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CPT code 69200: Ear canal removal, without general anesthesia2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Report 69200 when a clinician removes a discrete foreign object from the external ear canal without general anesthesia, such as a bead or insect.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality48.5K Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $93.05 for 69200 in the office and $45.84 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$93.05Office (non-facility)
$45.84Hospital or facility
+13.7%vs the national office rate ($81.83)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 69200 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 69200 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 69200 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 69200 covers

This service covers removing a discrete object lodged in the external auditory canal, such as a bead in a child’s ear or an insect. A primary care clinician, emergency physician, or otolaryngologist may remove it with an instrument or another appropriate technique in an office, emergency department, or facility. The distinguishing feature is that the removal is performed without general anesthesia; removal under general anesthesia is represented by a different code.

Document the affected ear, the foreign object, the removal method, and the anesthesia circumstances. Medicare assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. For bilateral removal, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service; 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 Washington, DC area compares for 69200

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 69200 runs from $72.56 in Arkansas to $106.36 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $93.05. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

69200 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$93.05
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$91.34−$1.71
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$89.63−$3.42
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$87.03−$6.02
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$94.19+$1.14
  6. Alaska · Alaska$96.16+$3.11
  7. Alabama · Alabama$73.60−$19.45

Other areas in District of Columbia first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

69200 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$72.56$38.13
ArizonaArizona$79.66$40.82
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$85.97$42.04
Chico, CACalifornia$85.65$41.72
El Centro, CACalifornia$85.67$41.74
Fresno, CACalifornia$85.65$41.72
Hanford, CACalifornia$85.65$41.72
Madera, CACalifornia$85.65$41.72

69200 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.

$72.56

$96.16

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

View every state and territory as a table
69200 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$96.161
AL$73.601
AR$72.561
AZ$79.661
CA$85.65–$106.3629
CO$84.731
CT$87.191
DC$93.051
DE$80.951
FL$81.34–$89.633
GA$76.80–$83.502
GU$87.561
HI$87.561
IA$75.101
ID$75.651
IL$79.28–$87.034
IN$76.071
KS$74.911
KY$75.621
LA$75.57–$79.202
MA$84.30–$92.762
MD$82.42–$93.053
ME$76.19–$80.002
MI$77.69–$82.492
MN$80.791
MO$74.41–$79.293
MS$73.491
MT$81.821
NC$76.951
ND$79.651
NE$75.461
NH$83.551
NJ$88.08–$92.162
NM$78.161
NV$81.271
NY$78.09–$96.625
OH$77.241
OK$75.331
OR$80.53–$87.192
PA$77.28–$85.172
PR$82.361
RI$83.661
SC$77.241
SD$79.391
TN$75.301
TX$76.79–$84.548
UT$78.271
VA$79.85–$93.052
VI$82.361
VT$79.491
WA$84.09–$94.472
WI$77.061
WV$76.461
WY$80.881

See 69200 in every payment locality

How the 69200 rate is calculated

Each of 69200’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 · 69200

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.75

0.75 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense1.59

1.59 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.11

0.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

2.4500

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$81.83

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

The exact Washington, DC area inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

7,592

Code
69200
Physician work
0.75
Practice expense
1.59
Malpractice
0.11

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 69200 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.75× 1.0540.7905
Practice expense1.59× 1.1781.8730
Malpractice0.11× 1.1130.1224
Total RVUs2.7860
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$93.05

Office: (0.75 × 1.054 + 1.59 × 1.178 + 0.11 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $93.05

Facility: (0.75 × 1.054 + 0.39 × 1.178 + 0.11 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $45.84

Open 69200 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 69200

The CMS indicators that decide how 69200 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 69200

Ear canal removal, without general anesthesia

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)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
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 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

69200 without 50 · national office

$81.83

Ear canal removal, without general anesthesia

69200-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$122.75

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

Codes related to 69200

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

Codes related to 69200
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Same family
69205Ear foreign body removal, with general anesthesiaForeign-body removal from the external ear canal when general anesthesia is used.No office rate
Used instead
69209Earwax removal, irrigation or lavageUse for impacted cerumen removed by irrigation or lavage, not a discrete foreign object.$20.04
69210Impacted ear wax removal, instrumentation, unilateralUse for impacted cerumen requiring instrumentation, not a discrete foreign object.$53.67

How 69200 has changed in Washington, DC area

69200 · Office / nonfacility

$93.05

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $3.20 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $89.85 to $93.05 (3.6%).

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

    $89.85changed to$93.05

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.77 changed to 0.75
    • Practice expense RVU 1.53 changed to 1.59
    • Malpractice RVU 0.12 changed to 0.11
    • Work GPCI 1.057 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.192 changed to 1.178
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.168 changed to 1.113

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $92.47changed to$89.85

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 1.54 changed to 1.53
    • Malpractice RVU 0.11 changed to 0.12

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $90.97changed to$92.47

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $95.09changed to$90.97

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 1.53 changed to 1.54
    • Work GPCI 1.056 changed to 1.057
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.214 changed to 1.192
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.231 changed to 1.168

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $97.17changed to$95.09

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 1.50 changed to 1.53
    • Work GPCI 1.054 changed to 1.056
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.236 changed to 1.214
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.294 changed to 1.231

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $98.41changed to$97.17

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 1.51 changed to 1.50

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $97.23changed to$98.41

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 1.43 changed to 1.51
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.221 changed to 1.236
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.277 changed to 1.294

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $96.51changed to$97.23

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 1.45 changed to 1.43
    • Malpractice RVU 0.10 changed to 0.11
    • Work GPCI 1.045 changed to 1.049
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.221
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.261 changed to 1.277

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $96.84changed to$96.51

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 1.46 changed to 1.45

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $97.53changed to$96.84

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 1.48 changed to 1.46
    • Work GPCI 1.048 changed to 1.045
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.271 changed to 1.261

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $118.12changed to$97.53

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 1.96 changed to 1.48
    • Work GPCI 1.051 changed to 1.048
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.280 changed to 1.271

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $147.56changed to$118.12

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 2.63 changed to 1.96

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $146.82changed to$147.56

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $146.52changed to$146.82

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Work GPCI 1.050 changed to 1.051
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.202 changed to 1.205
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.280

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $151.16changed to$146.52

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 2.94 changed to 2.63
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.050
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.198 changed to 1.202
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.130 changed to 1.205

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $151.16

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$93.05$45.84RVU26D
2026-07-01$93.05$45.84RVU26C
2026-04-01$93.05$45.84RVU26B
2026-01-01$93.05$45.84RVU26A
2025-10-01$89.85$52.07RVU25D
2025-07-01$89.85$52.07RVU25C
2025-04-01$89.85$52.07RVU25B
2025-01-01$89.85$52.07RVU25A
2024-10-01$92.47$52.80RVU24D
2024-07-01$92.47$52.80RVU24C
2024-04-01$92.47$52.80RVU24B
2024-03-09$92.47$52.80RVU24AR
2024-01-01$90.97$51.93RVU24A
2023-10-01$95.09$53.95RVU23D
2023-07-01$95.09$53.95RVU23C
2023-04-01$95.09$53.95RVU23B
2023-01-01$95.09$53.95RVU23A
2022-10-01$97.17$54.83RVU22D
2022-07-01$97.17$54.83RVU22C
2022-04-01$97.17$54.83RVU22B
2022-01-01$97.17$54.83RVU22A
2021-10-01$98.41$54.42RVU21D
2021-07-01$98.41$54.42RVU21C
2021-04-01$98.41$54.42RVU21B
2021-01-01$98.41$54.42RVU21A
2020-10-01$97.23$54.93RVU20D
2020-07-01$97.23$54.93RVU20C
2020-04-01$97.23$54.93RVU20B
2020-01-01$97.23$54.93RVU20A
2019-10-01$96.51$54.39RVU19D
2019-07-01$96.51$54.39RVU19C
2019-04-01$96.51$54.39RVU19B
2019-01-01$96.51$54.39RVU19A
2018-10-01$96.84$54.33RVU18D
2018-07-01$96.84$54.33RVU18C
2018-04-01$96.84$54.33RVU18B
2018-01-01$96.84$54.33RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$97.53$54.71RVU17D
2017-07-01$97.53$54.71RVU17C
2017-04-01$97.53$54.71RVU17B
2017-01-01$97.53$54.71RVU17A
2016-10-01$118.12$54.70RVU16D
2016-07-01$118.12$54.70RVU16C
2016-04-01$118.12$54.70RVU16B
2016-01-01$118.12$54.70RVU16A
2015-10-01$147.56$67.89RVU15D
2015-07-01$147.56$67.89RVU15C
2015-04-01$146.82$67.55RVU15B
2015-01-01$146.82$67.55RVU15A
2014-10-01$146.52$67.73RVU14D
2014-07-01$146.52$67.73RVU14C
2014-04-01$146.52$67.73RVU14B
2014-01-01$146.52$67.73RVU14A
2013-10-01$151.16$67.19RVU13D
2013-07-01$151.16$67.19RVU13C
2013-04-01$151.16$67.19RVU13B
2013-01-01$151.16$67.19RVU13AR

Price 69200 for an earlier date of service

Where the Washington, DC area rate applies

Washington, DC area is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1 cities and communities in District of Columbia. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Washington

Browse all communities in District of Columbia

69200 billing questions

How does 69200 differ from 69205?

69200 is for foreign-body removal without general anesthesia. Use 69205 when removal is performed under general anesthesia.

Can 69200 be reported for impacted earwax?

No. For impacted cerumen, choose the cerumen-removal code that matches the method: irrigation or lavage versus instrumentation.

How is removal from both ears reported?

For bilateral removal, report modifier 50; Medicare pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.

Is same-day evaluation separately included?

The code has a 0-day global period, which includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care.

What documentation supports 69200?

Record the ear treated, the discrete foreign object removed, the technique, and whether general anesthesia was used.

How does Medicare handle other procedures performed in the same session?

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are paid at 50%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery, and co-surgeons or 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 69200PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 7,592 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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