CPT code 15820: Lower eyelid surgery, lower eyelid2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Reports surgical reshaping of a lower eyelid, generally for redundant skin or age-related fullness, when the documented findings support this level rather than extensive fat-pad treatment.
Medicare pays $580.06–$627.79 for 15820 in the office in Florida, from Rest of Florida to Miami, FL. 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.
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On this page 9 sections
What 15820 covers
This procedure surgically reshapes the lower eyelid, commonly to address loose or redundant skin and age-related fullness. It is typically performed by an ophthalmic plastic surgeon, plastic surgeon, or other qualified physician in an outpatient operating facility. The operative note should identify the lower eyelid treated and describe the findings and work performed.
Select this code for lower-lid surgery without the extensive herniated fat-pad feature that distinguishes 15821. Document laterality, the clinical indication, relevant skin or contour findings, and the procedure’s extent. For bilateral surgery, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; 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 15820 pays more and less in Florida
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
3 payment localities
$580.06 to $627.79
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | $605.93 | $466.53 |
| Miami, FL | $627.79 | $484.54 |
| Rest of Florida | $580.06 | $448.50 |
How the 15820 rate is calculated
Each of 15820’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 · 15820
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work6.11
6.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense11.02
11.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.48
0.48 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
17.6100
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$588.19
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 15820
15820 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 15820
Lower eyelid surgery, lower eyelid
| 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) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.71/0.19 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 15820
Lower eyelid surgery, lower eyelid
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
15820 without 50 · national office
$588.19
Lower eyelid surgery, lower eyelid
15820-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$882.29
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).
15820 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 15821Lower eyelid surgeryProminent fat-pad prolapse
- Choose 15821 when the lower-lid procedure involves an extensive herniated fat pad; 15820 is for lower-lid surgery without that feature.
- 15822Upper eyelid surgeryWithout lid-weighting excess skin
- 15822 treats the upper eyelid. Use 15820 when the operative site is the lower eyelid.
- 15823Upper eyelid surgeryExcess skin affects lid function
- 15823 addresses excessive skin of the upper eyelid; 15820 is for surgical reshaping of the lower eyelid.
15820 billing questions
How does 15820 differ from 15821?
Use 15820 for lower-lid surgery without an extensive herniated fat pad. The extensive fat-pad feature points to 15821.
Can 15820 be reported for both lower eyelids?
Yes, when both sides are treated. Report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is available only when medical necessity is documented. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted for this code.
What should the operative note support?
Document the lower-lid site and laterality, relevant skin or contour findings, clinical indication, and the extent of the work. For selection against 15821, describe whether an extensive herniated fat pad was treated.
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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