CPT code 65771: Radial keratotomy2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 65771 covers

Radial keratotomy is a corneal refractive operation in which an ophthalmologist makes spoke-like incisions in the cornea to alter its curvature, typically to reduce myopia. The incisions extend outward from the central cornea, flattening it to reduce nearsightedness. The procedure reshapes the patient's cornea; it is distinct from transplantation and from operations directed at surgically induced astigmatism.

Medicare lists code 65771 with status N, meaning Medicare does not cover the procedure. This is a CPT Category I surgical procedure. Distinguish it from other corneal operations by the technique performed and the refractive problem being treated: radial keratotomy uses radial cuts to reshape the cornea for myopia, while nearby procedures may use different techniques or address astigmatism.

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 65771 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

65771 rates by state

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

How the 65771 rate is calculated

Each of 65771’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 65771

65771 has no global surgery period, no multiple-procedure, bilateral or assistant-at-surgery adjustment, and no professional/technical split. What changes the payment is where the service happens: the place of service on the claim decides whether Medicare pays the office or the facility rate.

65771 compared with similar codes

How to choose

65772Astigmatism correctionPostsurgical corneal relaxing incision

Use 65771 for radial keratotomy intended to reduce myopia. Code 65772 describes corneal relaxing incisions for surgically induced astigmatism.

65775Corneal surgeryWedge resection

65775 describes corneal wedge resection for surgically induced astigmatism; 65771 describes radial corneal incisions for refractive correction.

65760KeratomileusisCorneal refractive surgery

65760 describes keratomileusis, a different corneal refractive procedure. Select based on the operation performed, not simply the goal of changing vision.

Codes related to 65771

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

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates