CPT code 49329: Unlisted laparoscopy, abdomen, peritoneum, or omentum2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

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

What 49329 covers

Code 49329 identifies a laparoscopic abdominal operation involving the peritoneum or omentum when no more specific CPT laparoscopic procedure code describes the work. The surgeon uses a laparoscope and operative instruments to perform the documented procedure. General surgeons and other surgeons performing abdominal procedures may report it in a surgical setting. The operative note should identify the target anatomy, laparoscopic technique, purpose, and work completed, distinguishing the operation from diagnostic laparoscopy, biopsy, aspiration, or a named therapeutic procedure.

Medicare assigns this CPT code physician fee schedule status C: CMS publishes no national payment, and the Medicare Administrative Contractor prices each claim. The contractor also sets the global period. CMS's multiple-procedure reduction applies when other procedures are performed in the same session. For a bilateral service, modifier 50 is used under CMS's bilateral pricing rule. Documentation should explain why the operation is unlisted and support review of the claim.

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 49329 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

49329 rates by state

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

How the 49329 rate is calculated

Each of 49329’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 49329

The CMS indicators that decide how 49329 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 50

49329 compared with similar codes

How to choose

49320Diagnostic laparoscopyAbdomen and peritoneum

49320 is for diagnostic laparoscopy. Choose 49329 when the laparoscopic abdominal operation is not described by a specific listed procedure code.

49321Laparoscopic biopsyTissue sampling

49321 identifies laparoscopic biopsy. Do not use 49329 when biopsy is the procedure represented by the listed code.

49322Laparoscopic aspirationCyst or cavity

49322 identifies laparoscopic aspiration. Use 49329 only when the operation is not specifically described by that or another listed code.

49323Lymphocele drainageLaparoscopic approach

49323 is specific to laparoscopic drainage of a lymphocele; 49329 is for an abdominal laparoscopic operation without a fitting specific code.

Codes related to 49329

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