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CPT code 47579: Unlisted biliary laparoscopy, unlisted procedure2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Report this code for laparoscopic surgery involving the biliary tract when no more specific CPT code describes the procedure performed.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities232 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare rate · 47579

Unlisted biliary laparoscopy, unlisted procedure

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
0
Total RVUs
0.00
Global days
YYY

National rate · 2026

—

Not priced in the facility setting.

See every locality for 47579 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

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

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 47579 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 47579 covers

This unlisted code identifies laparoscopic surgery on the biliary tract that is not represented by a more specific CPT procedure code. A surgeon reports it for operative work performed through laparoscopic access when the documented service does not match a defined biliary procedure. It is not the code for a routine laparoscopic gallbladder removal, with or without cholangiography, or with common bile duct exploration; those procedures have specific codes.

Medicare assigns this CPT Category I code physician fee schedule status C, or carrier priced. CMS publishes no national payment, and the Medicare Administrative Contractor sets payment for each claim. The contractor also sets the global period. Standard multiple-procedure reduction applies when qualifying procedures are performed in the same session. The operative report should clearly describe the laparoscopic technique, biliary anatomy treated, and work performed so the contractor can assess the unlisted service.

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 47579 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

47579 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailableUnavailable
AlaskaUnavailableUnavailable
ArizonaUnavailableUnavailable
ArkansasUnavailableUnavailable
Atlanta, GAUnavailableUnavailable
Austin, TXUnavailableUnavailable
Bakersfield, CAUnavailableUnavailable
Baltimore area, MDUnavailableUnavailable
Beaumont, TXUnavailableUnavailable
Brazoria, TXUnavailableUnavailable

47579 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

View every state and territory as a table
47579 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 47579 rate is calculated

Each of 47579’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 · 47579

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

0.0000

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$0.00

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 47579

The CMS indicators that decide how 47579 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 47579

Unlisted biliary laparoscopy, unlisted procedure

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodYYYThe Medicare contractor sets the global period.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
Team surgery (66)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

47579 without 50 · national facility

$0.00

Unlisted biliary laparoscopy, unlisted procedure

47579-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$0.00

Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).

When to use modifier 50

47579 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

5 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 47579

    Unlisted biliary laparoscopy, unlisted procedure0 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 47562

    Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, without cholangiography or exploration10.21 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 47563

    Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, with cholangiography11.18 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 47564

    Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, with common duct exploration17.55 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 47553

    Biliary endoscopy, with biopsy6.18 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

47562Laparoscopic cholecystectomyWithout cholangiography or exploration
47562 describes laparoscopic gallbladder removal. Use 47579 only when the biliary operation performed is not represented by a specific code.
47563Laparoscopic cholecystectomyWith cholangiography
47563 applies to laparoscopic gallbladder removal with cholangiography; it is not a general code for unlisted biliary work.
47564Laparoscopic cholecystectomyWith common duct exploration
47564 describes laparoscopic gallbladder removal with common bile duct exploration. A different laparoscopic biliary operation may require 47579 if no specific code fits.
47553Biliary endoscopyWith biopsy
47553 describes biliary endoscopy through a percutaneous approach. Code 47579 is for an unlisted laparoscopic procedure, not that defined endoscopic service.

Codes related to 47579

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

Codes related to 47579
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
47562Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, without cholangiography or explorationUse for laparoscopic gallbladder removal when the operation matches that defined procedure.No office rate
47563Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, with cholangiographyUse when laparoscopic gallbladder removal includes cholangiography as described by this code.No office rate
47564Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, with common duct explorationUse when laparoscopic gallbladder removal includes common bile duct exploration as described by this code.No office rate
47570Biliary bypass, laparoscopic approachUse for the specifically described laparoscopic gallbladder-to-intestine connection procedure.No office rate

47579 billing questions

When should 47579 be used instead of a specific laparoscopic biliary code?

Use it only when no specific CPT code describes the laparoscopic biliary procedure performed. Select a defined code when the operation is a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, with or without the additional work described by that code.

Can 47579 be used for a routine laparoscopic cholecystectomy?

No. Use the specific cholecystectomy code that matches the operation, including whether cholangiography or common bile duct exploration was performed.

What documentation supports an unlisted-code claim?

The operative report should identify the laparoscopic approach, the biliary anatomy treated, the steps performed, and why a specific CPT procedure code does not describe the service.

How does Medicare price 47579?

It has physician fee schedule status C: CMS publishes no national payment, and the Medicare Administrative Contractor sets payment for each claim.

Who sets the global period for this code?

The Medicare contractor sets the global period for 47579.

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

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