Billing code 30801: Turbinate ablationMedicare rate & RVUs in Missouri
Superficial inferior turbinate ablation is reported for mucosal-surface reduction to improve nasal airflow, whether one or both inferior turbinates are treated.
Medicare pays $194.30–$210.32 for 30801 in the office in Missouri, from Rest Of Missouri to Metropolitan St. Louis. 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 30801 covers
An otolaryngologist uses a superficial technique to reduce tissue at the mucosal surface of an inferior turbinate. The procedure is performed for enlarged turbinates contributing to nasal obstruction and may be done in an office or surgical facility. The treated area is the inferior turbinate; this code distinguishes surface ablation from treatment beneath the mucosa or tissue excision.
Report the code when the operative documentation supports superficial ablation, rather than submucosal reduction or resection. Document the treated turbinate or turbinates and the method and extent of treatment. CMS prices the code as bilateral, so modifier 50 does not increase payment. When other procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted; 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 30801 pays more and less in Missouri
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
3 payment localities
$194.30 to $210.32
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $207.90 | $134.19 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $210.32 | $135.60 |
| Rest Of Missouri | $194.30 | $126.64 |
How the 30801 rate is calculated
Each of 30801’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 · 30801
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 1.11Practice expense 5.28Malpractice 0.16
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 30801
30801 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 30801
Turbinate ablation
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 010 | Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 days after are 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. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.80/0.10 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 30801
Turbinate ablation
10-day global period ends
Oct 11, 2026
Covers Oct 1, 2026 through Oct 11, 2026 (11 days).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
After the global period ends: visits and procedures are billed normally.
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
30801 without 51 · national office
$218.78
Turbinate ablation
30801-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$109.39
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%).
30801 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
30801 vs 30802 vs 30140 vs 30130: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 30802Turbinate ablation
- Choose 30801 for superficial ablation of the turbinate surface. Choose 30802 for submucosal ablation.
- 30140Turbinate reduction
- 30140 describes submucous resection of inferior turbinate tissue, not superficial surface ablation.
- 30130Turbinate excision
- 30130 describes partial or complete turbinate excision; 30801 is for superficial ablation rather than excision.
30801 billing questions
How does 30801 differ from 30802?
30801 represents superficial treatment at the turbinate surface. Use 30802 when the documented ablation is submucosal.
Should modifier 50 be reported when both sides are treated?
CMS prices 30801 as bilateral. Modifier 50 does not increase payment.
Are postoperative visits separately reported during the global period?
Related postoperative visits within 10 days are included in the procedure's global period.
How is 30801 paid when another procedure is performed in the same session?
Under the standard multiple-procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the other procedures are paid at 50%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted for 30801. 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
Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
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