$48.73
Use G0268 for physician removal on the same date as audiologic function testing. Use 69210 for impacted cerumen removal requiring instrumentation in other circumstances.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
G0268 Earwax removal Medicare reimbursement rates in Rhode Island
G0268 reports a physician’s removal of impacted earwax from one or both ears on the same date as audiologic function testing. Compare G0268 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in Rhode Island.
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.
What does Medicare pay for G0268 in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has 1 payment locality in this comparison. Use the service location to choose the applicable amount. These are the supported base rates for the payment area shown below, using the same CMS release.
Office / nonfacility
$51.45
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Rhode Island
One mapped payment locality.
Facility setting
$27.64
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Rhode Island
One mapped payment locality.
These are locality ranges, not averages or address-specific quotes. A facility-setting amount covers the physician service; it does not include a hospital’s separate bill. Choose a locality below to inspect its calculation, compare other payment areas, or price a percentage of Medicare.
Otolaryngology
About G0268: Physician removal of impacted earwax with audiology
G0268 reports a physician’s removal of impacted earwax from one or both ears on the same date as audiologic function testing.
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.
CMS billing rules for G0268
- Global period
- Minor procedure with a 0-day global period: same-day preoperative and postoperative care is 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
- The code is already priced as bilateral; modifier 50 does not increase payment.
- 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 RVU0.59 · 39%
- Practice expense (office) RVU0.84 · 56%
- Malpractice RVU0.08 · 5%
155.4K
Medicare services in 2024 · #440 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.
G0268 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Rhode Island, from the same CMS release.
$17.55
G0268 describes physician removal associated with same-day audiologic testing; 69209 describes removal by irrigation or lavage.
$36.59
92557 reports comprehensive audiometry, not cerumen removal. G0268 may be reported for the physician’s same-day removal when the testing is performed.
Compare G0268 by payment locality
Find the payment area for your service address, then open its rate page for calculation inputs, release history and the percentage-of-Medicare tool. A city may cross payment-area boundaries; the ZIP lookup above helps resolve the location.
1 of 1 payment localities
Rhode Island →
Office / nonfacility
$51.45
Facility
$27.64
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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 G0268 in Rhode Island.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
15,160
- Code
- G0268
- Physician work
- 0.59
- Practice expense
- 0.84
- Malpractice
- 0.08
GPCI2026.csv
92
- Locality
- Rhode Island
- Physician work
- 1.019
- Practice expense
- 1.033
- Malpractice
- 0.892
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 0.59 | × 1.019 | 0.6012 |
| Practice expense | 0.84 | × 1.033 | 0.8677 |
| Malpractice | 0.08 | × 0.892 | 0.0714 |
| Total RVUs | 1.5403 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Office / nonfacility rate, Rhode Island$51.45
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Office / nonfacility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 0.59 | 1.019 |
| Practice expense | 0.84 | 1.033 |
| Malpractice | 0.08 | 0.892 |
(0.59 × 1.019 + 0.84 × 1.033 + 0.08 × 0.892) × $33.4009 = $51.45
Facility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 0.59 | 1.019 |
| Practice expense | 0.15 | 1.033 |
| Malpractice | 0.08 | 0.892 |
(0.59 × 1.019 + 0.15 × 1.033 + 0.08 × 0.892) × $33.4009 = $27.64
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.
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 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.
15,157G0257,,Unsched dialysis esrd pt hos,E,,0.00,0.00,,0.00,,0.00,0.00,0.00,9,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,9,9,9,9,9,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
15,158G0259,,Inject for sacroiliac joint,E,,0.00,0.00,,0.00,,0.00,0.00,0.00,9,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,9,9,9,9,9,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
15,159G0260,,Inj for sacroiliac jt anesth,E,,0.00,0.00,,0.00,,0.00,0.00,0.00,9,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,9,9,9,9,9,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
15,160G0268,,Removal of impacted wax md,A,,0.59,0.84,,0.15,,0.08,1.51,0.82,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,2,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
15,161G0269,,Occlusive device in vein art,B,,0.00,0.00,,0.00,,0.00,0.00,0.00,9,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,9,9,9,9,9,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
15,162G0270,,Mnt subs tx for change dx,A,,0.45,0.49,,0.20,,0.01,0.95,0.66,0,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
15,163G0271,,Group mnt 2 or more 30 mins,A,,0.25,0.25,,0.11,,0.01,0.51,0.37,0,XXX,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
8912502,PA,01,METROPOLITAN PHILADELPHIA,1.018,1.041,1.193
9012502,PA,99,REST OF PENNSYLVANIA,1.000,0.918,0.945
9109202,PR,20,PUERTO RICO,1.000,1.011,0.985
9214412,RI,01,RHODE ISLAND,1.019,1.033,0.892
9311202,SC,01,SOUTH CAROLINA,1.000,0.924,0.850
9403402,SD,02,SOUTH DAKOTA**,1.000,1.000,0.336
9510312,TN,35,TENNESSEE,1.000,0.909,0.537