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CPT code 69979: Temporal bone surgery, unlisted procedure2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Report this unlisted surgical code for a temporal bone operation when no listed CPT procedure code accurately represents the work performed.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities13 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare rate · 69979

Temporal bone surgery, 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 69979 →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 69979 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 69979 covers

69979 is an unlisted CPT surgical code for an operation involving the temporal bone when no listed procedure code accurately represents the work. Select it based on the operation performed, not simply because surgery occurs near the ear; use a listed code when it describes the service. Otolaryngologists, including neurotologists, may report it for surgical work in hospital or ambulatory settings. Documentation should identify the anatomy treated, technique, and extent of the work, and explain why a listed code does not fit.

Medicare assigns physician fee schedule status C: the Medicare Administrative Contractor prices each claim, and the contractor sets the global period. Medicare applies its standard multiple-procedure reduction when procedures are performed in the same session and its bilateral rule when modifier 50 is reported. The operation and claim circumstances determine which rules apply.

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 69979 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

69979 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

69979 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
69979 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 69979 rate is calculated

Each of 69979’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 · 69979

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 69979

The CMS indicators that decide how 69979 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 69979

Temporal bone surgery, 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

69979 without 50 · national facility

$0.00

Temporal bone surgery, unlisted procedure

69979-50 · 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

69979 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 69979

    Temporal bone surgery, unlisted procedure0 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 69949

    Inner ear procedure, unlisted procedure0 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 69970

    Inner ear surgery, focal lesion removal31.6 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 69910

    Labyrinthectomy, mastoid approach13.56 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

69949Inner ear procedureUnlisted procedure
69949 is the unlisted code for an inner-ear procedure. Choose 69979 when the unlisted operation is appropriately characterized as involving the temporal bone.
69970Inner ear surgeryFocal lesion removal
69970 describes removal of an inner-ear lesion. Use 69979 only when that specific procedure code does not represent the operation performed.
69910LabyrinthectomyMastoid approach
69910 describes removal of the inner ear and mastoid. Use 69979 when no listed code, including this one, accurately describes the temporal bone operation.

Codes related to 69979

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

Codes related to 69979
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
69949Inner ear procedure, unlisted procedureUse for an unlisted inner-ear operation when that site and work better describe the procedure.No office rate
69970Inner ear surgery, focal lesion removalUse when the operation removes an inner-ear lesion and this specific code describes the work.No office rate
69910Labyrinthectomy, mastoid approachUse when the operation removes the inner ear and mastoid as described by this specific code.No office rate

69979 billing questions

When should 69979 be used instead of a listed procedure code?

Use 69979 when no listed CPT procedure code accurately describes the temporal bone operation. If a listed code describes the work, report that code instead.

How does 69979 differ from 69949?

69979 is for an unlisted operation involving the temporal bone; 69949 is the unlisted code for an inner-ear procedure. Select based on the operative site and work performed.

What documentation should support a claim?

Describe the anatomy treated, technique, and extent of the operation, and explain why a listed procedure code does not fit. Comparison information can help the contractor evaluate the claim.

How does Medicare price 69979?

It has physician fee schedule status C, so the Medicare Administrative Contractor prices each claim. The contractor also sets the global period.

Which modifier and payment rules may affect reporting?

Modifier 50 is used for bilateral reporting, and Medicare applies its bilateral payment rule. The standard multiple-procedure reduction applies when procedures are performed in the same session.

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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