CPT 69950: Vestibular nerve sectionMedicare rate & RVUs in Utah
Reports surgical interruption of the vestibular nerve through a middle cranial fossa approach, typically to treat severe, persistent vertigo while preserving hearing.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 69950 in Utah.
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 69950 covers
The surgeon reaches the vestibular portion of the eighth cranial nerve through the middle cranial fossa and interrupts its function to reduce vestibular signaling. Otologists, neurotologists, or surgeons working with a neurosurgical team may perform this operation for carefully selected patients with disabling vertigo that has not responded to less invasive treatment. The approach differs from nerve section performed through the ear canal and is intended to preserve cochlear function.
Report this code when the operative record supports vestibular nerve section by the middle cranial fossa route; the approach and nerve treated distinguish it from other inner-ear operations. It has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. 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. For bilateral performance, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is 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.
69950 in Utah
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | Unavailable | $1,468.87 |
How the 69950 rate is calculated
Each of 69950’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 · 69950
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 26.94Practice expense 14.37Malpractice 3.93
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 69950
69950 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 69950
Vestibular nerve section
| 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) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| 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 · 69950
Vestibular nerve section
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
69950 without 50 · national facility
$1,511.06
Vestibular nerve section
69950-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$2,266.59
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).
69950 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
69950 vs 69915 vs 69905 vs 69910: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 69915Vestibular nerve section
- Choose 69950 for vestibular nerve section through the middle cranial fossa. Choose 69915 when the documented route is transcanal.
- 69905Labyrinthectomy
- 69905 removes the labyrinth through a transcanal approach; 69950 interrupts the vestibular nerve through the middle cranial fossa.
- 69910Labyrinthectomy
- 69910 removes the labyrinth with mastoidectomy. It is not the nerve-section procedure reported with 69950.
69950 billing questions
How do I distinguish this from 69915?
Both codes describe vestibular nerve section, but 69950 is for the middle cranial fossa approach. Use 69915 for the transcanal approach.
Is the middle cranial fossa approach part of this code?
Yes. The documented approach is a key distinction for selecting 69950; do not treat it as a separate approach code.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during the 90 days after surgery.
Can I report an assistant or co-surgeon?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted under the CMS facts for this code.
How is bilateral performance paid?
When the procedure is bilateral and reported with modifier 50, CMS pays it at 150%.
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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