CPT code 50549: Renal laparoscopy, unlisted procedure2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Georgia
Reports laparoscopic kidney surgery when no specific listed renal procedure describes the operation, with claim payment set individually by the Medicare contractor.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 50549 in Georgia.
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 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 in Georgia
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Rest of Georgia | Unavailable | Unavailable |
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
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
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | YYY | The Medicare contractor sets the global period. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 1 | Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician 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).
50549 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
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.
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.
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