CPT 64483: epidural steroid injection (lower back, one level). What Medicare pays and what to ask
A spinal injection leads to separate charges from the doctor and the facility. Here is what 64483 covers and the Medicare rate.
What this code means
CPT 64483 is an injection of an anesthetic and/or steroid next to a spinal nerve in the lower back (a transforaminal epidural), at one level, with imaging guidance. Each added level uses an add-on code, 64484.
It is used for back and leg pain from irritated nerves.
Why the bill can be much higher than the Medicare rate
The rate shown is the doctor's fee. The facility, the imaging supplies and the medication may be billed separately.
The number of levels sets the number of lines.
| If a line is billed at | It would be |
|---|---|
| 5x the Medicare rate | $1,324.35 |
| 10x the Medicare rate | $2,648.70 |
| 20x the Medicare rate | $5,297.40 |
The Medicare rate is a published benchmark, not a legal ceiling on what a provider may charge. Our free scan flags a line as worth a closer look when it is billed at more than 10 times the Medicare rate.
Questions worth asking before you pay
- How many levels were treated?
- What does the facility bill, and what does the doctor bill?
- Were the medication and the imaging billed on separate lines?
Check every line against the official Medicare rates in about a minute. The scan is free.
Related codes
Source: Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (CMS, July 2026 release), national payment amount, non-facility setting. Last updated October 2026. This page is general information, not legal or medical advice. Rates change each year and a hospital bill can include charges that the benchmark does not cover.