CPT code 43770: Gastric band placement, laparoscopic initial placement2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
Reports laparoscopic placement of an adjustable gastric band system to restrict stomach capacity as part of surgical treatment for obesity.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 43770 in California.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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On this page 9 sections
What 43770 covers
A bariatric or general surgeon uses a laparoscopic approach to place an adjustable band around the upper stomach and position its access port beneath the skin. The implanted system can later be adjusted to change the degree of restriction. The procedure is generally performed in a hospital or other surgical facility as part of a bariatric treatment plan; it is distinct from sleeve gastrectomy, which removes part of the stomach.
Report this code for the initial laparoscopic placement, not for later revision, removal, or replacement of an existing device. The operative report should support the laparoscopic approach and placement of the adjustable system. This major surgery has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures subject to the reduction are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is 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 43770 pays more and less in California
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
29 of 29 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | Unavailable | $1,049.85 |
| Chico, CA | Unavailable | $1,037.22 |
| El Centro, CA | Unavailable | $1,038.00 |
| Fresno, CA | Unavailable | $1,037.22 |
| Hanford, CA | Unavailable | $1,037.22 |
| Los Angeles, CA | Unavailable | $1,099.71 |
| Madera, CA | Unavailable | $1,037.22 |
| Marin County, CA | Unavailable | $1,173.11 |
| Merced, CA | Unavailable | $1,037.22 |
| Modesto, CA | Unavailable | $1,037.22 |
| Napa, CA | Unavailable | $1,132.08 |
| Oxnard, CA | Unavailable | $1,085.33 |
| Redding, CA | Unavailable | $1,037.22 |
| Rest of California | Unavailable | $1,037.22 |
| Riverside, CA | Unavailable | $1,087.57 |
| Sacramento, CA | Unavailable | $1,070.17 |
| Salinas, CA | Unavailable | $1,065.94 |
| San Benito County, CA | Unavailable | $1,204.41 |
| San Diego, CA | Unavailable | $1,078.34 |
| San Francisco, CA | Unavailable | $1,167.77 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | Unavailable | $1,051.22 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | Unavailable | $1,182.59 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | Unavailable | $1,078.31 |
| Santa Maria, CA | Unavailable | $1,066.46 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | Unavailable | $1,087.82 |
| Stockton, CA | Unavailable | $1,037.22 |
| Vallejo, CA | Unavailable | $1,124.39 |
| Visalia, CA | Unavailable | $1,037.22 |
| Yuba City, CA | Unavailable | $1,037.22 |
How the 43770 rate is calculated
Each of 43770’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.
How the rate is built · 43770
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work17.55
17.55 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense9.75
9.75 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice4.70
4.70 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
32.0000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,068.83
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 43770
43770 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 43770
Gastric band placement, laparoscopic initial placement
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.09/0.81/0.10 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 43770
Gastric band placement, laparoscopic initial placement
90-day global period ends
Dec 30, 2026
Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
43770 without 51 · national facility
$1,068.83
Gastric band placement, laparoscopic initial placement
43770-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$534.42
When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).
43770 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 43771Gastric device revisionLaparoscopic, component only
- Use 43770 for initial placement of the adjustable system. Use 43771 when the surgeon revises an existing device laparoscopically.
- 43773Gastric band surgeryComponent replacement
- 43773 is for laparoscopic replacement of an existing device; 43770 is for its initial placement.
- 43775Sleeve gastrectomyLaparoscopic approach
- 43775 describes laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, which removes part of the stomach. It is not placement of an adjustable band.
43770 billing questions
How is initial placement different from revision or replacement?
Use 43770 for initial laparoscopic placement of the adjustable gastric band system. Code 43771 describes laparoscopic revision, while 43773 describes replacement of an existing device.
Is this the code for a gastric band adjustment?
No. This code represents operative placement of the system, not a later adjustment of an already implanted band.
Does the 90-day global include routine postoperative care?
Yes. The global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can modifier 50 be used for placement on both sides?
No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this procedure; the code describes placement on the stomach, not a bilateral service.
How are multiple procedures in the same session paid?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures subject to the reduction are paid at 50%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.
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
Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
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