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CPT code 65815: Eye drainage, with chamber replacement2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Ophthalmologists report this procedure when they drain aqueous from the eye’s anterior chamber and refill it with air, gas, or liquid.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality840 Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $731.40 for 65815 in the office and $459.52 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$731.40Office (non-facility)
$459.52Hospital or facility
+13.9%vs the national office rate ($642.30)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 65815 nationwide

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

We’ll open 65815 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 65815 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 65815 covers

This procedure is an anterior chamber paracentesis that removes aqueous and replaces it with air, another gas, or fluid. An ophthalmologist may perform it as an anterior chamber washout, including for a significant hyphema requiring evacuation and chamber replacement. It is a surgical service, commonly furnished in an operating room or other procedural setting; the operative note should identify the chamber drainage and the replacement material.

Select this code when both drainage and replacement are performed. A diagnostic aspiration or medication injection alone, or drainage without replacement, points to a different code in the family. Documentation should describe the reason for the procedure, the fluid or material removed, and what was used to refill the chamber. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted; 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 Washington, DC area compares for 65815

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 65815 runs from $574.00 in Arkansas to $847.40 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $731.40. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

65815 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$731.40
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$724.12−$7.28
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$683.48−$47.92
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$665.72−$65.68
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$733.72+$2.32
  6. Alaska · Alaska$761.15+$29.75
  7. Alabama · Alabama$581.69−$149.71

Other areas in District of Columbia first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

65815 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$574.00$375.74
ArizonaArizona$626.71$403.06
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$681.43$428.48
Chico, CACalifornia$679.92$426.96
El Centro, CACalifornia$680.00$427.04
Fresno, CACalifornia$679.92$426.96
Hanford, CACalifornia$679.92$426.96
Madera, CACalifornia$679.92$426.96

65815 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

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

$574.00

$763.66

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
65815 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$761.151
AL$581.691
AR$574.001
AZ$626.711
CA$679.92–$847.4029
CO$668.901
CT$682.661
DC$731.401
DE$636.551
FL$631.04–$683.483
GA$598.64–$652.882
GU$694.951
HI$694.951
IA$596.351
ID$599.681
IL$613.41–$667.184
IN$602.901
KS$593.251
KY$593.091
LA$592.03–$618.932
MA$665.18–$732.342
MD$648.17–$731.403
ME$601.97–$632.752
MI$606.74–$637.742
MN$644.001
MO$582.35–$621.623
MS$578.311
MT$642.271
NC$607.841
ND$633.171
NE$599.511
NH$658.071
NJ$691.31–$724.702
NM$609.571
NV$640.161
NY$616.16–$749.535
OH$604.881
OK$592.701
OR$636.01–$689.392
PA$606.07–$666.472
PR$646.821
RI$658.591
SC$607.201
SD$632.101
TN$595.921
TX$602.37–$665.978
UT$614.841
VA$630.45–$731.402
VI$646.821
VT$630.391
WA$664.04–$747.222
WI$613.541
WV$592.391
WY$638.301

See 65815 in every payment locality

How the 65815 rate is calculated

Each of 65815’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 · 65815

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work5.85

5.85 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense12.92

12.92 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.46

0.46 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

19.2300

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$642.30

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

The exact Washington, DC area inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

7,348

Code
65815
Physician work
5.85
Practice expense
12.92
Malpractice
0.46

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 65815 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work5.85× 1.0546.1659
Practice expense12.92× 1.17815.2198
Malpractice0.46× 1.1130.5120
Total RVUs21.8976
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$731.40

Office: (5.85 × 1.054 + 12.92 × 1.178 + 0.46 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $731.40

Facility: (5.85 × 1.054 + 6.01 × 1.178 + 0.46 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $459.52

Open 65815 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 65815

65815 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 65815

Eye drainage, with chamber replacement

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period090Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.10/0.70/0.20Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 65815

Eye drainage, with chamber replacement

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

65815 without 50 · national office

$642.30

Eye drainage, with chamber replacement

65815-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$963.45

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 65815

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

Codes related to 65815
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Same family
65800Eye paracentesis, aqueous removalAnterior chamber aspiration or medication injection without this drainage-and-replacement service.$135.61
65810Eye drainage, anterior vitreous removalAnterior chamber drainage without the replacement step that distinguishes 65815.No office rate
Used instead
65820Goniotomy, angle incisionGoniotomy treats glaucoma through an angle incision rather than chamber drainage and replacement.No office rate

How 65815 has changed in Washington, DC area

65815 · Office / nonfacility

$731.40

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $27.71 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $703.69 to $731.40 (3.9%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

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

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $703.69changed to$731.40

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 6.00 changed to 5.85
    • Practice expense RVU 12.45 changed to 12.92
    • Malpractice RVU 0.49 changed to 0.46
    • Work GPCI 1.057 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.192 changed to 1.178
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.168 changed to 1.113

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $733.31changed to$703.69

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 12.71 changed to 12.45
    • Malpractice RVU 0.46 changed to 0.49

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $721.34changed to$733.31

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $753.06changed to$721.34

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 12.64 changed to 12.71
    • Malpractice RVU 0.44 changed to 0.46
    • Work GPCI 1.056 changed to 1.057
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.214 changed to 1.192
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.231 changed to 1.168

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $772.79changed to$753.06

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 12.49 changed to 12.64
    • Work GPCI 1.054 changed to 1.056
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.236 changed to 1.214
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.294 changed to 1.231

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $785.69changed to$772.79

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 12.63 changed to 12.49
    • Malpractice RVU 0.45 changed to 0.44

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $766.52changed to$785.69

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 11.78 changed to 12.63
    • Malpractice RVU 0.44 changed to 0.45
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.221 changed to 1.236
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.277 changed to 1.294

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $759.25changed to$766.52

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 11.83 changed to 11.78
    • Malpractice RVU 0.43 changed to 0.44
    • Work GPCI 1.045 changed to 1.049
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.221
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.261 changed to 1.277

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $757.14changed to$759.25

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 11.79 changed to 11.83
    • Malpractice RVU 0.44 changed to 0.43

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $746.53changed to$757.14

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 11.58 changed to 11.79
    • Work GPCI 1.048 changed to 1.045
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.271 changed to 1.261

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $745.56changed to$746.53

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Work GPCI 1.051 changed to 1.048
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.280 changed to 1.271

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $747.81changed to$745.56

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 11.57 changed to 11.58

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $744.09changed to$747.81

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $766.18changed to$744.09

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 11.54 changed to 11.57
    • Malpractice RVU 1.01 changed to 0.44
    • Work GPCI 1.050 changed to 1.051
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.202 changed to 1.205
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.280

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $772.13changed to$766.18

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 12.69 changed to 11.54
    • Malpractice RVU 1.06 changed to 1.01
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.050
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.198 changed to 1.202
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.130 changed to 1.205

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $772.13

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$731.40$459.52RVU26D
2026-07-01$731.40$459.52RVU26C
2026-04-01$731.40$459.52RVU26B
2026-01-01$731.40$459.52RVU26A
2025-10-01$703.69$520.93RVU25D
2025-07-01$703.69$520.93RVU25C
2025-04-01$703.69$520.93RVU25B
2025-01-01$703.69$520.93RVU25A
2024-10-01$733.31$535.31RVU24D
2024-07-01$733.31$535.31RVU24C
2024-04-01$733.31$535.31RVU24B
2024-03-09$733.31$535.31RVU24AR
2024-01-01$721.34$526.58RVU24A
2023-10-01$753.06$544.49RVU23D
2023-07-01$753.06$544.49RVU23C
2023-04-01$753.06$544.49RVU23B
2023-01-01$753.06$544.49RVU23A
2022-10-01$772.79$552.08RVU22D
2022-07-01$772.79$552.08RVU22C
2022-04-01$772.79$552.08RVU22B
2022-01-01$772.79$552.08RVU22A
2021-10-01$785.69$555.82RVU21D
2021-07-01$785.69$555.82RVU21C
2021-04-01$785.69$555.82RVU21B
2021-01-01$785.69$555.82RVU21A
2020-10-01$766.52$557.65RVU20D
2020-07-01$766.52$557.65RVU20C
2020-04-01$766.52$557.65RVU20B
2020-01-01$766.52$557.65RVU20A
2019-10-01$759.25$555.58RVU19D
2019-07-01$759.25$555.58RVU19C
2019-04-01$759.25$555.58RVU19B
2019-01-01$759.25$555.58RVU19A
2018-10-01$757.14$557.59RVU18D
2018-07-01$757.14$557.59RVU18C
2018-04-01$757.14$557.59RVU18B
2018-01-01$757.14$557.59RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$746.53$552.78RVU17D
2017-07-01$746.53$552.78RVU17C
2017-04-01$746.53$552.78RVU17B
2017-01-01$746.53$552.78RVU17A
2016-10-01$745.56$551.84RVU16D
2016-07-01$745.56$551.84RVU16C
2016-04-01$745.56$551.84RVU16B
2016-01-01$745.56$551.84RVU16A
2015-10-01$747.81$552.96RVU15D
2015-07-01$747.81$552.96RVU15C
2015-04-01$744.09$550.21RVU15B
2015-01-01$744.09$550.21RVU15A
2014-10-01$766.18$574.57RVU14D
2014-07-01$766.18$574.57RVU14C
2014-04-01$766.18$574.57RVU14B
2014-01-01$766.18$574.57RVU14A
2013-10-01$772.13$569.56RVU13D
2013-07-01$772.13$569.56RVU13C
2013-04-01$772.13$569.56RVU13B
2013-01-01$772.13$569.56RVU13AR

Price 65815 for an earlier date of service

Where the Washington, DC area rate applies

Washington, DC area is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1 cities and communities in District of Columbia. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Washington

Browse all communities in District of Columbia

65815 billing questions

How does this differ from 65810?

Use 65815 when aqueous is drained and the chamber is replaced with air, gas, or liquid. Code 65810 describes drainage without that replacement.

Can 65815 be used for a diagnostic tap or medication injection?

No. A diagnostic aspiration or medication injection without the drainage-and-replacement service belongs to the distinct service described by 65800.

What documentation supports 65815?

The operative note should establish anterior chamber drainage and identify the replacement material. Include the clinical reason, such as a hyphema requiring chamber washout, when applicable.

Does the code have a global period?

Yes. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, which includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.

How is bilateral reporting handled?

When the procedure is performed bilaterally, modifier 50 is paid at 150% under the CMS rule for this code.

Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment is subject to a statutory restriction. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted for this code.

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 65815PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 7,348 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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