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CPT code 50549: Renal laparoscopy, unlisted procedure2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports laparoscopic kidney surgery when no specific listed renal procedure describes the operation, with claim payment set individually by the Medicare contractor.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities169 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare rate · 50549

Renal 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 50549 →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 50549 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 50549 covers

Code 50549 represents laparoscopic surgery involving the kidney when no more specific listed laparoscopic renal procedure describes the work. Urologists may report it for a renal operation that does not fit a named procedure code. The operative report should identify the renal target, indication, laparoscopic approach, work performed, and why a listed code does not describe the service. A comparable listed renal procedure can help characterize the work for review.

Medicare assigns 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. Standard multiple-procedure reduction applies when procedures are performed in the same session. For bilateral reporting, modifier 50 applies. Report the unlisted operation itself rather than separate units for ports or operative steps.

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 50549 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

50549 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

50549 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
50549 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 50549 rate is calculated

Each of 50549’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 · 50549

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 50549

The CMS indicators that decide how 50549 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 50549

Renal 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

50549 without 50 · national facility

$0.00

Renal laparoscopy, unlisted procedure

50549-50 · 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

50549 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 50549

    Renal laparoscopy, unlisted procedure0 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 50542

    Renal mass ablation, laparoscopic approach20.83 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 50543

    Partial nephrectomy, laparoscopic approach26.72 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 50544

    Pyeloplasty, laparoscopic approach22.79 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

50542Renal mass ablationLaparoscopic approach
50542 describes laparoscopic ablation of a renal mass. Use 50549 only when no specific listed code accurately represents the laparoscopic renal procedure performed.
50543Partial nephrectomyLaparoscopic approach
50543 describes laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. Report it when that operation was performed rather than using the unlisted code.
50544PyeloplastyLaparoscopic approach
50544 describes laparoscopic pyeloplasty. Use 50549 only for different laparoscopic renal work without a specific listed code.

Codes related to 50549

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

Codes related to 50549
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
50541Renal cyst ablation, laparoscopic approachUse for laparoscopic renal cyst ablation when that named operation describes the service.No office rate
50542Renal mass ablation, laparoscopic approachUse for laparoscopic renal mass ablation when that named operation describes the service.No office rate
50543Partial nephrectomy, laparoscopic approachUse for laparoscopic partial nephrectomy when that named operation describes the service.No office rate
50544Pyeloplasty, laparoscopic approachUse for laparoscopic pyeloplasty when that named operation describes the service.No office rate
50545Radical nephrectomy, laparoscopic approachUse for laparoscopic radical nephrectomy when that named operation describes the service.No office rate
50546Nephrectomy, laparoscopic, partial ureterectomyUse for laparoscopic nephrectomy when that named operation describes the service.No office rate
50547Donor nephrectomy, laparoscopic procurementUse for laparoscopic donor kidney removal when that named operation describes the service.No office rate
50548Nephroureterectomy, laparoscopic, total ureterectomyUse for laparoscopic removal of a kidney and ureter when that named operation describes the service.No office rate

50549 billing questions

When should 50549 be used instead of a listed laparoscopic renal code?

Use 50549 when no specific listed code describes the laparoscopic renal operation performed. If a listed code accurately represents the procedure, report that code instead.

What documentation should accompany 50549?

Document the renal target, indication, laparoscopic approach, operative work, and why a listed code does not describe the service. Include the operative report to support the contractor's claim review.

How does Medicare price 50549?

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

How should units be reported?

The code represents the unlisted laparoscopic renal procedure, not each port or operative step. Do not report those components as separate units of 50549.

Can modifier 50 be reported?

Yes. Modifier 50 applies when reporting a bilateral procedure.

Who sets the global period for 50549?

The Medicare contractor sets the global period for this code.

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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