Billing code 69725: Facial nerve decompressionMedicare rate & RVUs in Ohio
Reports surgical decompression of the intratemporal facial nerve that includes the segment at the geniculate ganglion, typically for facial nerve dysfunction caused by compression.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 69725 in Ohio.
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 69725 covers
An otologist or neurotologist performs this operation to relieve pressure on the facial nerve as it travels through the temporal bone, with the decompression extending to include the geniculate ganglion. It is used when the operative plan requires release of that more proximal intratemporal segment, rather than decompression limited to the nerve lateral to the ganglion. The service is generally performed in an operating room through an approach to the temporal bone.
Choose this code based on the documented extent of decompression, not simply the diagnosis of facial weakness or paralysis. The operative report should identify the intratemporal nerve segments exposed and released, including the geniculate ganglion. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, which includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care for 90 days. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; 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.
69725 in Ohio
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | Unavailable | $1,575.28 |
How the 69725 rate is calculated
Each of 69725’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 · 69725
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 26.95Practice expense 17.80Malpractice 3.93
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 69725
69725 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 69725
Facial nerve decompression
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included. |
| 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) | 2 | Paid. |
| 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) | 0.07/0.79/0.14 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 69725
Facial nerve decompression
90-day global period ends
Dec 30, 2026
Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
69725 without 50 · national facility
$1,625.96
Facial nerve decompression
69725-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$2,438.94
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).
69725 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
69725 vs 69720 vs 69740 vs 69745: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 69720Facial nerve release
- Use 69725 when decompression includes the facial nerve at the geniculate ganglion. Use 69720 when the release is limited to the segment lateral to it.
- 69740Facial nerve repair
- 69740 describes repair of an extracranial facial nerve injury. 69725 is decompression of the nerve within the temporal bone.
- 69745Facial nerve repair
- 69745 is for facial nerve repair in an intracranial or intratemporal location. 69725 is for releasing a compressed intratemporal nerve, not repairing a disrupted nerve.
69725 billing questions
How does 69725 differ from 69720?
The distinction is the extent of decompression. Report 69725 when the documented release includes the facial nerve at the geniculate ganglion; 69720 is for decompression lateral to the ganglion.
What should the operative note document?
Document the intratemporal nerve segments exposed and decompressed, specifically whether the work includes the geniculate ganglion. A diagnosis of facial paralysis alone does not establish the extent of the procedure.
How is 69725 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 other procedures are paid at 50% when performed in the same session.
How should bilateral decompression be reported?
For a bilateral procedure, report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral service at 150%.
Can an assistant or another surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid for this procedure. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
What care is included in the global period?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
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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