CPT code 66155: Glaucoma surgery, with iridectomy2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Maryland
Reports glaucoma filtration surgery that creates a scleral drainage pathway and includes an iridectomy to help lower intraocular pressure.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 66155 in Maryland.
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 66155 covers
An ophthalmologist performs this operation to create a filtration pathway through the sclera, allowing aqueous fluid to drain and helping reduce intraocular pressure. The procedure includes removal of a portion of the iris. It is used for glaucoma when surgical pressure reduction is needed; the operative report should establish that the surgeon performed the filtration procedure with an iridectomy. It is typically performed in an operating room or ambulatory surgery setting.
Report one unit for the operated eye when the documented procedure matches this service. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, which includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. If other procedures are performed in the same session, CMS pays the highest-valued procedure in full and applies the standard reduction to the others. With modifier 50, the bilateral procedure 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.
Where 66155 pays more and less in Maryland
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore area, MD | Unavailable | $801.37 |
| Rest of Maryland | Unavailable | $766.74 |
| Washington, DC area | Unavailable | $852.03 |
How the 66155 rate is calculated
Each of 66155’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 · 66155
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work10.26
10.26 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense11.70
11.70 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.82
0.82 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
22.7800
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$760.87
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 66155
66155 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 66155
Glaucoma surgery, with iridectomy
| 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) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| 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 · 66155
Glaucoma surgery, with iridectomy
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
66155 without 50 · national facility
$760.87
Glaucoma surgery, with iridectomy
66155-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,141.31
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).
66155 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 66150Glaucoma surgeryTrephination with iridectomy
- Choose 66155 when the documented trabeculectomy includes an iridectomy; 66150 describes the version without one.
- 66170TrabeculectomyWithout prior scarring
- This is a different trabeculectomy code specified for absence of previous ocular surgery or trauma. Select based on the procedure and circumstances documented, not the shared glaucoma indication.
- 66172Glaucoma surgeryPrior surgery or trauma scarring
- This trabeculectomy code addresses scarring from previous ocular surgery or trauma, rather than distinguishing the service by inclusion of an iridectomy.
- 66174CanaloplastyWithout retained stent
- This dilates the aqueous outflow canal without a retention device; it is not a scleral filtration procedure with iridectomy.
66155 billing questions
How does this differ from 66150?
This code includes an iridectomy as part of the glaucoma filtration surgery. Code 66150 describes the corresponding procedure without an iridectomy.
What documentation supports this code?
The operative report should document the scleral filtration procedure and the iridectomy. A diagnosis of glaucoma alone does not establish that this specific operation was performed.
Is related postoperative care separately reported?
The 90-day global period includes related postoperative care and the day-before preoperative visit. Unrelated services are distinct from that included care.
How is bilateral surgery reported?
For bilateral surgery, report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
CMS restricts assistant-at-surgery payment for this procedure. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?
CMS pays the highest-valued procedure in full and applies the standard multiple procedure reduction to the other procedures.
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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