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CPT code 69100: Ear biopsy, auricle, not ear canal2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Iowa

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 Iowa, Medicare pays $85.69 for 69100 in the office and $35.26 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$85.69Office (non-facility)
$35.26Hospital or facility
−7.4%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 Iowa
  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 Iowa 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. Iowa pays $85.69. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

69100 in Iowa vs other payment areas
  1. Iowa · this page$85.69
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$104.49+$18.80
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$105.57+$19.88
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$98.71+$13.02
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$96.05+$10.36
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$105.91+$20.22
  7. Alaska · Alaska$108.81+$23.12

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

Every other payment area

69100 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$83.53$35.31
ArkansasArkansas$82.39$35.05
ArizonaArizona$90.21$36.80
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$98.23$37.83
Chico, CACalifornia$98.01$37.61
El Centro, CACalifornia$98.02$37.62
Fresno, CACalifornia$98.01$37.61
Hanford, CACalifornia$98.01$37.61

69100 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.

$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 Iowa 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

53

Locality
Iowa
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.915
Malpractice
0.397
Office calculation for 69100 in Iowa
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.79× 1.0000.7900
Practice expense1.91× 0.9151.7476
Malpractice0.07× 0.3970.0278
Total RVUs2.5654
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Iowa$85.69

Office: (0.79 × 1 + 1.91 × 0.915 + 0.07 × 0.397) × $33.4009 = $85.69

Facility: (0.79 × 1 + 0.26 × 0.915 + 0.07 × 0.397) × $33.4009 = $35.26

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

Codes related to 69100

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

Codes related to 69100
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Iowa
Used instead
69105Ear canal biopsy, external auditory canalBiopsy of a lesion in the external auditory canal rather than the visible external ear.$132.17
69110Auricular excision, partial auricleFor partial removal of external-ear tissue when removal, rather than diagnostic sampling, is performed.$430.51
Often billed with
88305Tissue pathology exam, level IV specimenA laboratory may report a separately performed surgical pathology examination of submitted biopsy tissue.$65.91

How 69100 has changed in Iowa

69100 · Office / nonfacility

$85.69

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $1.01 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $84.68 to $85.69 (1.2%).

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

    $84.68changed to$85.69

    • 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
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.913 changed to 0.915
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.457 changed to 0.397

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $88.20changed to$84.68

    • 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

    $86.76changed to$88.20

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $90.31changed to$86.76

    • 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
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.910 changed to 0.913
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.441 changed to 0.457

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $91.50changed to$90.31

    • 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
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.907 changed to 0.910
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.425 changed to 0.441

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $93.21changed to$91.50

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 2.01 changed to 1.98

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $92.48changed to$93.21

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 1.89 changed to 2.01
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.424 changed to 0.425

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $91.99changed to$92.48

    • 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
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.423 changed to 0.424

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $94.51changed to$91.99

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 1.95 changed to 1.87

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $93.68changed to$94.51

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 1.94 changed to 1.95
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.902 changed to 0.907
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.458 changed to 0.423

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $92.86changed to$93.68

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 1.93 changed to 1.94
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.896 changed to 0.902
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.493 changed to 0.458

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $93.34changed to$92.86

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 1.94 changed to 1.93
    • Malpractice RVU 0.10 changed to 0.11

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $92.87changed to$93.34

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $90.64changed to$92.87

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 1.87 changed to 1.94
    • Malpractice RVU 0.11 changed to 0.10
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.892 changed to 0.896
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.475 changed to 0.493

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $93.55changed to$90.64

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 2.13 changed to 1.87
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.887 changed to 0.892
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.456 changed to 0.475

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $93.55

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$85.69$35.26RVU26D
2026-07-01$85.69$35.26RVU26C
2026-04-01$85.69$35.26RVU26B
2026-01-01$85.69$35.26RVU26A
2025-10-01$84.68$41.85RVU25D
2025-07-01$84.68$41.85RVU25C
2025-04-01$84.68$41.85RVU25B
2025-01-01$84.68$41.85RVU25A
2024-10-01$88.20$42.92RVU24D
2024-07-01$88.20$42.92RVU24C
2024-04-01$88.20$42.92RVU24B
2024-03-09$88.20$42.92RVU24AR
2024-01-01$86.76$42.22RVU24A
2023-10-01$90.31$43.74RVU23D
2023-07-01$90.31$43.74RVU23C
2023-04-01$90.31$43.74RVU23B
2023-01-01$90.31$43.74RVU23A
2022-10-01$91.50$43.79RVU22D
2022-07-01$91.50$43.79RVU22C
2022-04-01$91.50$43.79RVU22B
2022-01-01$91.50$43.79RVU22A
2021-10-01$93.21$44.16RVU21D
2021-07-01$93.21$44.16RVU21C
2021-04-01$93.21$44.16RVU21B
2021-01-01$93.21$44.16RVU21A
2020-10-01$92.48$45.99RVU20D
2020-07-01$92.48$45.99RVU20C
2020-04-01$92.48$45.99RVU20B
2020-01-01$92.48$45.99RVU20A
2019-10-01$91.99$46.56RVU19D
2019-07-01$91.99$46.56RVU19C
2019-04-01$91.99$46.56RVU19B
2019-01-01$91.99$46.56RVU19A
2018-10-01$94.51$46.83RVU18D
2018-07-01$94.51$46.83RVU18C
2018-04-01$94.51$46.83RVU18B
2018-01-01$94.51$46.83RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$93.68$46.74RVU17D
2017-07-01$93.68$46.74RVU17C
2017-04-01$93.68$46.74RVU17B
2017-01-01$93.68$46.74RVU17A
2016-10-01$92.86$46.66RVU16D
2016-07-01$92.86$46.66RVU16C
2016-04-01$92.86$46.66RVU16B
2016-01-01$92.86$46.66RVU16A
2015-10-01$93.34$46.65RVU15D
2015-07-01$93.34$46.65RVU15C
2015-04-01$92.87$46.42RVU15B
2015-01-01$92.87$46.42RVU15A
2014-10-01$90.64$46.23RVU14D
2014-07-01$90.64$46.23RVU14C
2014-04-01$90.64$46.23RVU14B
2014-01-01$90.64$46.23RVU14A
2013-10-01$93.55$45.26RVU13D
2013-07-01$93.55$45.26RVU13C
2013-04-01$93.55$45.26RVU13B
2013-01-01$93.55$45.26RVU13AR

Price 69100 for an earlier date of service

Where the Iowa rate applies

Iowa is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1026 cities and communities in Iowa. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Ackley
  • Ackworth
  • Adair
  • Adel
  • Afton
  • Agency
  • Ainsworth
  • Akron

Browse all communities in Iowa

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 IowaGPCI2026.csv, line 53 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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