CPT code 66720: Ciliary body destruction, cyclocryotherapy2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in North Carolina

Report cyclocryotherapy when an ophthalmologist freezes ciliary body tissue to reduce aqueous production, typically to manage glaucoma inadequately controlled by other treatment.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality115 Medicare services in 2024

In North Carolina, Medicare pays $448.62 for 66720 in the office and $344.22 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$448.62Office (non-facility)
$344.22Hospital or facility
−5.3%vs the national office rate ($473.62)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 66720 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 66720 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in North Carolina
  2. What 66720 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 66720 covers

An ophthalmologist uses a cryoprobe applied externally over the ciliary body to freeze targeted tissue and reduce aqueous humor production. This cyclocryotherapy procedure is used most often for glaucoma that remains difficult to control, including situations in which conventional pressure-lowering treatment has not achieved adequate control. It is generally performed as an eye surgery in an operating room or ambulatory surgery setting.

Choose this code for the cryotherapy technique, not for ciliary body treatment performed with diathermy or laser. The operative report should identify the treated eye, the ciliary body cryotherapy performed, and the clinical indication. CMS 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 the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. For bilateral treatment reported with modifier 50, CMS pays 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 North Carolina compares for 66720

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 66720 runs from $424.40 in Arkansas to $620.43 in San Benito County, CA. North Carolina pays $448.62. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

66720 in North Carolina vs other payment areas
  1. North Carolina · this page$448.62
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$531.92+$83.30
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$537.95+$89.33
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$505.09+$56.47
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$492.24+$43.62
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$540.44+$91.82
  7. Alaska · Alaska$565.33+$116.71

Other areas in North Carolina first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

66720 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$429.93$332.03
ArkansasArkansas$424.40$328.28
ArizonaArizona$462.34$353.92
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$501.17$378.53
Chico, CACalifornia$499.96$377.32
El Centro, CACalifornia$500.02$377.38
Fresno, CACalifornia$499.96$377.32
Hanford, CACalifornia$499.96$377.32

66720 rates by state

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

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.

$424.40

$565.33

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

View every state and territory as a table
66720 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$565.331
AL$429.931
AR$424.401
AZ$462.341
CA$499.96–$620.4329
CO$492.401
CT$502.921
DC$537.951
DE$469.471
FL$466.35–$505.093
GA$442.88–$481.482
GU$510.431
HI$510.431
IA$440.111
ID$442.581
IL$453.91–$492.534
IN$444.891
KS$438.061
KY$438.541
LA$437.84–$457.212
MA$489.84–$538.092
MD$477.84–$537.953
ME$444.42–$466.302
MI$448.54–$471.372
MN$473.821
MO$430.99–$458.933
MS$427.781
MT$473.601
NC$448.621
ND$466.281
NE$442.331
NH$484.651
NJ$509.22–$533.272
NM$450.661
NV$471.871
NY$454.62–$552.065
OH$447.051
OK$438.061
OR$468.73–$506.972
PA$447.80–$491.362
PR$476.811
RI$485.351
SC$448.471
SD$465.421
TN$440.001
TX$445.15–$490.318
UT$453.971
VA$464.78–$537.952
VI$476.811
VT$464.451
WA$488.93–$548.702
WI$452.191
WV$438.781
WY$470.411

See 66720 in every payment locality

How the 66720 rate is calculated

Each of 66720’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 · 66720

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work4.63

4.63 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense9.18

9.18 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.37

0.37 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

14.1800

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$473.62

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

The exact North Carolina inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

7,390

Code
66720
Physician work
4.63
Practice expense
9.18
Malpractice
0.37

GPCI2026.csv

83

Locality
North Carolina
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.933
Malpractice
0.639
Office calculation for 66720 in North Carolina
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work4.63× 1.0004.6300
Practice expense9.18× 0.9338.5649
Malpractice0.37× 0.6390.2364
Total RVUs13.4314
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, North Carolina$448.62

Office: (4.63 × 1 + 9.18 × 0.933 + 0.37 × 0.639) × $33.4009 = $448.62

Facility: (4.63 × 1 + 5.83 × 0.933 + 0.37 × 0.639) × $33.4009 = $344.22

Open 66720 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 66720

66720 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 66720

Ciliary body destruction, cyclocryotherapy

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 · 66720

Ciliary body destruction, cyclocryotherapy

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

66720 without 50 · national office

$473.62

Ciliary body destruction, cyclocryotherapy

66720-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$710.43

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

How 66720 has changed in North Carolina

66720 · Office / nonfacility

$448.62

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $23.00 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $425.62 to $448.62 (5.4%).

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

    $425.62changed to$448.62

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 4.75 changed to 4.63
    • Practice expense RVU 8.80 changed to 9.18
    • Malpractice RVU 0.39 changed to 0.37
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.926 changed to 0.933
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.665 changed to 0.639

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $440.25changed to$425.62

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 8.88 changed to 8.80
    • Malpractice RVU 0.38 changed to 0.39

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $433.06changed to$440.25

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $443.63changed to$433.06

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 8.71 changed to 8.88
    • Malpractice RVU 0.36 changed to 0.38
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.927 changed to 0.926
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.742 changed to 0.665
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $447.20changed to$443.63

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 8.48 changed to 8.71
    • Malpractice RVU 0.37 changed to 0.36
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.928 changed to 0.927
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.819 changed to 0.742

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $448.68changed to$447.20

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 8.42 changed to 8.48
    • Malpractice RVU 0.36 changed to 0.37

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $449.16changed to$448.68

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 7.99 changed to 8.42
    • Malpractice RVU 0.35 changed to 0.36
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.930 changed to 0.928
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.757 changed to 0.819

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $450.38changed to$449.16

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 8.06 changed to 7.99
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.931 changed to 0.930
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.757

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $449.64changed to$450.38

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Malpractice RVU 0.34 changed to 0.35

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $444.29changed to$449.64

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 7.92 changed to 8.06
    • Malpractice RVU 0.35 changed to 0.34
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.732 changed to 0.695

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $456.85changed to$444.29

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Work RVU 5.00 changed to 4.75
    • Practice expense RVU 8.03 changed to 7.92
    • Malpractice RVU 0.38 changed to 0.35
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.930 changed to 0.931
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.768 changed to 0.732

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $458.95changed to$456.85

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 8.06 changed to 8.03
    • Malpractice RVU 0.36 changed to 0.38

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $456.67changed to$458.95

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $460.06changed to$456.67

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 7.93 changed to 8.06
    • Malpractice RVU 0.65 changed to 0.36
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.929 changed to 0.930
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.732 changed to 0.768

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $462.16changed to$460.06

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 8.75 changed to 7.93
    • Malpractice RVU 0.68 changed to 0.65
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.927 changed to 0.929
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.732

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $462.16

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$448.62$344.22RVU26D
2026-07-01$448.62$344.22RVU26C
2026-04-01$448.62$344.22RVU26B
2026-01-01$448.62$344.22RVU26A
2025-10-01$425.62$375.30RVU25D
2025-07-01$425.62$375.30RVU25C
2025-04-01$425.62$375.30RVU25B
2025-01-01$425.62$375.30RVU25A
2024-10-01$440.25$386.61RVU24D
2024-07-01$440.25$386.61RVU24C
2024-04-01$440.25$386.61RVU24B
2024-03-09$440.25$386.61RVU24AR
2024-01-01$433.06$380.30RVU24A
2023-10-01$443.63$389.28RVU23D
2023-07-01$443.63$389.28RVU23C
2023-04-01$443.63$389.28RVU23B
2023-01-01$443.63$389.28RVU23A
2022-10-01$447.20$391.32RVU22D
2022-07-01$447.20$391.32RVU22C
2022-04-01$447.20$391.32RVU22B
2022-01-01$447.20$391.32RVU22A
2021-10-01$448.68$392.98RVU21D
2021-07-01$448.68$392.98RVU21C
2021-04-01$448.68$392.98RVU21B
2021-01-01$448.68$392.98RVU21A
2020-10-01$449.16$396.80RVU20D
2020-07-01$449.16$396.80RVU20C
2020-04-01$449.16$396.80RVU20B
2020-01-01$449.16$396.80RVU20A
2019-10-01$450.38$399.05RVU19D
2019-07-01$450.38$399.05RVU19C
2019-04-01$450.38$399.05RVU19B
2019-01-01$450.38$399.05RVU19A
2018-10-01$449.64$400.04RVU18D
2018-07-01$449.64$400.04RVU18C
2018-04-01$449.64$400.04RVU18B
2018-01-01$449.64$400.04RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$444.29$396.85RVU17D
2017-07-01$444.29$396.85RVU17C
2017-04-01$444.29$396.85RVU17B
2017-01-01$444.29$396.85RVU17A
2016-10-01$456.85$409.90RVU16D
2016-07-01$456.85$409.90RVU16C
2016-04-01$456.85$409.90RVU16B
2016-01-01$456.85$409.90RVU16A
2015-10-01$458.95$411.16RVU15D
2015-07-01$458.95$411.16RVU15C
2015-04-01$456.67$409.12RVU15B
2015-01-01$456.67$409.12RVU15A
2014-10-01$460.06$413.81RVU14D
2014-07-01$460.06$413.81RVU14C
2014-04-01$460.06$413.81RVU14B
2014-01-01$460.06$413.81RVU14A
2013-10-01$462.16$412.96RVU13D
2013-07-01$462.16$412.96RVU13C
2013-04-01$462.16$412.96RVU13B
2013-01-01$462.16$412.96RVU13AR

Price 66720 for an earlier date of service

Where the North Carolina rate applies

North Carolina is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 785 cities and communities in North Carolina. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Aberdeen
  • Advance
  • Ahoskie
  • Alamance
  • Albemarle
  • Alexis
  • Alliance
  • Altamahaw

Browse all communities in North Carolina

66720 billing questions

How is 66720 different from transscleral cyclophotocoagulation?

66720 represents ciliary body destruction by freezing with a cryoprobe. Transscleral cyclophotocoagulation uses laser energy and is reported with 66710.

What should the operative note document?

Document the glaucoma indication, the cryotherapy technique, and the eye treated. The record should make clear that ciliary body tissue was treated with cryotherapy rather than diathermy or laser.

Can both eyes be reported on the same date?

For bilateral treatment, report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%. The operative documentation should support treatment of both eyes.

How does the 90-day global period affect postoperative billing?

The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period.

Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be billed?

CMS does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

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

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction, with payment at 50%.

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 66720PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 7,390 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for North CarolinaGPCI2026.csv, line 83 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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