HCPCS code G0268: Earwax removal, same-day audiologic testing2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
G0268 reports a physician’s removal of impacted earwax from one or both ears on the same date as audiologic function testing.
Medicare pays $52.22–$63.76 for G0268 in the office in California, from Chico, CA to San Benito County, CA. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
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 G0268 covers
G0268 covers a physician’s removal of impacted cerumen when audiologic function testing is also performed that day. The physician may use instruments such as a curette, forceps, or suction under direct visualization to clear obstructing wax. Otolaryngologists and other physicians may perform the service in an office or another clinical setting; the removal can allow testing to proceed or improve the reliability of the results.
Report G0268 for the removal, not for the audiologic test itself. The record should identify the impacted cerumen, the ear or ears treated, the removal method, and the same-day audiologic testing. The code is priced as bilateral, so report it once for one or both ears; modifier 50 does not increase payment. It has a 0-day global period, with same-day preoperative and postoperative care included. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code, and 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.
Where G0268 pays more and less in California
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
29 payment localities
$52.22 to $63.76
29 of 29 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | $52.46 | $27.20 |
| Chico, CA | $52.22 | $26.96 |
| El Centro, CA | $52.24 | $26.98 |
| Fresno, CA | $52.22 | $26.96 |
| Hanford, CA | $52.22 | $26.96 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $55.48 | $28.22 |
| Madera, CA | $52.22 | $26.96 |
| Marin County, CA | $62.37 | $29.87 |
| Merced, CA | $52.22 | $26.96 |
| Modesto, CA | $52.22 | $26.96 |
| Napa, CA | $59.28 | $28.91 |
| Oxnard, CA | $55.09 | $27.84 |
| Redding, CA | $52.22 | $26.96 |
| Rest of California | $52.22 | $26.96 |
| Riverside, CA | $53.09 | $27.83 |
| Sacramento, CA | $54.48 | $27.67 |
| Salinas, CA | $54.27 | $27.56 |
| San Benito County, CA | $63.76 | $30.53 |
| San Diego, CA | $55.30 | $27.74 |
| San Francisco, CA | $62.27 | $29.78 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $53.43 | $27.18 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | $63.39 | $30.16 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $55.64 | $27.64 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $54.40 | $27.53 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $56.18 | $27.88 |
| Stockton, CA | $52.22 | $26.96 |
| Vallejo, CA | $59.15 | $28.78 |
| Visalia, CA | $52.22 | $26.96 |
| Yuba City, CA | $52.22 | $26.96 |
How the G0268 rate is calculated
Each of G0268’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 · G0268
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.59
0.59 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.84
0.84 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.08
0.08 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
1.5100
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$50.44
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for G0268
The CMS indicators that decide how G0268 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · G0268
Earwax removal, same-day audiologic testing
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 2 | Already bilateral by definition: paid once at 100%. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
G0268 without 51 · national office
$50.44
Earwax removal, same-day audiologic testing
G0268-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$25.22
When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).
G0268 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 69210Impacted ear wax removalInstrumentation, unilateral
- Use G0268 for physician removal on the same date as audiologic function testing. Use 69210 for impacted cerumen removal requiring instrumentation in other circumstances.
- 69209Earwax removalIrrigation or lavage
- G0268 describes physician removal associated with same-day audiologic testing; 69209 describes removal by irrigation or lavage.
- 92557Comprehensive hearing testAir, bone, and speech testing
- 92557 reports comprehensive audiometry, not cerumen removal. G0268 may be reported for the physician’s same-day removal when the testing is performed.
G0268 billing questions
When should G0268 be used instead of 69210?
G0268 is for physician removal of impacted cerumen on the same date as audiologic function testing. For impacted cerumen removal without same-day audiologic testing, 69210 may be the relevant removal code.
Is G0268 reported once for both ears?
Yes. The code is priced as bilateral and covers removal from one or both ears. Report it once; modifier 50 does not increase payment.
Can the audiologic test be billed separately?
G0268 reports the physician’s cerumen removal, not the audiologic test. Report the test separately when it is performed and documented, such as comprehensive audiometry reported with 92557.
What documentation supports G0268?
Document impacted cerumen, the ear or ears treated, the removal method, and that audiologic function testing occurred on the same date.
Does G0268 have a global period?
It has a 0-day global period. Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included.
How does Medicare handle other procedures performed in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction. An assistant at surgery is not paid, and co-surgeons and 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
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