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CPT code 65880: Adhesion lysis, anterior segment synechiae2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

An ophthalmologist surgically releases synechiae in the eye’s anterior segment, with or without iridectomy, when adhesions require operative treatment.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities42 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $573.49 for 65880 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 65880

Adhesion lysis, anterior segment synechiae

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
8.15
Total RVUs
17.17
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$573.49

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 65880 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

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

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 65880 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 65880 covers

An ophthalmologist uses an intraocular surgical technique to release synechiae, abnormal adhesions involving structures in the eye’s anterior segment. These adhesions may follow inflammation, trauma, or prior surgery and can interfere with normal anatomy or function. The procedure is generally performed in an operating room or other surgical facility; an iridectomy may be performed as part of the service.

Choose this code for surgical lysis of anterior segment synechiae, rather than adhesions classified as other than synechiae or adhesions treated by laser. The operative report should identify the adhesions and their location, document the surgical release, and note any iridectomy and laterality. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. For procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 applies to a bilateral procedure, 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.

Where 65880 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

65880 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$529.23
AlaskaUnavailable$718.20
ArizonaUnavailable$561.74
ArkansasUnavailable$523.66
Atlanta, GAUnavailable$583.09
Austin, TXUnavailable$587.84
Bakersfield, CAUnavailable$597.18
Baltimore area, MDUnavailable$603.35
Beaumont, TXUnavailable$546.78
Brazoria, TXUnavailable$568.45

65880 rates by state

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

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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
65880 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 65880 rate is calculated

Each of 65880’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 · 65880

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work8.15

8.15 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense8.38

8.38 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.64

0.64 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

17.1700

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$573.49

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 65880

65880 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 65880

Adhesion lysis, anterior segment synechiae

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 · 65880

Adhesion lysis, anterior segment synechiae

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

65880 without 50 · national facility

$573.49

Adhesion lysis, anterior segment synechiae

65880-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$860.24

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

65880 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 65880

    Adhesion lysis, anterior segment synechiae8.15 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 65865

    Eye adhesion lysis, incisional technique5.63 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 65875

    Eye adhesiolysis, extensive, mechanical7.61 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 65860

    Laser adhesion release, anterior segment of eye3.5 wRVU

    $309.96

How to choose

65865Eye adhesion lysisIncisional technique
Use 65880 for synechiae. Code 65865 addresses anterior segment adhesions other than synechiae.
65875Eye adhesiolysisExtensive, mechanical
Code 65875 is for extensive lysis of anterior segment adhesions other than synechiae; 65880 is for synechiae.
65860Laser adhesion releaseAnterior segment of eye
Code 65860 describes laser severing of anterior segment adhesions. Code 65880 is the surgical lysis code for synechiae.

Codes related to 65880

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

Codes related to 65880
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
65865Eye adhesion lysis, incisional techniqueAnterior segment adhesions other than synechiae.No office rate
65870Synechiolysis, extensive, incisional techniqueLimited lysis of anterior segment adhesions other than synechiae.No office rate
65875Eye adhesiolysis, extensive, mechanicalExtensive lysis of anterior segment adhesions other than synechiae.No office rate
Used instead
65860Laser adhesion release, anterior segment of eyeUses laser to sever anterior segment adhesions.$279.64–$399.98

65880 billing questions

How does 65880 differ from 65875?

65880 is for surgical release of anterior segment synechiae. Codes 65865, 65870, and 65875 address anterior segment adhesions other than synechiae, with distinctions within that group.

Can an iridectomy be part of the service?

Yes. The service includes lysis with or without iridectomy; document the iridectomy when performed.

How should bilateral treatment be reported?

CMS identifies this as a bilateral procedure payable with modifier 50 at 150%. Document treatment of both eyes.

What documentation supports the code?

Document the synechiae, their anterior segment location, the surgical release performed, laterality, and any iridectomy.

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

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures in the session are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction.

Is assistant-at-surgery payment available?

CMS applies a statutory restriction, so an assistant at surgery is not paid for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are 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

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 65880PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 7,356 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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