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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

69020 in Austin

Office / nonfacility

$242.31

Base rate per service

Facility setting

$136.65

Base rate per service

Amounts below use the non-QP conversion factor for participating physicians. These are base physician payments before claim-level adjustments, not patient costs or total hospital charges.

Otolaryngology procedure

About 69020: External auditory canal abscess drainage

Drainage of a localized external auditory canal abscess, reported when a clinician incises and evacuates an abscess within the ear canal.

This service treats a localized collection of infection within the external auditory canal, such as a painful, fluctuant canal abscess. An otolaryngologist commonly performs the procedure, although other qualified clinicians may drain it in an office, emergency department, or other appropriate setting. The work centers on the canal; drainage of an abscess or hematoma on the outer ear is a different service.

Documentation should identify the affected canal, describe the abscess findings, and support that drainage was performed. CMS assigns a 10-day global period, so related postoperative visits during that period are included. When performed with other procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and additional procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. For bilateral treatment, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

CMS billing rules for 69020

Global period
Minor procedure with a 10-day global period: related postoperative visits for 10 days are included.
Multiple procedures
Standard multiple procedure reduction: the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50% when performed in the same session.
Bilateral procedures
Bilateral procedure with modifier 50 is paid at 150%.
Assistant at surgery
Statutory restriction: assistant at surgery is not paid.
Co-surgeons
Co-surgeons not permitted.
Team surgery
Team surgery not permitted.

Where the value comes from

  • Work RVU1.49 · 21%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU5.27 · 76%
  • Malpractice RVU0.21 · 3%

531

Medicare services in 2024 · #3503 by national volume

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.

69020 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Austin, from the same CMS release.

69000

Ear drainage

Simple drainage

$198.79

Use 69000 for simple drainage of an abscess or hematoma on the external ear. Use 69020 when the abscess is within the external auditory canal.

69005

Ear drainage

Complicated abscess or hematoma

$229.51

69005 covers complicated drainage of an external-ear abscess or hematoma. The location for 69020 is the external auditory canal.

69210

Impacted ear wax removal

Instrumentation, unilateral

$49.03

69210 is for removal of impacted cerumen requiring instrumentation, not incision and drainage of a canal abscess.

The same code, a different location

How does Austin compare?

In Beaumont, the office rate for 69020 is $216.46—$25.85 lower than the $242.31 rate in Austin. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

69020 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Austin · This locality

    $242.31

  2. Beaumont

    $216.46

    $25.85 lower than Austin

  3. Brazoria

    $230.08

    $12.23 lower than Austin

  4. Dallas

    $231.55

    $10.76 lower than Austin

  5. Fort Worth

    $229.88

    $12.43 lower than Austin

  6. Galveston

    $230.76

    $11.55 lower than Austin

  7. Houston

    $234.61

    $7.70 lower than Austin

Other payment areas listed in Texas appear first, followed by selected cross-country examples. The chart compares amounts, not distance.

Across 109 of 109 CMS payment localities with a supported office rate, 69020 ranges from $204.58 in Arkansas to $312.83 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty). This is a geographic range, not an average.

The code’s RVUs stay the same in these comparisons. Geographic adjustments to work, practice expense and malpractice change the dollar amount. A city name alone may not identify the payment area for a service address.

Compare all 108 other payment areas

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 69020

    Office

    $223.15

    Facility

    $128.37

    $19.16 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty)

    California · 69020

    Office

    $264.70

    Facility

    $146.56

    $22.39 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 69020

    Office

    $267.62

    Facility

    $149.97

    $25.31 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 69020

    Office

    $250.75

    Facility

    $146.78

    $8.44 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 69020

    Office

    $243.12

    Facility

    $142.75

    $0.81 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 69020

    Office

    $268.62

    Facility

    $152.57

    $26.31 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 69020

    Office

    $265.98

    Facility

    $159.62

    $23.67 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 69020

    Office

    $207.76

    Facility

    $120.37

    $34.55 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 69020

    Office

    $204.58

    Facility

    $118.80

    $37.73 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 69020

    Office

    $226.34

    Facility

    $129.56

    $15.97 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Bakersfield

    California · 69020

    Office

    $247.91

    Facility

    $138.45

    $5.60 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Chico

    California · 69020

    Office

    $247.29

    Facility

    $137.84

    $4.98 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • El Centro

    California · 69020

    Office

    $247.33

    Facility

    $137.87

    $5.02 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Fresno

    California · 69020

    Office

    $247.29

    Facility

    $137.84

    $4.98 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Hanford-Corcoran

    California · 69020

    Office

    $247.29

    Facility

    $137.84

    $4.98 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Madera

    California · 69020

    Office

    $247.29

    Facility

    $137.84

    $4.98 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Merced

    California · 69020

    Office

    $247.29

    Facility

    $137.84

    $4.98 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 69020

    Office

    $247.29

    Facility

    $137.84

    $4.98 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 69020

    Office

    $288.46

    Facility

    $156.84

    $46.15 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 69020

    Office

    $263.59

    Facility

    $145.54

    $21.28 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 69020

    Office

    $247.29

    Facility

    $137.84

    $4.98 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 69020

    Office

    $247.29

    Facility

    $137.84

    $4.98 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 69020

    Office

    $249.57

    Facility

    $140.11

    $7.26 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 69020

    Office

    $260.03

    Facility

    $143.89

    $17.72 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 69020

    Office

    $259.08

    Facility

    $143.33

    $16.77 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 69020

    Office

    $265.59

    Facility

    $146.14

    $23.28 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 69020

    Office

    $305.91

    Facility

    $165.09

    $63.60 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty)

    California · 69020

    Office

    $305.67

    Facility

    $164.85

    $63.36 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty)

    California · 69020

    Office

    $312.83

    Facility

    $168.82

    $70.52 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty)

    California · 69020

    Office

    $311.85

    Facility

    $167.84

    $69.54 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 69020

    Office

    $254.86

    Facility

    $141.11

    $12.55 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 69020

    Office

    $268.44

    Facility

    $147.10

    $26.13 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 69020

    Office

    $260.16

    Facility

    $143.72

    $17.85 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 69020

    Office

    $271.18

    Facility

    $148.54

    $28.87 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 69020

    Office

    $247.29

    Facility

    $137.84

    $4.98 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 69020

    Office

    $288.12

    Facility

    $156.49

    $45.81 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 69020

    Office

    $247.29

    Facility

    $137.84

    $4.98 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 69020

    Office

    $247.29

    Facility

    $137.84

    $4.98 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 69020

    Office

    $243.13

    Facility

    $136.87

    $0.82 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 69020

    Office

    $248.83

    Facility

    $141.27

    $6.52 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 69020

    Office

    $230.23

    Facility

    $131.56

    $12.08 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 69020

    Office

    $240.76

    Facility

    $139.59

    $1.55 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 69020

    Office

    $228.59

    Facility

    $133.11

    $13.72 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 69020

    Office

    $237.18

    Facility

    $135.71

    $5.13 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 69020

    Office

    $215.14

    Facility

    $126.06

    $27.17 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 69020

    Office

    $253.97

    Facility

    $140.42

    $11.66 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 69020

    Office

    $213.61

    Facility

    $122.23

    $28.70 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 69020

    Office

    $215.03

    Facility

    $123.15

    $27.28 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 69020

    Office

    $225.83

    Facility

    $133.96

    $16.48 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 69020

    Office

    $221.44

    Facility

    $130.26

    $20.87 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 69020

    Office

    $243.32

    Facility

    $140.76

    $1.01 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 69020

    Office

    $216.35

    Facility

    $123.77

    $25.96 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 69020

    Office

    $212.43

    Facility

    $122.15

    $29.88 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 69020

    Office

    $212.67

    Facility

    $123.89

    $29.64 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 69020

    Office

    $223.37

    Facility

    $129.40

    $18.94 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 69020

    Office

    $212.27

    Facility

    $123.88

    $30.04 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 69020

    Office

    $268.22

    Facility

    $148.98

    $25.91 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 69020

    Office

    $241.51

    Facility

    $136.34

    $0.80 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 69020

    Office

    $248.11

    Facility

    $140.95

    $5.80 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 69020

    Office

    $234.84

    Facility

    $133.77

    $7.47 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 69020

    Office

    $216.07

    Facility

    $124.19

    $26.24 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 69020

    Office

    $228.63

    Facility

    $129.66

    $13.68 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 69020

    Office

    $231.46

    Facility

    $135.08

    $10.85 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 69020

    Office

    $218.40

    Facility

    $127.22

    $23.91 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 69020

    Office

    $232.97

    Facility

    $130.21

    $9.34 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 69020

    Office

    $221.91

    Facility

    $128.13

    $20.40 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 69020

    Office

    $224.37

    Facility

    $129.29

    $17.94 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 69020

    Office

    $208.33

    Facility

    $122.24

    $33.98 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 69020

    Office

    $206.51

    Facility

    $120.52

    $35.80 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 69020

    Office

    $232.79

    Facility

    $132.92

    $9.52 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 69020

    Office

    $218.48

    Facility

    $125.30

    $23.83 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 69020

    Office

    $228.64

    Facility

    $128.77

    $13.67 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 69020

    Office

    $214.89

    Facility

    $122.71

    $27.42 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 69020

    Office

    $239.14

    Facility

    $135.18

    $3.17 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 69020

    Office

    $264.58

    Facility

    $148.73

    $22.27 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 69020

    Office

    $251.67

    Facility

    $142.61

    $9.36 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 69020

    Office

    $219.60

    Facility

    $128.02

    $22.71 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 69020

    Office

    $231.81

    Facility

    $131.84

    $10.50 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 69020

    Office

    $275.27

    Facility

    $156.52

    $32.96 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 69020

    Office

    $253.24

    Facility

    $143.88

    $10.93 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 69020

    Office

    $271.13

    Facility

    $153.08

    $28.82 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 69020

    Office

    $221.92

    Facility

    $127.04

    $20.39 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 69020

    Office

    $217.55

    Facility

    $126.37

    $24.76 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 69020

    Office

    $212.41

    Facility

    $123.22

    $29.90 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 69020

    Office

    $251.34

    Facility

    $140.39

    $9.03 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 69020

    Office

    $230.02

    Facility

    $130.55

    $12.29 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 69020

    Office

    $242.27

    Facility

    $138.31

    $0.04 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 69020

    Office

    $217.98

    Facility

    $126.31

    $24.33 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 69020

    Office

    $234.64

    Facility

    $133.67

    $7.67 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 69020

    Office

    $238.80

    Facility

    $135.64

    $3.51 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 69020

    Office

    $218.37

    Facility

    $126.10

    $23.94 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 69020

    Office

    $228.15

    Facility

    $128.28

    $14.16 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 69020

    Office

    $213.54

    Facility

    $122.76

    $28.77 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 69020

    Office

    $221.53

    Facility

    $127.65

    $20.78 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 69020

    Office

    $227.75

    Facility

    $129.58

    $14.56 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 69020

    Office

    $234.64

    Facility

    $133.67

    $7.67 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 69020

    Office

    $227.58

    Facility

    $128.71

    $14.73 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 69020

    Office

    $241.10

    Facility

    $135.94

    $1.21 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 69020

    Office

    $273.97

    Facility

    $151.43

    $31.66 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 69020

    Office

    $220.56

    Facility

    $124.88

    $21.75 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 69020

    Office

    $212.77

    Facility

    $125.98

    $29.54 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 69020

    Office

    $230.98

    Facility

    $131.11

    $11.33 lower than Austin for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

69020 · Office / nonfacility · Non-QP. Choose a state to explore its payment localities. A range means the amount varies within that state.

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.

$204.58

$280.06

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$265.981
AL$207.761
AR$204.581
AZ$226.341
CA$247.29–$312.8329
CO$243.131
CT$248.831
DC$267.621
DE$230.231
FL$228.59–$250.753
GA$215.14–$237.182
GU$253.971
HI$253.971
IA$213.611
ID$215.031
IL$221.44–$243.324
IN$216.351
KS$212.431
KY$212.671
LA$212.27–$223.372
MA$241.51–$268.222
MD$234.84–$267.623
ME$216.07–$228.632
MI$218.40–$231.462
MN$232.971
MO$208.33–$224.373
MS$206.511
MT$232.791
NC$218.481
ND$228.641
NE$214.891
NH$239.141
NJ$251.67–$264.582
NM$219.601
NV$231.811
NY$221.92–$275.275
OH$217.551
OK$212.411
OR$230.02–$251.342
PA$217.98–$242.272
PR$234.641
RI$238.801
SC$218.371
SD$228.151
TN$213.541
TX$216.46–$242.318
UT$221.531
VA$227.75–$267.622
VI$234.641
VT$227.581
WA$241.10–$273.972
WI$220.561
WV$212.771
WY$230.981

Explore 69020 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

Austin is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 31 cities and communities in Texas, including the examples shown here.

Some communities span more than one payment area. Follow a city link to compare all of its mapped areas, or check the service-location ZIP above for an address-level starting point.

Browse all communities in Texas →

Why are the office and facility amounts different?

For 69020 in Austin, the physician’s office rate is $242.31 and the facility-setting rate is $136.65: a difference of $105.66.

The calculation uses a different practice-expense RVU for each setting. Both amounts here are physician fee-schedule amounts. The facility figure does not include a hospital’s separate charges, so this comparison does not tell you the total cost of receiving care in each setting.

See the inputs behind this difference →

Use this rate

What is a percentage of Medicare worth?

Turn a percentage into dollars for 69020 in Austin. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$266.54

$242.31 × 110% = $266.54

A contract may specify another Medicare year or additional adjustments. This is percentage arithmetic on the displayed base rate, not a claim adjudication.

Working with a whole code list?

Compare an offer across your annual code mix, including an older Medicare schedule or flat per-code rates.

Compare your contract offer →

How this local rate is calculated

Each RVU component is multiplied by its own geographic practice cost index (GPCI). The three adjusted components are added, then multiplied by the conversion factor. These are the inputs used for 69020 in Austin.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

7,582

Code
69020
Physician work
1.49
Practice expense
5.27
Malpractice
0.21

GPCI2026.csv

96

Locality
Austin
Physician work
1.002
Practice expense
1.058
Malpractice
0.886
Office / nonfacility calculation for 69020 in Austin
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.49× 1.0021.4930
Practice expense5.27× 1.0585.5757
Malpractice0.21× 0.8860.1861
Total RVUs7.2547
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Austin$242.31

Values as parsed from CMS release RVU26D, effective 2026-10-01. The amount is rounded to the nearest cent only at the end.

Open 69020 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work1.491.002
Practice expense5.271.058
Malpractice0.210.886

(1.49 × 1.002 + 5.27 × 1.058 + 0.21 × 0.886) × $33.4009 = $242.31

Facility

Facility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work1.491.002
Practice expense2.281.058
Malpractice0.210.886

(1.49 × 1.002 + 2.28 × 1.058 + 0.21 × 0.886) × $33.4009 = $136.65

The office and facility calculations use their respective practice-expense RVUs. The facility amount here is the physician fee, not a separate hospital or facility bill.

How this rate has changed

69020 · Office / nonfacility

$242.31

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $13.04 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $229.27 to $242.31 (5.7%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $229.27changed to$242.31

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.53 changed to 1.49
    • Practice expense RVU 5.13 changed to 5.27
    • Work GPCI 1.000 changed to 1.002
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.046 changed to 1.058
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.914 changed to 0.886

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    Earliest loaded release: $229.27

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

Explore release dates and calculate this code in an earlier period →

Each row uses the accepted CMS release effective on that date and the same contractor and locality identifiers. Missing rates stay visible. Historical boundaries may differ; verify the service address for an older claim.

Inspect every release and its CMS source
Effective fromOffice / nonfacilityFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$242.31$136.65RVU26D
2026-07-01$242.31$136.65RVU26C
2026-04-01$242.31$136.65RVU26B
2026-01-01$242.31$136.65RVU26A
2025-10-01$229.27$144.01RVU25D
2025-07-01$229.27$144.01RVU25C
2025-04-01$229.27$144.01RVU25B
2025-01-01$229.27$144.01RVU25A

69020 billing questions

How is canal abscess drainage different from 69000 or 69005?

69020 is for an abscess within the external auditory canal. Codes 69000 and 69005 address drainage of an abscess or hematoma on the external ear, with the choice between them based on the service's complexity.

Are related postoperative visits separately reported?

Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in 69020.

How should bilateral canal drainage be reported?

Use modifier 50 for bilateral treatment; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

CMS does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

What documentation supports 69020?

Document that the abscess is in the external auditory canal, the clinical findings supporting an abscess, and that drainage was performed. Distinguish the canal site from an external-ear lesion.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense, and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indices and the applicable conversion factor. Unavailable or separately priced services are labeled rather than assigned a made-up amount.

Source: RVU26D. Effective 2026-10-01 through the day before 2027-01-01.

RVUs for 69020PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 7,582 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for AustinGPCI2026.csv, line 96 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet