CPT code 64742: Facial nerve surgery, extracranial nerve division2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Reports deliberate surgical division or avulsion of the facial nerve outside the skull, when the operative plan specifically targets that nerve.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 64742 in Illinois.
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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What 64742 covers
This code represents deliberate division or avulsion of the facial nerve outside the skull. It is a specialized operation performed by a surgeon working in the facial nerve region, commonly in a hospital operating room. The operative record should identify the facial nerve as the structure treated and establish that the procedure was a transection or avulsion, rather than nerve exploration, decompression, repair, or revision.
Report the code for the extracranial facial nerve procedure, not for a different named facial sensory nerve. Document the side, anatomic site, extent of nerve treatment, and clinical reason for the operation. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. For bilateral performance, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
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 64742 pays more and less in Illinois
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | Unavailable | $450.08 |
| East St. Louis, IL | Unavailable | $427.97 |
| Rest of Illinois | Unavailable | $418.99 |
| Suburban Chicago, IL | Unavailable | $445.25 |
How the 64742 rate is calculated
Each of 64742’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 · 64742
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work6.68
6.68 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense5.55
5.55 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.51
0.51 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
12.7400
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$425.53
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 64742
64742 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 64742
Facial nerve surgery, extracranial nerve division
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included. |
| 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) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.11/0.76/0.13 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 64742
Facial nerve surgery, extracranial nerve division
90-day global period ends
Dec 30, 2026
Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
64742 without 50 · national facility
$425.53
Facial nerve surgery, extracranial nerve division
64742-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$638.30
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).
64742 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 64716Cranial nerve surgeryRelease or repositioning
- 64716 describes cranial nerve revision. Choose 64742 when the documented operation divides or avulses the extracranial facial nerve.
- 64732Brow nerve surgerySupraorbital or supratrochlear nerve
- 64732 is for the supraorbital nerve. It does not describe treatment of the facial nerve.
- 64771Cranial nerve transectionOther nerve, intracranial
- 64771 applies to transection or avulsion of another cranial nerve; 64742 specifically identifies the extracranial facial nerve.
64742 billing questions
How is this code distinguished from facial sensory nerve procedures?
Use 64742 for division or avulsion of the facial nerve itself outside the skull. Codes such as 64732 and 64734 identify different, specifically named sensory nerves in the face.
What documentation supports reporting 64742?
The operative report should identify the facial nerve, confirm its extracranial location, describe the division or avulsion performed, and specify the side and clinical rationale.
Can modifier 50 be used when both sides are treated?
Yes. CMS lists this as a bilateral procedure; modifier 50 is paid at 150% when the service is performed bilaterally.
What postoperative care is included in the payment?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care for 90 days after surgery.
May an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. CMS does not permit co-surgeons or team surgery 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
Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
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