Billing code 69705: Eustachian tube dilationMedicare rate & RVUs in Guam
Endoscopic surgical dilation of one eustachian tube, typically performed by an otolaryngologist to treat obstructive eustachian tube dysfunction.
Medicare pays $2,900.52 for 69705 in the office in Guam (Hawaii, Guam). 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.
On this page 9 sections
What 69705 covers
An otolaryngologist uses a nasal endoscope to visualize the opening of one eustachian tube in the nasopharynx and guide a dilation device into the tube. The procedure is performed for obstructive eustachian tube dysfunction, often in patients with persistent ear pressure, difficulty equalizing pressure, or related middle-ear symptoms. It may be performed in an operating room or an appropriately equipped outpatient setting.
Report 69705 for one treated side. When both tubes are dilated in the same session, use the bilateral code 69706 rather than modifier 50. The operative note should identify the side, describe endoscopic guidance and dilation, and support the clinical reason for treatment. The procedure has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When related endoscopies are performed together, CMS applies endoscopy-family pricing. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity; co-surgeon and team-surgery payment 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.
69705 in Hawaii, Guam
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii, Guam | $2,900.52 | $147.20 |
How the 69705 rate is calculated
Each of 69705’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 · 69705
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 2.93Practice expense 73.58Malpractice 0.43
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 69705
The CMS indicators that decide how 69705 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 69705
Eustachian tube dilation
| 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 | 3 | Endoscopy family rules apply. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| 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
69705 without 51 · national office
$2,569.87
Eustachian tube dilation
69705-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$1,284.94
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%).
69705 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
69705 vs 69706 vs 69433 vs 69436: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 69706Eustachian tube dilation
- 69705 describes dilation on one side; 69706 is for bilateral dilation in the same session.
- 69433Ear tube placement
- 69433 places a ventilating tube through the eardrum under local or topical anesthesia; 69705 dilates the eustachian tube endoscopically.
- 69436Tympanostomy
- 69436 places a ventilating tube through the eardrum under general anesthesia, rather than dilating the eustachian tube.
69705 billing questions
When should 69705 be used instead of 69706?
Use 69705 when dilation is performed on one eustachian tube. Use 69706 when both tubes are treated in the same session.
Should modifier 50 be added when both sides are treated?
No. Report the bilateral code 69706 for treatment of both sides rather than applying modifier 50 to 69705.
What documentation supports 69705?
Document the treated side, the endoscopic approach and dilation performed, and the clinical findings and symptoms supporting treatment of obstructive eustachian tube dysfunction.
Is same-day care included in the procedure payment?
Yes. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care.
Can an assistant surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity. Co-surgeon and team-surgery payment are not permitted for this procedure.
How is another related endoscopy priced when performed in the same session?
CMS applies endoscopy-family pricing when related endoscopies are performed together. The operative record should identify the procedures performed.
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
Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
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