CPT code 65782: Ocular reconstruction, autologous limbal stem cell graft2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in New Jersey
Reports ocular surface reconstruction using the patient's own limbal stem cells, typically for severe limbal stem cell deficiency after ocular surface injury.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 65782 in New Jersey.
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 65782 covers
An ophthalmic surgeon transplants limbal stem cells taken from the patient to rebuild a damaged ocular surface. This is used for limbal stem cell deficiency, often after a chemical or thermal injury, when the patient’s own viable limbal tissue can serve as the graft source. The operation is typically performed in a surgical facility by a cornea or ocular-surface specialist.
Report 65782 when the reconstruction uses the patient’s own limbal tissue; an allograft from a donor is a different code in this family. The operative record should identify the recipient eye, the autologous tissue source, and the transplant performed. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 identifies bilateral surgery, paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted; co-surgeon payment requires 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 65782 pays more and less in New Jersey
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Northern New Jersey | Unavailable | $1,076.97 |
| Rest of New Jersey | Unavailable | $1,037.29 |
How the 65782 rate is calculated
Each of 65782’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 · 65782
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work15.04
15.04 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense12.90
12.90 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.21
1.21 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
29.1500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$973.64
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 65782
65782 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 65782
Ocular reconstruction, autologous limbal stem cell graft
| 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) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| 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 · 65782
Ocular reconstruction, autologous limbal stem cell graft
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
65782 without 50 · national facility
$973.64
Ocular reconstruction, autologous limbal stem cell graft
65782-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,460.46
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).
65782 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 65781Ocular reconstructionLimbal stem cell allograft
- Choose 65782 for an autologous graft taken from the patient. Use 65781 when the limbal stem cell graft comes from a donor.
- 65780Amniotic membrane graftMultiple layers
- 65780 describes ocular surface reconstruction using amniotic membrane transplantation. 65782 is distinguished by transplantation of the patient's own limbal stem cells.
- 65778Amniotic membraneWithout sutures
- 65778 is amniotic membrane placement without sutures, not autologous limbal stem cell transplantation.
- 65779Amniotic membraneSingle layer, sutured
- 65779 is amniotic membrane placement with sutures. It does not represent reconstruction using the patient's own limbal stem cells.
65782 billing questions
How does 65782 differ from 65781?
65782 is for limbal stem cells taken from the patient; 65781 is for an allograft from a donor. Document the graft source.
Does 65782 include harvesting the patient's tissue?
The autograft procedure involves obtaining the patient's own limbal tissue and transplanting it to reconstruct the ocular surface. Document the source and transplant.
When would 65778 or 65779 be considered instead?
Those codes describe amniotic membrane placement on the ocular surface, without or with sutures, rather than reconstruction using an autologous limbal stem cell graft.
What is included in the 90-day global period?
The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period.
How is bilateral 65782 reported?
Use modifier 50 for bilateral surgery; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
CMS restricts assistant-at-surgery payment for this code. 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
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