CPT code 65770: Keratoprosthesis, artificial corneal implant2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in South Carolina

Reports surgical placement of an artificial corneal device, often for severe corneal disease when donor-tissue transplantation is unsuitable or has failed.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality162 Medicare services in 2024

In South Carolina, Medicare pays $1,137.61 for 65770 in a facility. There’s no office rate.

Not available in this settingOffice (non-facility)

$1,137.61Hospital or facility

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 65770 nationwide

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 11 sections

Rate in South Carolina
What 65770 covers
Compared with other areas
Rate map
How it’s calculated
Payment rules
Related codes
Rate history
Where it applies
Billing questions
Sources

What 65770 covers

An ophthalmic surgeon places an artificial optical device in the cornea to restore a usable visual pathway when severe corneal damage prevents vision. This approach may be considered for patients with advanced corneal disease, including cases in which prior corneal grafts have failed or a conventional donor-tissue graft is not a suitable option. The procedure is generally performed in an operating room rather than an office setting.

Report the service when the operative record supports implantation of a keratoprosthesis, not a donor-cornea transplant or a procedure limited to the ocular surface. The code has a 90-day global period that includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. For bilateral surgery, 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.

How South Carolina compares for 65770

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the facility rate for 65770 runs from $1,088.75 in Arkansas to $1,512.67 in Alaska. South Carolina pays $1,137.61. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

65770 in South Carolina vs other payment areas

South Carolina · this page$1,137.61
Los Angeles, CA · California$1,280.95+$143.34
Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$1,309.81+$172.20
Miami, FL · Florida$1,280.55+$142.94
Chicago, IL · Illinois$1,255.51+$117.90
Manhattan, NY · New York$1,332.60+$194.99
Alaska · Alaska$1,512.67+$375.06

Other areas in South Carolina first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

65770 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment locality	Office	Facility
AlabamaAlabama	—	$1,099.17
ArkansasArkansas	—	$1,088.75
ArizonaArizona	—	$1,159.90
Bakersfield, CACalifornia	—	$1,221.51
Chico, CACalifornia	—	$1,216.49
El Centro, CACalifornia	—	$1,216.74
Fresno, CACalifornia	—	$1,216.49
Hanford, CACalifornia	—	$1,216.49
Madera, CACalifornia	—	$1,216.49
Merced, CACalifornia	—	$1,216.49
Modesto, CACalifornia	—	$1,216.49
Napa, CACalifornia	—	$1,353.04
Oxnard, CACalifornia	—	$1,270.00
Redding, CACalifornia	—	$1,216.49
Rest of CaliforniaCalifornia	—	$1,216.49
Riverside, CACalifornia	—	$1,233.33
Sacramento, CACalifornia	—	$1,261.42
Salinas, CACalifornia	—	$1,256.25
San Diego, CACalifornia	—	$1,273.99
Marin County, CACalifornia	—	$1,416.04
San Francisco, CACalifornia	—	$1,414.30
San Benito County, CACalifornia	—	$1,445.24
Santa Clara County, CACalifornia	—	$1,438.14
San Luis Obispo, CACalifornia	—	$1,237.49
Santa Cruz, CACalifornia	—	$1,277.17
Santa Maria, CACalifornia	—	$1,257.74
Santa Rosa, CACalifornia	—	$1,289.31
Stockton, CACalifornia	—	$1,216.49
Vallejo, CACalifornia	—	$1,350.54
Visalia, CACalifornia	—	$1,216.49
Yuba City, CACalifornia	—	$1,216.49
ColoradoColorado	—	$1,210.17
ConnecticutConnecticut	—	$1,243.58
DelawareDelaware	—	$1,174.59
Fort Lauderdale, FLFlorida	—	$1,230.03
Rest of FloridaFlorida	—	$1,186.61
Atlanta, GAGeorgia	—	$1,202.41
Rest of GeorgiaGeorgia	—	$1,139.47
Hawaii, Guam, HIHawaii	—	$1,227.78
IowaIowa	—	$1,110.07
IdahoIdaho	—	$1,116.39
East St. Louis, ILIllinois	—	$1,195.14
Rest of IllinoisIllinois	—	$1,168.68
Suburban Chicago, ILIllinois	—	$1,239.53
IndianaIndiana	—	$1,120.48
KansasKansas	—	$1,110.17
KentuckyKentucky	—	$1,123.84
New Orleans, LALouisiana	—	$1,160.53
Rest of LouisianaLouisiana	—	$1,124.09
Metropolitan Boston, MAMassachusetts	—	$1,297.87
Rest of MassachusettsMassachusetts	—	$1,208.19
Baltimore area, MDMaryland	—	$1,240.44
Rest of MarylandMaryland	—	$1,190.49
Rest of MaineMaine	—	$1,124.01
Southern Maine, MEMaine	—	$1,159.14
Detroit, MIMichigan	—	$1,200.36
Rest of MichiganMichigan	—	$1,146.50
MinnesotaMinnesota	—	$1,160.58
Metropolitan Kansas City, MOMissouri	—	$1,151.43
Metropolitan St. Louis, MOMissouri	—	$1,159.05
Rest of MissouriMissouri	—	$1,113.67
MississippiMississippi	—	$1,101.18
MontanaMontana	—	$1,182.29
North CarolinaNorth Carolina	—	$1,131.23
North DakotaNorth Dakota	—	$1,152.04
NebraskaNebraska	—	$1,113.00
New HampshireNew Hampshire	—	$1,196.03
Northern New JerseyNew Jersey	—	$1,304.51
Rest of New JerseyNew Jersey	—	$1,257.99
New MexicoNew Mexico	—	$1,152.13
NevadaNevada	—	$1,174.35
NYC suburbs and Long Island, NYNew York	—	$1,359.63
Poughkeepsie and northern NYC suburbs, NYNew York	—	$1,268.45
Queens, NYNew York	—	$1,335.00
Rest of New YorkNew York	—	$1,142.80
OhioOhio	—	$1,140.32
OklahomaOklahoma	—	$1,118.75
Portland, OROregon	—	$1,233.80
Rest of OregonOregon	—	$1,165.26
Metropolitan Philadelphia, PAPennsylvania	—	$1,223.85
Rest of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania	—	$1,139.54
Puerto RicoPuerto Rico	—	$1,187.00
Rhode IslandRhode Island	—	$1,205.20
South DakotaSouth Dakota	—	$1,148.46
TennesseeTennessee	—	$1,114.29
Austin, TXTexas	—	$1,206.17
Beaumont, TXTexas	—	$1,134.81
Brazoria, TXTexas	—	$1,171.90
Dallas, TXTexas	—	$1,178.97
Fort Worth, TXTexas	—	$1,174.75
Galveston, TXTexas	—	$1,175.33
Houston, TXTexas	—	$1,203.33
Rest of TexasTexas	—	$1,152.53
UtahUtah	—	$1,147.88
VirginiaVirginia	—	$1,159.07
Virgin Islands, VIUnited States Virgin Islands	—	$1,187.00
VermontVermont	—	$1,152.26
Rest of WashingtonWashington	—	$1,204.42
King County, WAWashington	—	$1,316.04
WisconsinWisconsin	—	$1,126.52
West VirginiaWest Virginia	—	$1,140.45
WyomingWyoming	—	$1,169.10

65770 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

ME WI VT NH MT ND MN MI NY MA RI WA ID WY SD IA IL IN OH PA NJ CT OR NV UT CO NE MO KY WV VA MD DE CA AZ NM KS OK AR TN NC SC DC TX LA MS AL GA FL AK HI

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Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

View every state and territory as a table

65770 office rate range by state
State / territory	Office rate range	Localities
AK	No published base rate	1
AL	No published base rate	1
AR	No published base rate	1
AZ	No published base rate	1
CA	No published base rate	29
CO	No published base rate	1
CT	No published base rate	1
DC	No published base rate	1
DE	No published base rate	1
FL	No published base rate	3
GA	No published base rate	2
GU	No published base rate	1
HI	No published base rate	1
IA	No published base rate	1
ID	No published base rate	1
IL	No published base rate	4
IN	No published base rate	1
KS	No published base rate	1
KY	No published base rate	1
LA	No published base rate	2
MA	No published base rate	2
MD	No published base rate	3
ME	No published base rate	2
MI	No published base rate	2
MN	No published base rate	1
MO	No published base rate	3
MS	No published base rate	1
MT	No published base rate	1
NC	No published base rate	1
ND	No published base rate	1
NE	No published base rate	1
NH	No published base rate	1
NJ	No published base rate	2
NM	No published base rate	1
NV	No published base rate	1
NY	No published base rate	5
OH	No published base rate	1
OK	No published base rate	1
OR	No published base rate	2
PA	No published base rate	2
PR	No published base rate	1
RI	No published base rate	1
SC	No published base rate	1
SD	No published base rate	1
TN	No published base rate	1
TX	No published base rate	8
UT	No published base rate	1
VA	No published base rate	2
VI	No published base rate	1
VT	No published base rate	1
WA	No published base rate	2
WI	No published base rate	1
WV	No published base rate	1
WY	No published base rate	1

See 65770 in every payment locality

How the 65770 rate is calculated

Each of 65770’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 · 65770

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Your ZIP

Work19.25

19.25 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense14.62

14.62 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice1.53

1.53 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

35.4000

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$1,182.39

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

The exact South Carolina inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

7,336

Code: 65770
Physician work: 19.25
Practice expense: 14.62
Malpractice: 1.53

GPCI2026.csv

Locality: South Carolina
Physician work: 1.000
Practice expense: 0.924
Malpractice: 0.850

Facility calculation for 65770 in South Carolina
Component	RVU	Locality factor	Adjusted
Physician work	19.25	× 1.000	19.2500
Practice expense	14.62	× 0.924	13.5089
Malpractice	1.53	× 0.850	1.3005
Total RVUs			34.0594
Conversion factor			× 33.4009

Facility rate, South Carolina$1137.61

Facility: (19.25 × 1 + 14.62 × 0.924 + 1.53 × 0.85) × $33.4009 = $1137.61

Open 65770 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 65770

65770 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 65770

Keratoprosthesis, artificial corneal implant

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)	0.10/0.70/0.20	Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 65770

Keratoprosthesis, artificial corneal implant

Date of surgery

Date of a later visit

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.

24Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
79Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
58Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
78Unplanned return to the operating room for a related complication

SurgeryVisit

Sep 23, 2026Jan 10, 2027

Pre-op dayGlobal period

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

65770 without 50 · national facility

$1,182.39

Keratoprosthesis, artificial corneal implant

65770-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$1,773.59

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).

When to use modifier 50

Codes related to 65770

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 65770
Code	How it relates	Office range, South Carolina
Used instead
65710	Corneal transplant, lamellar techniqueCorneal tissue transplantation may be used instead of an artificial device when appropriate.	No office rate
65730	Corneal transplant, penetrating graftA donor-cornea transplant is a tissue-graft approach rather than prosthesis implantation.	No office rate
65750	Corneal transplant, penetrating, aphakic eyeSelect the tissue-transplant code when the operation uses donor cornea rather than a prosthesis.	No office rate
65755	Corneal transplant, penetrating, pseudophakic eyeThis is another donor-cornea transplant option, distinguished by its applicable technique and circumstances.	No office rate

How 65770 has changed in South Carolina

65770 · Office / nonfacility

Rate unavailable

Effective 2026-10-01

Compare with release effective

A rate is unavailable in one of these releases, so a change cannot be calculated.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

Rates in every CMS release
Effective from	Office	Facility	CMS release
2026-10-01	Not available in this setting	$1,137.61	RVU26D
2026-07-01	Not available in this setting	$1,137.61	RVU26C
2026-04-01	Not available in this setting	$1,137.61	RVU26B
2026-01-01	Not available in this setting	$1,137.61	RVU26A
2025-10-01	Not available in this setting	$1,281.06	RVU25D
2025-07-01	Not available in this setting	$1,281.06	RVU25C
2025-04-01	Not available in this setting	$1,281.06	RVU25B
2025-01-01	Not available in this setting	$1,281.06	RVU25A
2024-10-01	Not available in this setting	$1,320.15	RVU24D
2024-07-01	Not available in this setting	$1,320.15	RVU24C
2024-04-01	Not available in this setting	$1,320.15	RVU24B
2024-03-09	Not available in this setting	$1,320.15	RVU24AR
2024-01-01	Not available in this setting	$1,298.60	RVU24A
2023-10-01	Not available in this setting	$1,326.85	RVU23D
2023-07-01	Not available in this setting	$1,326.85	RVU23C
2023-04-01	Not available in this setting	$1,326.85	RVU23B
2023-01-01	Not available in this setting	$1,326.85	RVU23A
2022-10-01	Not available in this setting	$1,330.61	RVU22D
2022-07-01	Not available in this setting	$1,330.61	RVU22C
2022-04-01	Not available in this setting	$1,330.61	RVU22B
2022-01-01	Not available in this setting	$1,330.61	RVU22A
2021-10-01	Not available in this setting	$1,328.29	RVU21D
2021-07-01	Not available in this setting	$1,328.29	RVU21C
2021-04-01	Not available in this setting	$1,328.29	RVU21B
2021-01-01	Not available in this setting	$1,328.29	RVU21A
2020-10-01	Not available in this setting	$1,346.78	RVU20D
2020-07-01	Not available in this setting	$1,346.78	RVU20C
2020-04-01	Not available in this setting	$1,346.78	RVU20B
2020-01-01	Not available in this setting	$1,346.78	RVU20A
2019-10-01	Not available in this setting	$1,347.30	RVU19D
2019-07-01	Not available in this setting	$1,347.30	RVU19C
2019-04-01	Not available in this setting	$1,347.30	RVU19B
2019-01-01	Not available in this setting	$1,347.30	RVU19A
2018-10-01	Not available in this setting	$1,354.82	RVU18D
2018-07-01	Not available in this setting	$1,354.82	RVU18C
2018-04-01	Not available in this setting	$1,354.82	RVU18B
2018-01-01	Not available in this setting	$1,354.82	RVU18AR1
2017-10-01	Not available in this setting	$1,348.99	RVU17D
2017-07-01	Not available in this setting	$1,348.99	RVU17C
2017-04-01	Not available in this setting	$1,348.99	RVU17B
2017-01-01	Not available in this setting	$1,348.99	RVU17A
2016-10-01	Not available in this setting	$1,351.07	RVU16D
2016-07-01	Not available in this setting	$1,351.07	RVU16C
2016-04-01	Not available in this setting	$1,351.07	RVU16B
2016-01-01	Not available in this setting	$1,351.07	RVU16A
2015-10-01	Not available in this setting	$1,356.13	RVU15D
2015-07-01	Not available in this setting	$1,356.13	RVU15C
2015-04-01	Not available in this setting	$1,349.38	RVU15B
2015-01-01	Not available in this setting	$1,349.38	RVU15A
2014-10-01	Not available in this setting	$1,467.61	RVU14D
2014-07-01	Not available in this setting	$1,467.61	RVU14C
2014-04-01	Not available in this setting	$1,467.61	RVU14B
2014-01-01	Not available in this setting	$1,467.61	RVU14A
2013-10-01	Not available in this setting	$1,423.45	RVU13D
2013-07-01	Not available in this setting	$1,423.45	RVU13C
2013-04-01	Not available in this setting	$1,423.45	RVU13B
2013-01-01	Not available in this setting	$1,423.45	RVU13AR

Price 65770 for an earlier date of service

Where the South Carolina rate applies

South Carolina is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 475 cities and communities in South Carolina. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

Abbeville
Abney Crossroads
Adams Run
Aiken
Alcolu
Allendale
Anderson
Andrews

Browse all communities in South Carolina

65770 billing questions

How is this different from a corneal transplant code?

This code represents implantation of an artificial corneal device. Corneal transplant codes represent procedures using donor corneal tissue, with the applicable code selected according to the transplant technique and clinical details.

Are related postoperative visits separately reported?

The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.

How is bilateral surgery reported?

Report modifier 50 for bilateral surgery. CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.

Can an assistant surgeon be reported?

An assistant at surgery may be paid for this procedure. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?

Under the standard multiple procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the other procedures are paid at 50%.

What documentation supports reporting this code?

The operative report should identify implantation of an artificial corneal device and document the procedure performed. A record describing only a donor-tissue graft or ocular-surface treatment does not establish this service.

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

RVUs for 65770PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 7,336 (RVU26D)

7,33365760,,[CPT descriptor omitted],N,,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

7,33465765,,[CPT descriptor omitted],N,,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

7,33565767,,[CPT descriptor omitted],N,,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

7,33665770,,[CPT descriptor omitted],A,,19.25,14.62,NA,14.62,,1.53,35.40,35.40,0,090,0.10,0.70,0.20,2,1,2,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00

7,33765771,,[CPT descriptor omitted],N,,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

7,33865772,,[CPT descriptor omitted],A,,4.96,8.42,,5.15,,0.40,13.78,10.51,0,090,0.10,0.70,0.20,2,1,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00

7,33965775,,[CPT descriptor omitted],A,,6.74,7.67,NA,7.67,,0.53,14.94,14.94,0,090,0.10,0.70,0.20,2,1,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00

Geographic factors for South CarolinaGPCI2026.csv, line 93 (RVU26D)

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

9604412,TX,31,AUSTIN,1.002,1.058,0.886

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What 65770 covers

How South Carolina compares for 65770

Every other payment area

65770 rates by state

How the 65770 rate is calculated

Payment rules and modifiers for 65770

What modifiers do to the payment

Codes related to 65770

How 65770 has changed in South Carolina

Where the South Carolina rate applies

65770 billing questions

How is this different from a corneal transplant code?

Are related postoperative visits separately reported?

How is bilateral surgery reported?

Can an assistant surgeon be reported?

What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?

What documentation supports reporting this code?

Where these rates come from

Did this answer your question about what 65770 pays in South Carolina?

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