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22551 CPT Code: Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion (ACDF)

Last Updated: December 2, 2025

CPT 22551 represents an Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF). Spine surgery is notoriously complex to bill because it requires multiple codes for the approach, the decompression, the fusion, and the hardware.

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2026 Medicare National Fee (22551): Non-Facility (Office): $1735.32 · Facility (Hospital): $1735.32
✓ 548 Medicare-Approved ICD-10 Diagnoses on file for 22551:

Base Code vs Add-on Levels

22551 ↗ covers the first (single) cervical interspace. If the surgeon fuses a second level (e.g., C5-C6 and C6-C7), you must bill the add-on code 22552 ↗ for the second level.

Never append Modifier 51 to 22552. It is an add-on code and is already fee-reduced.

Instrumentation (Hardware)

The ACDF codes do not include the metal plates or screws used to stabilize the spine. You must separately bill anterior instrumentation (22845 ↗ for 2 to 3 vertebral segments) to get paid for the hardware placement.

NCCI Edits

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Not sure if these codes bundle? Check the latest Medicare NCCI database updates before you bill.

Bone grafts (e.g., 20930 for allograft) are also billed separately but are often bundled or denied if not properly documented. Use our checker to ensure clean claims.

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