Billing code 69720: Facial nerve releaseMedicare rate & RVUs in Washington
Reports surgical decompression of the facial nerve within the temporal bone, lateral to the geniculate ganglion, for selected cases of nerve compression.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 69720 in Washington.
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 69720 covers
An otolaryngologist, often an otologist or neurotologist, uses this code when surgically releasing the intratemporal facial nerve lateral to the geniculate ganglion. The surgeon removes constricting bone around the nerve, typically through a temporal-bone approach, to relieve compression in selected cases of facial nerve dysfunction. The operative report should identify the treated nerve segment and describe the decompression performed.
Select this code when the release is limited to the segment lateral to the geniculate ganglion; the code for release that includes the ganglion describes a different extent. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. 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%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation. 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.
Where 69720 pays more and less in Washington
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Of Washington | Unavailable | $1,074.58 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | Unavailable | $1,184.39 |
How the 69720 rate is calculated
Each of 69720’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 · 69720
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 14.34Practice expense 15.11Malpractice 2.28
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 69720
69720 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 69720
Facial nerve release
| 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) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| 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 · 69720
Facial nerve release
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
69720 without 50 · national facility
$1,059.81
Facial nerve release
69720-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,589.72
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).
69720 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
69720 vs 69725 vs 69740 vs 69745: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 69725Facial nerve decompression
- Both describe intratemporal facial nerve decompression. Choose 69720 when the release is lateral to the geniculate ganglion; choose 69725 when it includes the ganglion.
- 69740Facial nerve repair
- 69720 releases a compressed nerve; 69740 describes suture repair of the intratemporal facial nerve lateral to the geniculate ganglion.
- 69745Facial nerve repair
- 69720 releases a compressed nerve; 69745 describes suture repair that includes the geniculate ganglion.
69720 billing questions
How is this code distinguished from 69725?
Use 69720 for decompression lateral to the geniculate ganglion. Use 69725 when the decompression includes the geniculate ganglion.
Is this a facial nerve repair code?
No. This code describes release of a compressed intratemporal nerve. Facial nerve suture or repair is represented by 69740 or 69745, depending on the segment involved.
What operative documentation supports 69720?
Document the indication, the intratemporal segment treated, and the steps used to release the nerve. The report should make clear that the decompression was lateral to the geniculate ganglion.
How is bilateral decompression reported?
Report bilateral work with modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is 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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