procedures. Preprocedural evaluation includes MRI brain with contrast, functional imaging as indicated, and multidisciplinary review. On the day of service the patient is positioned within the MRI scanner; a stereotactic head frame or scalp markers are applied when required for targeting. The team performs MR thermometry-guided focused ultrasound sonications, incrementally raising focal temperatures to create lesions while continuously monitoring neurologic status and MRI for target accuracy and collateral heating. The procedure may be performed under moderate sedation or general anesthesia depending on patient tolerance and team preference. Postprocedure MRI confirms lesion placement, and the patient is observed for neurologic changes prior to discharge or short inpatient stay. Typical site of service is an inpatient or outpatient hospital-based MRI interventional suite or ambulatory surgical center equipped for MR-guided focused ultrasound.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	Use when only the physician interpretation or professional component of imaging or technical services is billed separately.
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Use when the procedure is performed on both cerebral hemispheres during the same operative session (rare and only when clinically indicated).
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure is started but discontinued or the service is substantially reduced from full description.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when the procedure is terminated for patient safety after initiation.
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons from different specialties perform distinct portions of the same procedure and documentation supports shared operative work.
`66`	Surgical team	Use when a surgical team is documented and billed under team reporting arrangements.
`78`	Unplanned return to OR following initial procedure	Use when the patient requires an immediate return to the operating room for a related complication.
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician during postoperative period	(Note: `79` is not listed in provided modifiers; do not include.)
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use to indicate a separate and distinct procedural service not normally reported together with another procedure.
`73`	Discontinued outpatient hospital/ASC procedure prior to anesthesia administration	Use when procedure cancelled after patient prepared but before anesthesia was given.
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician	(Note: `76` is not listed in provided modifiers; do not include.)
`AS`	Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for covered outpatient surgical procedures	Use when an authorized nonphysician practitioner performs covered surgical duties under state law and payer policy.
`QK`	Medical direction of two, three, or four concurrent anesthesia cases: anesthesiologist	Use when the physician directs multiple concurrent anesthesia cases during the procedure.
`QX`	CRNA service with medical direction by anesthesiologist	Use when a CRNA provides anesthesia under medical direction and the CRNA bills for the service.
`QY`	Medical direction by qualified nonphysician anesthetist	Use when an anesthetist operates under qualifying medical direction.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207N00000X	Neurological Surgery	Primary specialty performing stereotactic ablative procedures and device-based brain interventions.
2084P0800X	Neurology	Evaluation and selection of patients with movement disorders like essential tremor or Parkinsonian tremor.
208000000X	Radiology	Interventional MRI-guided procedural planning and intra-procedural imaging support.
363L00000X	Nuclear Medicine (or Functional Imaging Specialist)	When functional imaging contributes to target localization or treatment planning.
2086S0122X	Pain Medicine	May be involved for peri-procedural pain management and patient selection.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`G25.0`	Essential tremor	Primary indication for MR-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy to reduce disabling tremor refractory to medications.
`G20`	Parkinson's disease	Selected patients with medication-refractory tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease may be candidates when tremor persists despite optimized medical therapy.
`G25.19`	Other specified forms of tremor	Includes other tremor syndromes considered for lesioning when refractory to conservative management.
`C71.9`	Malignant neoplasm of brain, unspecified	Small, well-localized neoplastic lesions in select cases may be treated with focused ultrasound for palliation or ablation when appropriate.
`D33.9`	Benign neoplasm of brain, unspecified	Selected benign lesions (e.g., small tumors) potentially targeted for thermal ablation when other approaches are not suitable.
`I63.9`	Cerebral infarction, unspecified	Poststroke tremor or focal symptomatic sequelae may rarely be considered for targeted ablation after multidisciplinary evaluation.
`G93.1`	Anoxic brain damage, not elsewhere classified	Focal symptomatic areas causing medically refractory symptoms may be considered in very select cases.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`61715`	Magnetic resonance imaging guidance used to deliver focused ultrasound ablation of brain tissue (MR-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy/ablation)	Primary procedure code describing MR-guided focused ultrasound ablation; used to report the therapeutic sonication treatment.
`70553`	Magnetic resonance imaging, brain, without and with contrast, followed by further sequences	Pre- or postprocedure MRI for target planning and to assess ablation extent; often performed before and after the procedure.
`61624`	Stereotactic computer-assisted procedure; cranial lesionectomy with monitoring (note: example stereotactic codes vary)	Stereotactic targeting and planning codes may be reported for frame-based localization when applicable; selection depends on facility coding policies.
`99152`	Moderate sedation services provided by the same physician performing the procedure, initial 15 minutes	Used to report moderate sedation time when the treating physician provides monitored anesthesia care during the procedure.
`01996`	Anesthesia for procedures on the nervous system (other than intracranial)	Anesthesia services applicable when general or monitored anesthesia care is provided for MR-guided focused ultrasound procedures.

CPT 61720: Stereotactic Lesioning of Globus Pallidus or Thalamus

CPT-61735-CINGULOTOMY-PSYCHOSURGICAL-PROCEDURE

CPT 61735: Cingulotomy, Psychosurgical Procedure

CPT-61736-LASER-INTERSTITIAL-THERMAL-THERAPY-SINGLE-TRAJECTORY-BRAIN-LESION

CPT 61736: Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy for Single-Trajectory Brain Lesion

CPT-61737-LASER-INTERSTITIAL-THERMAL-THERAPY-MULTIPLE-OR-COMPLEX-BRAIN-LESIONS

CPT 61737: Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy for Multiple or Complex Brain Lesions

CPT-61750-STEREOTACTIC-INTRACRANIAL-LESION-BIOPSY-EXCISION

CPT 61750: Image-Guided Intracranial Lesion Biopsy or Excision

CPT-61751-IMAGE-GUIDED-INTRACRANIAL-LESION-BIOPSY-OR-EXCISION

CPT 61751: Image-Guided Intracranial Lesion Biopsy or Excision

CPT-61760-DEPTH-ELECTRODE-IMPLANTATION-FOR-EPILEPSY-LOCALIZATION

CPT 61760: Implantation of Depth Electrodes for Epilepsy Localization

CPT-61770-STEREOTACTIC-INTRACRANIAL-RADIATION-CATHETER-PLACEMENT

CPT 61770: Stereotactic Intracranial Radiation Catheter Placement

CPT-61781-INTRADURAL-CRANIAL-IMAGE-GUIDANCE-NAVIGATION

CPT 61781: Intraoperative Image-Guided Navigation for Intradural Cranial Surgery

CPT-61782-CRANIAL-IMAGE-GUIDED-NAVIGATION-EXTRADURAL

CPT 61782: Extradural Cranial Image-Guided Navigation

Showing 1–10 of 13

Frequently Asked Questions

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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Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	Use when only the physician interpretation or professional component of imaging or technical services is billed separately.
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Use when the procedure is performed on both cerebral hemispheres during the same operative session (rare and only when clinically indicated).
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure is started but discontinued or the service is substantially reduced from full description.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when the procedure is terminated for patient safety after initiation.
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons from different specialties perform distinct portions of the same procedure and documentation supports shared operative work.
`66`	Surgical team	Use when a surgical team is documented and billed under team reporting arrangements.
`78`	Unplanned return to OR following initial procedure	Use when the patient requires an immediate return to the operating room for a related complication.
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician during postoperative period	(Note: `79` is not listed in provided modifiers; do not include.)
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use to indicate a separate and distinct procedural service not normally reported together with another procedure.
`73`	Discontinued outpatient hospital/ASC procedure prior to anesthesia administration	Use when procedure cancelled after patient prepared but before anesthesia was given.
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician	(Note: `76` is not listed in provided modifiers; do not include.)
`AS`	Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for covered outpatient surgical procedures	Use when an authorized nonphysician practitioner performs covered surgical duties under state law and payer policy.
`QK`	Medical direction of two, three, or four concurrent anesthesia cases: anesthesiologist	Use when the physician directs multiple concurrent anesthesia cases during the procedure.
`QX`	CRNA service with medical direction by anesthesiologist	Use when a CRNA provides anesthesia under medical direction and the CRNA bills for the service.
`QY`	Medical direction by qualified nonphysician anesthetist	Use when an anesthetist operates under qualifying medical direction.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207N00000X	Neurological Surgery	Primary specialty performing stereotactic ablative procedures and device-based brain interventions.
2084P0800X	Neurology	Evaluation and selection of patients with movement disorders like essential tremor or Parkinsonian tremor.
208000000X	Radiology	Interventional MRI-guided procedural planning and intra-procedural imaging support.
363L00000X	Nuclear Medicine (or Functional Imaging Specialist)	When functional imaging contributes to target localization or treatment planning.
2086S0122X	Pain Medicine	May be involved for peri-procedural pain management and patient selection.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`G25.0`	Essential tremor	Primary indication for MR-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy to reduce disabling tremor refractory to medications.
`G20`	Parkinson's disease	Selected patients with medication-refractory tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease may be candidates when tremor persists despite optimized medical therapy.
`G25.19`	Other specified forms of tremor	Includes other tremor syndromes considered for lesioning when refractory to conservative management.
`C71.9`	Malignant neoplasm of brain, unspecified	Small, well-localized neoplastic lesions in select cases may be treated with focused ultrasound for palliation or ablation when appropriate.
`D33.9`	Benign neoplasm of brain, unspecified	Selected benign lesions (e.g., small tumors) potentially targeted for thermal ablation when other approaches are not suitable.
`I63.9`	Cerebral infarction, unspecified	Poststroke tremor or focal symptomatic sequelae may rarely be considered for targeted ablation after multidisciplinary evaluation.
`G93.1`	Anoxic brain damage, not elsewhere classified	Focal symptomatic areas causing medically refractory symptoms may be considered in very select cases.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`61715`	Magnetic resonance imaging guidance used to deliver focused ultrasound ablation of brain tissue (MR-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy/ablation)	Primary procedure code describing MR-guided focused ultrasound ablation; used to report the therapeutic sonication treatment.
`70553`	Magnetic resonance imaging, brain, without and with contrast, followed by further sequences	Pre- or postprocedure MRI for target planning and to assess ablation extent; often performed before and after the procedure.
`61624`	Stereotactic computer-assisted procedure; cranial lesionectomy with monitoring (note: example stereotactic codes vary)	Stereotactic targeting and planning codes may be reported for frame-based localization when applicable; selection depends on facility coding policies.
`99152`	Moderate sedation services provided by the same physician performing the procedure, initial 15 minutes	Used to report moderate sedation time when the treating physician provides monitored anesthesia care during the procedure.
`01996`	Anesthesia for procedures on the nervous system (other than intracranial)	Anesthesia services applicable when general or monitored anesthesia care is provided for MR-guided focused ultrasound procedures.

CPT 61720: Stereotactic Lesioning of Globus Pallidus or Thalamus

CPT-61735-CINGULOTOMY-PSYCHOSURGICAL-PROCEDURE

CPT 61735: Cingulotomy, Psychosurgical Procedure

CPT-61736-LASER-INTERSTITIAL-THERMAL-THERAPY-SINGLE-TRAJECTORY-BRAIN-LESION

CPT 61736: Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy for Single-Trajectory Brain Lesion

CPT-61737-LASER-INTERSTITIAL-THERMAL-THERAPY-MULTIPLE-OR-COMPLEX-BRAIN-LESIONS

CPT 61737: Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy for Multiple or Complex Brain Lesions

CPT-61750-STEREOTACTIC-INTRACRANIAL-LESION-BIOPSY-EXCISION

CPT 61750: Image-Guided Intracranial Lesion Biopsy or Excision

CPT-61751-IMAGE-GUIDED-INTRACRANIAL-LESION-BIOPSY-OR-EXCISION

CPT 61751: Image-Guided Intracranial Lesion Biopsy or Excision

CPT-61760-DEPTH-ELECTRODE-IMPLANTATION-FOR-EPILEPSY-LOCALIZATION

CPT 61760: Implantation of Depth Electrodes for Epilepsy Localization

CPT-61770-STEREOTACTIC-INTRACRANIAL-RADIATION-CATHETER-PLACEMENT

CPT 61770: Stereotactic Intracranial Radiation Catheter Placement

CPT-61781-INTRADURAL-CRANIAL-IMAGE-GUIDANCE-NAVIGATION

CPT 61781: Intraoperative Image-Guided Navigation for Intradural Cranial Surgery

CPT-61782-CRANIAL-IMAGE-GUIDED-NAVIGATION-EXTRADURAL

CPT 61782: Extradural Cranial Image-Guided Navigation

Showing 1–10 of 13

Frequently Asked Questions

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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CPT 61715: MRI-Guided Stereotactic Focused Ultrasound Brain Ablation

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Billing Code Overview

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CPT 61715: MRI-Guided Stereotactic Focused Ultrasound Brain Ablation

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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

CPT 61715: MRI-Guided Stereotactic Focused Ultrasound Brain Ablation

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Billing Code Overview

CPT 61715: MRI-Guided Stereotactic Focused Ultrasound Brain Ablation

Sign up for cpt 61715 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

What procedure does CPT 61715 represent?

What clinical conditions are commonly treated with this MR‑guided focused ultrasound procedure?

Where is the procedure typically performed and which related CPT codes might be billed?

Which modifiers are relevant when billing CPT 61715?

Which provider specialties and taxonomy codes are commonly associated with this procedure?

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

What procedure does CPT 61715 represent?

What clinical conditions are commonly treated with this MR‑guided focused ultrasound procedure?

Where is the procedure typically performed and which related CPT codes might be billed?

Which modifiers are relevant when billing CPT 61715?

Which provider specialties and taxonomy codes are commonly associated with this procedure?

References