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CPT 61886: Cranial Pulse Generator/Receiver Implant or Replacement

CPT code 61886 covers implantation or replacement of a cranial pulse generator or receiver placed in a subcutaneous pocket and connected to two or more intracranial electrode arrays. This neurosurgical service is used primarily to manage movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, and certain symptoms of multiple sclerosis. The procedure includes placement or replacement of direct or inductive stimulators and may be performed when device components malfunction. Nationally, this code represents a high-complexity implant procedure with implications for device management, surgical resource use, and durable medical equipment billing.

Key payers addressed in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of clinical context and typical sites of service, plus benchmarking information where available, payer coverage patterns, and relevant policy considerations affecting payment and coding for cranial neurostimulation implants. The publication summarizes common modifiers and billing considerations supplied in the input, notes gaps where data were not provided, and highlights the operational and documentation elements that commonly affect claim adjudication for implant or replacement of multi-array cranial pulse generators.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 61886 describes a surgical procedure in which the provider makes an incision and implants or replaces a direct or inductive cranial pulse generator or receiver in a subcutaneous pocket for connection to two or more electrode arrays. The procedure is commonly performed to treat movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, and symptoms related to multiple sclerosis. Replacement of the pulse generator or receiver may occur due to component malfunction.

Service type: Implantation or replacement of cranial pulse generator/receiver connected to multiple intracranial electrode arrays
Typical site of service: Inpatient or outpatient surgical setting (operating room) with post-anesthesia care; device pocket is subcutaneous on the cranium or scalp region

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CPT 61886: Cranial Pulse Generator/Receiver Implant or Replacement

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Billing Code Overview

Service type: Implantation or replacement of cranial pulse generator/receiver connected to multiple intracranial electrode arrays
Typical site of service: Inpatient or outpatient surgical setting (operating room) with post-anesthesia care; device pocket is subcutaneous on the cranium or scalp region

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 62-year-old patient with advanced Parkinson disease presents with medication-refractory motor fluctuations and disabling tremor. After multidisciplinary evaluation by neurology and neurosurgery, the patient is scheduled for implantation of a cranial pulse generator to connect to bilateral intracranial electrode arrays for deep brain stimulation. Preoperative workflow includes history and physical, medication reconciliation, neuropsychological testing, brain MRI for target planning, informed consent, perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis, and anesthesia evaluation. In the operating room, stereotactic coordinates guide lead placement, intraoperative testing confirms therapeutic effect, and the provider makes an incision to create a subcutaneous pocket (typically in the subclavicular or subcutaneous cranial/scalp region) to implant or replace the pulse generator or receiver. The device is connected to two or more electrode arrays, often one on each cerebral hemisphere. Postoperative workflow includes wound checks, device programming by neurology or device representative, adjustments of antiparkinsonian medications, and follow-up for stimulation parameter titration and battery/status monitoring. Indications include Parkinson disease, essential tremor, and other movement disorders; replacement may occur for battery depletion or component malfunction.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`00`	(Not a standard HCPCS/CPT modifier for professional billing)	Data not available in the input.
`11`	Primary procedure	When `61886` is the primary service performed during the encounter.
`22`	Increased procedural services	When work or time is substantially greater than typically required (complex revision, extensive adhesions).
`23`	Unusual anesthesia	When general anesthesia is required for an otherwise local/regional procedure and documentation supports it.
`26`	Professional component	When billing only the professional component separate from technical/supplies (rare for this surgical implant).
`50`	Bilateral procedure	When two distinct procedures are performed bilaterally and payer requires bilateral modifier for global services.
`52`	Reduced services	When the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as originally planned.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	When the procedure is terminated due to extenuating circumstances before completion.
`58`	Staged or related procedure or service by the same physician during the postoperative period	When implantation is part of a planned staged approach (e.g., leads placed at one date, generator implanted at a later date).
`59`	Distinct procedural service	When a separate, distinct service is performed that is not ordinarily bundled with `61886` (use with caution and documentation).
`62`	Two surgeons	When two surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct portions of the procedure.
`78`	Unplanned return to the operating room following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period	For reoperation to address an acute complication related to the original `61886` implantation.
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician during the postoperative period	When an unrelated procedure is performed during global period.
`26`	Professional component	Duplicate entry removed in final billing — use once as applicable.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207RH0000X	Neurological Surgery	Primary surgical specialty performing cranial implant and generator placement.
2084P0800X	Neurology	Manages device programming and clinical indication assessment.
363LP0800X	Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation	May participate in pre/postoperative functional assessments and programming follow-up.
2080P0208X	Psychiatry & Neurology (Neurophysiology)	In centers where neurophysiology specialists assist with intraoperative testing and programming.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`G20`	Parkinson disease	Primary indication for deep brain stimulation and pulse generator implantation.
`G25.0`	Essential tremor	Common therapeutic target for DBS when tremor is medication refractory.
`G35`	Multiple sclerosis	DBS is occasionally used for movement or tremor symptoms related to MS.
`G24.0`	Drug-induced dystonia	DBS may be considered for refractory dystonia impacting function.
`G24.3`	Spasmodic torticollis	Focal dystonia sometimes treated with neurostimulation when refractory.
`G21.9`	Secondary parkinsonism, unspecified	When parkinsonian symptoms from other causes are treated with DBS.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`61850`	Craniectomy or craniotomy for implantation of neurostimulator electrodes, cortical	Performed when cortical electrodes are required prior to connecting to the pulse generator described by `61886`.
`61863`	Twist drill or burr hole(s) for implantation of neurostimulator electrode array; single array	Used when burr holes are created to place intracranial electrodes that will connect to the generator implanted with `61886`.
`61867`	Implantation of intraoperative single electrode for deep brain stimulation, each additional array	Codes for additional lead placements that, in aggregate, connect to the generator implanted or replaced under `61886`.
`61885`	Revision or replacement of neurostimulator pulse generator or receiver	Used for revision or replacement procedures related to generator function; may be reported when replacing components associated with `61886`.
`64568`	Percutaneous implantation of neurostimulator electrode array, epidural	Alternative lead placement technique for spinal or cortical stimulation when used in conjunction with a generator; less common but related device workflow.

CPT 61850: Intracranial Electrode Placement via Burr Holes

CPT-61860-CORTICAL-NEUROSTIMULATOR-ELECTRODE-PLACEMENT-CRANIOTOMY

CPT 61860: Placement of Cortical Neurostimulator Electrodes

CPT-61863-STEREOTACTIC-SUBCORTICAL-NEUROSTIMULATOR-ELECTRODE-PLACEMENT

CPT 61863: Stereotactic Subcortical Neurostimulator Electrode Placement

CPT-61864-ADDITIONAL-NEUROSTIMULATOR-ELECTRODE-PLACEMENT-STEREOTACTIC

CPT 61864: Stereotactic Placement of Additional Neurostimulator Electrode Array

CPT-61867-STEREOTACTIC-NEUROSTIMULATOR-ELECTRODE-PLACEMENT

CPT 61867: Stereotactic Placement of Neurostimulator Electrode Array

CPT-61868-STEREOTACTIC-NEUROSTIMULATOR-ELECTRODE-PLACEMENT-ADD-ON

CPT 61868: Stereotactic Neurostimulator Electrode Placement (Add-on)

CPT-61880-NEUROSTIMULATOR-ELECTRODE-REMOVAL-REPLACEMENT-CRANIOTOMY

CPT 61880: Craniotomy for Neurostimulator Electrode Removal or Replacement

CPT-61885-CRANIAL-PULSE-GENERATOR-IMPLANT-REPLACEMENT

CPT 61885: Cranial Pulse Generator Implantation or Replacement

CPT-61888-CRANIAL-PULSE-GENERATOR-REVISION-OR-REMOVAL

CPT 61888: Revision or Removal of Cranial Pulse Generator

CPT-61889-CRANIAL-NEUROSTIMULATOR-PULSE-GENERATOR-IMPLANT

CPT 61889: Cranial Neurostimulator Pulse Generator Implant

Showing 1–10 of 12

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
`00`	(Not a standard HCPCS/CPT modifier for professional billing)	Data not available in the input.
`11`	Primary procedure	When `61886` is the primary service performed during the encounter.
`22`	Increased procedural services	When work or time is substantially greater than typically required (complex revision, extensive adhesions).
`23`	Unusual anesthesia	When general anesthesia is required for an otherwise local/regional procedure and documentation supports it.
`26`	Professional component	When billing only the professional component separate from technical/supplies (rare for this surgical implant).
`50`	Bilateral procedure	When two distinct procedures are performed bilaterally and payer requires bilateral modifier for global services.
`52`	Reduced services	When the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as originally planned.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	When the procedure is terminated due to extenuating circumstances before completion.
`58`	Staged or related procedure or service by the same physician during the postoperative period	When implantation is part of a planned staged approach (e.g., leads placed at one date, generator implanted at a later date).
`59`	Distinct procedural service	When a separate, distinct service is performed that is not ordinarily bundled with `61886` (use with caution and documentation).
`62`	Two surgeons	When two surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct portions of the procedure.
`78`	Unplanned return to the operating room following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period	For reoperation to address an acute complication related to the original `61886` implantation.
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician during the postoperative period	When an unrelated procedure is performed during global period.
`26`	Professional component	Duplicate entry removed in final billing — use once as applicable.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207RH0000X	Neurological Surgery	Primary surgical specialty performing cranial implant and generator placement.
2084P0800X	Neurology	Manages device programming and clinical indication assessment.
363LP0800X	Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation	May participate in pre/postoperative functional assessments and programming follow-up.
2080P0208X	Psychiatry & Neurology (Neurophysiology)	In centers where neurophysiology specialists assist with intraoperative testing and programming.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`G20`	Parkinson disease	Primary indication for deep brain stimulation and pulse generator implantation.
`G25.0`	Essential tremor	Common therapeutic target for DBS when tremor is medication refractory.
`G35`	Multiple sclerosis	DBS is occasionally used for movement or tremor symptoms related to MS.
`G24.0`	Drug-induced dystonia	DBS may be considered for refractory dystonia impacting function.
`G24.3`	Spasmodic torticollis	Focal dystonia sometimes treated with neurostimulation when refractory.
`G21.9`	Secondary parkinsonism, unspecified	When parkinsonian symptoms from other causes are treated with DBS.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`61850`	Craniectomy or craniotomy for implantation of neurostimulator electrodes, cortical	Performed when cortical electrodes are required prior to connecting to the pulse generator described by `61886`.
`61863`	Twist drill or burr hole(s) for implantation of neurostimulator electrode array; single array	Used when burr holes are created to place intracranial electrodes that will connect to the generator implanted with `61886`.
`61867`	Implantation of intraoperative single electrode for deep brain stimulation, each additional array	Codes for additional lead placements that, in aggregate, connect to the generator implanted or replaced under `61886`.
`61885`	Revision or replacement of neurostimulator pulse generator or receiver	Used for revision or replacement procedures related to generator function; may be reported when replacing components associated with `61886`.
`64568`	Percutaneous implantation of neurostimulator electrode array, epidural	Alternative lead placement technique for spinal or cortical stimulation when used in conjunction with a generator; less common but related device workflow.

CPT 61850: Intracranial Electrode Placement via Burr Holes

CPT-61860-CORTICAL-NEUROSTIMULATOR-ELECTRODE-PLACEMENT-CRANIOTOMY

CPT 61860: Placement of Cortical Neurostimulator Electrodes

CPT-61863-STEREOTACTIC-SUBCORTICAL-NEUROSTIMULATOR-ELECTRODE-PLACEMENT

CPT 61863: Stereotactic Subcortical Neurostimulator Electrode Placement

CPT-61864-ADDITIONAL-NEUROSTIMULATOR-ELECTRODE-PLACEMENT-STEREOTACTIC

CPT 61864: Stereotactic Placement of Additional Neurostimulator Electrode Array

CPT-61867-STEREOTACTIC-NEUROSTIMULATOR-ELECTRODE-PLACEMENT

CPT 61867: Stereotactic Placement of Neurostimulator Electrode Array

CPT-61868-STEREOTACTIC-NEUROSTIMULATOR-ELECTRODE-PLACEMENT-ADD-ON

CPT 61868: Stereotactic Neurostimulator Electrode Placement (Add-on)

CPT-61880-NEUROSTIMULATOR-ELECTRODE-REMOVAL-REPLACEMENT-CRANIOTOMY

CPT 61880: Craniotomy for Neurostimulator Electrode Removal or Replacement

CPT-61885-CRANIAL-PULSE-GENERATOR-IMPLANT-REPLACEMENT

CPT 61885: Cranial Pulse Generator Implantation or Replacement

CPT-61888-CRANIAL-PULSE-GENERATOR-REVISION-OR-REMOVAL

CPT 61888: Revision or Removal of Cranial Pulse Generator

CPT-61889-CRANIAL-NEUROSTIMULATOR-PULSE-GENERATOR-IMPLANT

CPT 61889: Cranial Neurostimulator Pulse Generator Implant

Showing 1–10 of 12

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.

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 61886: Cranial Pulse Generator/Receiver Implant or Replacement

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Billing Code Overview

OpenPayer

CPT 61886: Cranial Pulse Generator/Receiver Implant or Replacement

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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 61886: Cranial Pulse Generator/Receiver Implant or Replacement

Sign up for cpt 61886 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

CPT 61886: Cranial Pulse Generator/Receiver Implant or Replacement

Sign up for cpt 61886 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

What clinical situations and indications are described for CPT 61886?

What does the typical preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative workflow look like for this procedure?

Which billing modifiers are relevant to CPT 61886 and when are they used?

What related CPT codes should be considered alongside 61886?

Which provider specialties and taxonomy codes are associated with performing and managing care for CPT 61886?

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

What clinical situations and indications are described for CPT 61886?

What does the typical preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative workflow look like for this procedure?

Which billing modifiers are relevant to CPT 61886 and when are they used?

What related CPT codes should be considered alongside 61886?

Which provider specialties and taxonomy codes are associated with performing and managing care for CPT 61886?

References