CPT code 69979: Temporal bone surgery, unlisted procedure2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Report this unlisted surgical code for a temporal bone operation when no listed CPT procedure code accurately represents the work performed.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 69979 in Florida.
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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On this page 9 sections
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 in Florida
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Miami, FL | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Rest of Florida | Unavailable | Unavailable |
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
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
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | YYY | The Medicare contractor sets the global period. |
| 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) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician 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).
69979 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
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.
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
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