CPT code 69915: Vestibular nerve section, transcanal approach2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Oregon
Reports surgical division of the vestibular nerve through a transcanal approach, typically to address severe vertigo from a unilateral inner-ear disorder.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 69915 in Oregon.
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 69915 covers
An otologist or neurotologist performs this operation through the ear canal to divide the vestibular nerve and reduce abnormal balance signals. A typical clinical setting is disabling vertigo from unilateral Ménière disease that has not responded to medical treatment. The operative report should identify the transcanal route and the nerve section performed; a different surgical approach may point to a different code in this family.
Report the procedure for the transcanal nerve section itself, not for removal of the labyrinth or a facial nerve operation. This major surgery has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When other procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. For bilateral surgery, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons require supporting documentation, and team surgery is 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 69915 pays more and less in Oregon
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Portland, OR | Unavailable | $1,343.87 |
| Rest of Oregon | Unavailable | $1,274.77 |
How the 69915 rate is calculated
Each of 69915’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 · 69915
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work22.20
22.20 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense13.75
13.75 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice3.23
3.23 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
39.1800
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,308.65
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 69915
69915 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 69915
Vestibular nerve section, transcanal approach
| 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) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.07/0.79/0.14 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 69915
Vestibular nerve section, transcanal approach
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
69915 without 50 · national facility
$1,308.65
Vestibular nerve section, transcanal approach
69915-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,962.98
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).
69915 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 69950Vestibular nerve sectionMiddle cranial fossa approach
- Use 69915 for vestibular nerve section by the transcanal route; use 69950 when the operative approach is through the middle cranial fossa.
- 69905LabyrinthectomyTranscanal approach
- 69905 describes labyrinth surgery rather than division of the vestibular nerve. Choose based on the procedure actually performed.
- 69910LabyrinthectomyMastoid approach
- 69910 is another labyrinth-removal procedure. It is not interchangeable with transcanal vestibular nerve section.
69915 billing questions
How is 69915 distinguished from 69950?
Both report vestibular nerve section, but 69915 is for the transcanal approach. 69950 is used for the middle cranial fossa approach.
Is 69915 the code for removing the labyrinth?
No. It reports division of the vestibular nerve. Labyrinth removal is represented by a different procedure, such as 69905 or 69910, depending on the operation performed.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during the 90 days after surgery.
How is bilateral surgery reported?
Use modifier 50 for bilateral performance; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is not permitted.
What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?
Under the standard multiple procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the other procedures are paid at 50%.
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
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