FeeBase
Log inGet started
Menu

CPT code 50949: Laparoscopic ureter surgery, unlisted procedure2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports laparoscopic ureter surgery when no specific CPT procedure code describes the operative service performed.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities877 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare rate · 50949

Laparoscopic ureter surgery, 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 50949 →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 50949 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 50949 covers

50949 identifies an unlisted laparoscopic operation involving the ureter when no named CPT code describes the operative service. A surgeon, commonly a urologist, may report it for laparoscopic ureteral work that is not represented by a more specific code. It is not a code for ureter evaluation alone or for a procedure that has its own applicable code. These operations are performed in surgical settings, commonly hospitals.

Medicare assigns physician fee schedule status C: CMS publishes no national payment, and the Medicare Administrative Contractor sets payment for each claim. The contractor also determines the global period. Medicare's bilateral procedure rule uses modifier 50, and its standard multiple-procedure reduction applies when procedures are performed in the same session.

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 50949 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

50949 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

50949 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
50949 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 50949 rate is calculated

Each of 50949’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 · 50949

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 50949

The CMS indicators that decide how 50949 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 50949

Laparoscopic ureter surgery, 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

50949 without 50 · national facility

$0.00

Laparoscopic ureter surgery, unlisted procedure

50949-50 · 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

50949 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

5 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 50949

    Laparoscopic ureter surgery, unlisted procedure0 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 50945

    Ureterolithotomy, laparoscopic approach17.52 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 50947

    Ureteral reimplantation, laparoscopic approach25.14 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 50948

    Ureteral reimplantation, laparoscopic, with bladder flap23.22 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 50900

    Ureter repair, direct suture repair14.66 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

50945UreterolithotomyLaparoscopic approach
50945 describes laparoscopic ureterolithotomy. Use 50949 only when no specific code describes the laparoscopic ureter procedure performed.
50947Ureteral reimplantationLaparoscopic approach
50947 is a listed laparoscopic ureter-to-bladder procedure code. Report it when it describes the operation rather than using the unlisted code.
50948Ureteral reimplantationLaparoscopic, with bladder flap
50948 is another listed laparoscopic ureter-to-bladder procedure code. Select it when it describes the operation; use 50949 for a different procedure without a specific code.
50900Ureter repairDirect suture repair
50900 describes ureter repair. Consider it when the service matches that repair; 50949 is for laparoscopic ureter work without a specific CPT procedure code.

Codes related to 50949

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

Codes related to 50949
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
50945Ureterolithotomy, laparoscopic approachUse this named laparoscopic code when the operation is ureterolithotomy.No office rate
50947Ureteral reimplantation, laparoscopic approachUse this listed laparoscopic ureter-to-bladder procedure code when it describes the operation.No office rate
50948Ureteral reimplantation, laparoscopic, with bladder flapUse this listed laparoscopic ureter-to-bladder procedure code when it describes the operation.No office rate
50900Ureter repair, direct suture repairConsider this specific ureter repair code when the service matches that repair.No office rate

50949 billing questions

When should 50949 be used instead of a named laparoscopic ureter code?

Use 50949 when no specific CPT code describes the laparoscopic ureter operation performed. If a listed code describes the service, such as ureterolithotomy, report that code instead.

What documentation should support 50949?

The operative report should describe the ureteral problem, laparoscopic approach, and work performed, and explain why a listed procedure code does not describe the operation.

Who sets Medicare payment and the global period?

The Medicare Administrative Contractor sets payment for each claim and determines the global period. CMS publishes no national payment for this status C code.

How should bilateral work be reported?

Medicare's bilateral procedure rule uses modifier 50. The operative report should make clear when the service was performed on both ureters.

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

Did this answer your question about what 50949 pays?

Tell us what you were actually trying to work out. We’ll answer you directly, or build the page that does.

Fee sheets · Coming soon

Put 50949 and the rest of your codes on one sheet

Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.

Join the waitlist