CPT code 65781: Ocular reconstruction, limbal stem cell allograft2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Maine
Reports ocular surface reconstruction using donor limbal stem cells for limbal stem cell deficiency, such as after severe chemical injury.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 65781 in Maine.
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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What 65781 covers
An ophthalmic surgeon uses donor limbal tissue containing stem cells to rebuild the ocular surface when the patient’s limbal stem cell function is inadequate. The donor tissue may come from a cadaveric or living donor. This operation is used for significant limbal stem cell deficiency, including cases following severe chemical or thermal injury, and is generally performed in a surgical facility.
Report 65781 when the reconstruction uses an allogeneic limbal stem cell graft; document the donor tissue and the surgical work performed. The code has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction. For bilateral reporting with modifier 50, CMS pays at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; co-surgeons require 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.
Where 65781 pays more and less in Maine
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest of Maine | Unavailable | $1,066.34 |
| Southern Maine, ME | Unavailable | $1,101.20 |
How the 65781 rate is calculated
Each of 65781’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 · 65781
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work17.69
17.69 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense14.52
14.52 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.41
1.41 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
33.6200
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,122.94
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 65781
65781 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 65781
Ocular reconstruction, limbal stem cell allograft
| 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) | 0.10/0.70/0.20 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 65781
Ocular reconstruction, limbal stem cell allograft
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
65781 without 50 · national facility
$1,122.94
Ocular reconstruction, limbal stem cell allograft
65781-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,684.41
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).
65781 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 65782Ocular reconstructionAutologous limbal stem cell graft
- Use 65781 for donor limbal stem cells; use 65782 when the graft is autologous.
- 65780Amniotic membrane graftMultiple layers
- 65780 represents reconstruction with a multilayer amniotic membrane approach, rather than a limbal stem cell allograft.
- 65779Amniotic membraneSingle layer, sutured
- 65779 covers sutured amniotic membrane placement for ocular surface coverage. It does not describe transplantation of donor limbal stem cells.
65781 billing questions
How is 65781 different from 65782?
65781 is for limbal stem cells from a donor. 65782 is for an autologous graft using the patient’s own tissue.
When would 65780 be reported instead?
65780 describes ocular surface reconstruction using a multilayer amniotic membrane approach. Choose based on the graft and reconstruction performed, not just the diagnosis.
Does 65781 have a global period?
Yes. Its 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during the following 90 days.
How is bilateral 65781 paid?
CMS lists bilateral reporting with modifier 50 at 150%. The operative documentation should support surgery on both eyes.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available. Co-surgeons are paid only with supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.
What documentation supports reporting 65781?
Document the limbal stem cell deficiency, the donor source of the graft, and the operative reconstruction 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
Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
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