CPT code 69100: Ear biopsy, auricle, not ear canal2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in San Benito County, CA

Reports tissue sampling of a lesion on the visible external ear, such as the pinna, for histologic diagnosis rather than ear-canal biopsy.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality170.2K Medicare services in 2024

In San Benito County, CA, Medicare pays $122.54 for 69100 in the office and $43.07 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$122.54Office (non-facility)
$43.07Hospital or facility
+32.4%vs the national office rate ($92.52)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 69100 nationwide

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

We’ll open 69100 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in San Benito County, CA
  2. What 69100 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 69100 covers

This service obtains tissue from the visible external ear, such as the auricle or pinna, when a lesion requires histologic diagnosis. Otolaryngologists and dermatologists commonly perform it in an office or procedure room. The sampled structure distinguishes this code from a biopsy of the external auditory canal: a lesion on the pinna is the relevant site, not a lesion deeper in the canal.

Choose the code according to the biopsy site and service performed. Document the exact ear subsite, lesion, reason for sampling, and procedure performed. A 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery, and 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.

How San Benito County, CA compares for 69100

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 69100 runs from $82.39 in Arkansas to $122.54 in San Benito County, CA. San Benito County, CA pays $122.54. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

69100 in San Benito County, CA vs other payment areas
  1. San Benito County, CA · this page$122.54
  2. Bakersfield, CA · California$98.23−$24.31
  3. Chico, CA · California$98.01−$24.53
  4. El Centro, CA · California$98.02−$24.52
  5. Fresno, CA · California$98.01−$24.53
  6. Hanford, CA · California$98.01−$24.53
  7. Los Angeles, CA · California$104.49−$18.05

Other areas in California first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

69100 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Madera, CACalifornia$98.01$37.61
Merced, CACalifornia$98.01$37.61
Modesto, CACalifornia$98.01$37.61
Napa, CACalifornia$113.32$40.68
Oxnard, CACalifornia$103.99$38.85
Redding, CACalifornia$98.01$37.61
Rest of CaliforniaCalifornia$98.01$37.61
Riverside, CACalifornia$98.78$38.37

69100 rates by state

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

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.

$82.39

$110.28

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
69100 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$108.811
AL$83.531
AR$82.391
AZ$90.211
CA$98.01–$122.5429
CO$96.411
CT$98.451
DC$105.571
DE$91.651
FL$90.89–$98.713
GA$86.08–$94.092
GU$100.281
HI$100.281
IA$85.691
ID$86.181
IL$88.29–$96.234
IN$86.661
KS$85.241
KY$85.241
LA$85.09–$89.072
MA$95.85–$105.722
MD$93.36–$105.573
ME$86.53–$91.082
MI$87.27–$91.892
MN$92.721
MO$83.66–$89.463
MS$83.041
MT$92.521
NC$87.401
ND$91.131
NE$86.151
NH$94.841
NJ$99.67–$104.552
NM$87.701
NV$92.191
NY$88.64–$108.275
OH$86.991
OK$85.171
OR$91.57–$99.432
PA$87.16–$96.062
PR$93.191
RI$94.871
SC$87.321
SD$90.971
TN$85.631
TX$86.61–$96.018
UT$88.451
VA$90.75–$105.572
VI$93.191
VT$90.731
WA$95.69–$107.892
WI$88.221
WV$85.171
WY$91.911

See 69100 in every payment locality

How the 69100 rate is calculated

Each of 69100’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 · 69100

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.79

0.79 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense1.91

1.91 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.07

0.07 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

2.7700

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$92.52

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

The exact San Benito County, CA inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

7,584

Code
69100
Physician work
0.79
Practice expense
1.91
Malpractice
0.07

GPCI2026.csv

26

Locality
San Benito County, CA
Physician work
1.110
Practice expense
1.442
Malpractice
0.536
Office calculation for 69100 in San Benito County, CA
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.79× 1.1100.8769
Practice expense1.91× 1.4422.7542
Malpractice0.07× 0.5360.0375
Total RVUs3.6686
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, San Benito County, CA$122.54

Office: (0.79 × 1.11 + 1.91 × 1.442 + 0.07 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $122.54

Facility: (0.79 × 1.11 + 0.26 × 1.442 + 0.07 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $43.07

Open 69100 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 69100

The CMS indicators that decide how 69100 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 69100

Ear biopsy, auricle, not ear canal

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

69100 without 51 · national office

$92.52

Ear biopsy, auricle, not ear canal

69100-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$46.26

When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).

When to use modifier 51

How 69100 has changed in San Benito County, CA

69100 · Office / nonfacility

$122.54

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $2.22 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $120.32 to $122.54 (1.8%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release
  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $120.32changed to$122.54

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.81 changed to 0.79
    • Practice expense RVU 1.94 changed to 1.91
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.07
    • Work GPCI 1.100 changed to 1.110
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.435 changed to 1.442
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.560 changed to 0.536

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $125.44changed to$120.32

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 1.97 changed to 1.94
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.08

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $123.39changed to$125.44

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $127.12changed to$123.39

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 1.99 changed to 1.97
    • Malpractice RVU 0.10 changed to 0.09
    • Work GPCI 1.098 changed to 1.100
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.409 changed to 1.435
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.579 changed to 0.560
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $127.34changed to$127.12

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 1.98 changed to 1.99
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.10
    • Work GPCI 1.096 changed to 1.098
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.383 changed to 1.409
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.597 changed to 0.579

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $125.79changed to$127.34

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 2.01 changed to 1.98
    • Work GPCI 1.084 changed to 1.096
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.330 changed to 1.383

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $120.46changed to$125.79

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 1.89 changed to 2.01
    • Work GPCI 1.072 changed to 1.084
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.279 changed to 1.330
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.580 changed to 0.597

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $114.75changed to$120.46

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 1.87 changed to 1.89
    • Malpractice RVU 0.11 changed to 0.09
    • Work GPCI 1.052 changed to 1.072
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.214 changed to 1.279
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.562 changed to 0.580

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $114.50changed to$114.75

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 1.95 changed to 1.87
    • Work GPCI 1.041 changed to 1.052
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.167 changed to 1.214

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $110.43changed to$114.50

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 1.94 changed to 1.95
    • Work GPCI 1.031 changed to 1.041
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.121 changed to 1.167
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.610 changed to 0.562

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    No ratechanged to$110.43

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D, RVU14A, RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D, RVU15A, RVU15B, RVU15C, RVU15D, RVU16A, RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$122.54$43.07RVU26D
2026-07-01$122.54$43.07RVU26C
2026-04-01$122.54$43.07RVU26B
2026-01-01$122.54$43.07RVU26A
2025-10-01$120.32$53.01RVU25D
2025-07-01$120.32$53.01RVU25C
2025-04-01$120.32$53.01RVU25B
2025-01-01$120.32$53.01RVU25A
2024-10-01$125.44$54.27RVU24D
2024-07-01$125.44$54.27RVU24C
2024-04-01$125.44$54.27RVU24B
2024-03-09$125.44$54.27RVU24AR
2024-01-01$123.39$53.38RVU24A
2023-10-01$127.12$55.02RVU23D
2023-07-01$127.12$55.02RVU23C
2023-04-01$127.12$55.02RVU23B
2023-01-01$127.12$55.02RVU23A
2022-10-01$127.34$54.60RVU22D
2022-07-01$127.34$54.60RVU22C
2022-04-01$127.34$54.60RVU22B
2022-01-01$127.34$54.60RVU22A
2021-10-01$125.79$53.86RVU21D
2021-07-01$125.79$53.86RVU21C
2021-04-01$125.79$53.86RVU21B
2021-01-01$125.79$53.86RVU21A
2020-10-01$120.46$54.92RVU20D
2020-07-01$120.46$54.92RVU20C
2020-04-01$120.46$54.92RVU20B
2020-01-01$120.46$54.92RVU20A
2019-10-01$114.75$53.94RVU19D
2019-07-01$114.75$53.94RVU19C
2019-04-01$114.75$53.94RVU19B
2019-01-01$114.75$53.94RVU19A
2018-10-01$114.50$53.17RVU18D
2018-07-01$114.50$53.17RVU18C
2018-04-01$114.50$53.17RVU18B
2018-01-01$114.50$53.17RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$110.43$52.09RVU17D
2017-07-01$110.43$52.09RVU17C
2017-04-01$110.43$52.09RVU17B
2017-01-01$110.43$52.09RVU17A
2016-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16D
2016-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16C
2016-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16B
2016-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16A
2015-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15D
2015-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15C
2015-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15B
2015-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15A
2014-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14D
2014-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14C
2014-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14B
2014-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14A
2013-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 69100 for an earlier date of service

Where the San Benito County, CA rate applies

San Benito County, CA is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 5 cities and communities in California. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • 69100 in Aromas · multiple payment areas
  • Hollister
  • Ridgemark
  • San Juan Bautista
  • Tres Pinos

Browse all communities in California

69100 billing questions

How is this different from 69105?

69100 is for tissue sampled from the visible external ear, such as the pinna. Use 69105 when the biopsy site is in the external auditory canal.

Can the pathology examination be billed separately?

The biopsy code represents tissue acquisition. A separately performed pathology examination may be reported by the responsible laboratory.

Should modifier 50 be used when both ears are biopsied?

No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code.

What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full; other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in the 0-day global period.

What documentation supports reporting this code?

Record the lesion, the precise external-ear site sampled, the reason for tissue diagnosis, and the biopsy performed. The documented site should distinguish the auricle or pinna from the ear canal.

Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

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
RVUs for 69100PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 7,584 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for San Benito County, CAGPCI2026.csv, line 26 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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