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CPT code 69949: Inner ear procedure, unlisted procedure2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports an otherwise unlisted inner-ear operation when no more specific CPT procedure code describes the service performed.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities92 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare rate · 69949

Inner ear procedure, unlisted procedure

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
0
Total RVUs
0.00
Global days
YYY

National rate · 2026

—

Not priced in the facility setting.

See every locality for 69949 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

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

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 69949 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 69949 covers

CPT 69949 is for an operation on the inner ear that no more specific CPT procedure code describes. It differs from named codes for inner-ear removal, inner-ear nerve surgery, lesion removal, and cochlear implantation; those codes apply when their defined service matches the operation. Select 69949 based on the work performed, not simply because an operation is uncommon or technically complex.

For Medicare physician fee schedule purposes, its status is carrier priced (status C): CMS publishes no national payment, and the Medicare Administrative Contractor sets payment for each claim. The contractor also sets the global period. When 69949 is performed with other procedures in the same session, the standard multiple-procedure reduction applies; the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others are reduced. A bilateral procedure reported with modifier 50 follows the CMS bilateral payment rule.

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 69949 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

69949 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailableUnavailable
AlaskaUnavailableUnavailable
ArizonaUnavailableUnavailable
ArkansasUnavailableUnavailable
Atlanta, GAUnavailableUnavailable
Austin, TXUnavailableUnavailable
Bakersfield, CAUnavailableUnavailable
Baltimore area, MDUnavailableUnavailable
Beaumont, TXUnavailableUnavailable
Brazoria, TXUnavailableUnavailable

69949 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.

View every state and territory as a table
69949 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 69949 rate is calculated

Each of 69949’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 · 69949

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

0.0000

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$0.00

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 69949

The CMS indicators that decide how 69949 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 69949

Inner ear procedure, unlisted procedure

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodYYYThe Medicare contractor sets the global period.
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)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
Team surgery (66)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

69949 without 50 · national facility

$0.00

Inner ear procedure, unlisted procedure

69949-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$0.00

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

69949 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

5 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 69949

    Inner ear procedure, unlisted procedure0 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 69905

    Labyrinthectomy, transcanal approach10.98 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 69915

    Vestibular nerve section, transcanal approach22.2 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 69970

    Inner ear surgery, focal lesion removal31.6 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 69979

    Temporal bone surgery, unlisted procedure0 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

69905LabyrinthectomyTranscanal approach
69905 describes a defined inner-ear removal operation. Use 69949 only when that code does not describe the service performed.
69915Vestibular nerve sectionTranscanal approach
69915 describes a specific inner-ear nerve procedure. Use 69949 when no named code describes the nerve operation performed.
69970Inner ear surgeryFocal lesion removal
69970 describes removal of an inner-ear lesion. Use 69949 for a different inner-ear operation without a more specific code.
69979Temporal bone surgeryUnlisted procedure
69979 is for an unlisted temporal-bone procedure; 69949 is for an unlisted inner-ear procedure. Choose according to the operative site.

Codes related to 69949

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

Codes related to 69949
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
69905Labyrinthectomy, transcanal approachUse this named inner-ear removal code when its defined service matches the operation.No office rate
69915Vestibular nerve section, transcanal approachUse this named inner-ear nerve procedure code when it describes the operation performed.No office rate
69970Inner ear surgery, focal lesion removalUse this named lesion-removal code when removal of an inner-ear lesion describes the operation.No office rate
69979Temporal bone surgery, unlisted procedureUse for an unlisted temporal-bone procedure when that operative site applies.No office rate

69949 billing questions

When should 69949 be used instead of a named inner-ear procedure code?

Use 69949 when no named CPT procedure code describes the operation performed. If a defined procedure code matches the service, use that code instead.

How does Medicare price 69949?

Its physician fee schedule status is carrier priced (status C). CMS publishes no national payment; the Medicare Administrative Contractor sets payment for each claim.

How are other procedures performed in the same session treated?

The standard multiple-procedure reduction applies. The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and the other procedures are reduced.

Can modifier 50 be reported for a bilateral procedure?

A bilateral procedure reported with modifier 50 follows the CMS bilateral payment rule.

Who sets the global period for 69949?

The Medicare contractor sets the global period.

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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