CPT code 30400: Nasal reconstruction, lateral or alar cartilage, or tip2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $1,196.09 for 30400 nationally in a facility.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 30400 covers

This code describes a first-time rhinoplasty involving the lateral or alar cartilages, elevation of the nasal tip, or both. An otolaryngologist or plastic surgeon may perform it in a hospital or ambulatory surgical setting to address a documented nasal deformity. It represents a more limited primary operation than codes that include broader external nasal reconstruction or major septal repair.

Select the code from the operative report’s documented work, not simply the diagnosis or the fact that the patient has never had rhinoplasty. The record should identify the treated anatomy, surgical steps, and indication supporting payment in the specific circumstances CMS recognizes; cosmetic intent alone does not establish coverage. The service has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. An assistant is paid only when medical necessity is documented; co-surgeon and team-surgery billing are not permitted.

This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.

Where 30400 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

30400 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

How the 30400 rate is calculated

Each of 30400’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.

Payment rules and modifiers for 30400

30400 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 51

30400 compared with similar codes

How to choose

30410RhinoplastyPrimary, complete external reconstruction

Both describe primary rhinoplasty, but 30410 represents broader external nasal reconstruction. Base selection on the operative scope, not the general label of rhinoplasty.

30420RhinoplastyWith major septal repair

Choose 30420 when major septal repair is part of the primary rhinoplasty; 30400 describes the more limited cartilage or tip work.

30430Nose revisionMinor secondary revision

30430 is for minor secondary rhinoplasty after prior nasal surgery. 30400 describes a primary operation, not revision work.

Codes related to 30400

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.

CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates