CPT code 66770: Intraocular lesion removal, ciliary body lesion2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
Report 66770 when an ophthalmologist surgically excises a lesion of the ciliary body rather than destroying ciliary tissue to treat glaucoma.
Medicare pays $560.78–$689.61 for 66770 in the office in California, from Chico, CA to San Benito County, CA. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
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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On this page 9 sections
What 66770 covers
CPT 66770 describes surgical removal of a lesion involving the ciliary body, the structure inside the eye that produces aqueous humor. An ophthalmologist typically performs the procedure in an operating room, using an approach suited to the lesion’s location and extent. It is distinct from procedures that destroy ciliary tissue to lower intraocular pressure; those treat glaucoma rather than excise a lesion.
Select the code when the operative record supports excision of a ciliary body lesion. Documentation should identify the lesion’s site and describe the excision performed and the treated eye. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. 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.
Where 66770 pays more and less in California
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
29 payment localities
$560.78 to $689.61
29 of 29 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | $562.33 | $432.37 |
| Chico, CA | $560.78 | $430.83 |
| El Centro, CA | $560.86 | $430.90 |
| Fresno, CA | $560.78 | $430.83 |
| Hanford, CA | $560.78 | $430.83 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $595.31 | $455.03 |
| Madera, CA | $560.78 | $430.83 |
| Marin County, CA | $675.21 | $508.02 |
| Merced, CA | $560.78 | $430.83 |
| Modesto, CA | $560.78 | $430.83 |
| Napa, CA | $640.27 | $483.99 |
| Oxnard, CA | $591.75 | $451.59 |
| Redding, CA | $560.78 | $430.83 |
| Rest of California | $560.78 | $430.83 |
| Riverside, CA | $565.96 | $436.00 |
| Sacramento, CA | $585.93 | $448.03 |
| Salinas, CA | $583.65 | $446.23 |
| San Benito County, CA | $689.61 | $518.63 |
| San Diego, CA | $595.34 | $453.52 |
| San Francisco, CA | $674.67 | $507.48 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $574.48 | $439.43 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | $687.43 | $516.44 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $599.50 | $455.43 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $585.28 | $447.03 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $605.44 | $459.83 |
| Stockton, CA | $560.78 | $430.83 |
| Vallejo, CA | $639.50 | $483.22 |
| Visalia, CA | $560.78 | $430.83 |
| Yuba City, CA | $560.78 | $430.83 |
How the 66770 rate is calculated
Each of 66770’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 · 66770
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work5.98
5.98 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense9.54
9.54 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.47
0.47 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
15.9900
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$534.08
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 66770
66770 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 66770
Intraocular lesion removal, ciliary body lesion
| 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 · 66770
Intraocular lesion removal, ciliary body lesion
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
66770 without 50 · national office
$534.08
Intraocular lesion removal, ciliary body lesion
66770-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$801.12
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).
66770 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 66600Iris surgeryLesion removal
- Use 66600 for excision of a lesion confined to the iris. Use 66770 when the lesion involves the ciliary body.
- 66710Ciliary body treatmentTransscleral laser
- 66710 destroys ciliary body tissue to treat glaucoma; 66770 removes a ciliary body lesion.
- 66711Endoscopic cyclophotocoagulationCiliary body destruction
- 66711 is endoscopic ciliary body destruction for glaucoma. It is not the excision code for a ciliary body lesion.
66770 billing questions
How is 66770 different from excision of an iris lesion?
66770 is for a lesion involving the ciliary body. Use the iris-lesion procedure when the excised lesion is confined to the iris.
Can 66770 be reported with a ciliary body destruction procedure?
They describe different treatment goals: 66770 removes a lesion, while ciliary body destruction procedures treat conditions such as glaucoma. Report both only when the operative documentation supports distinct services in the same session.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How does Medicare handle bilateral reporting?
CMS lists this as a bilateral procedure; reporting modifier 50 is paid at 150%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be paid for this operation?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted. CMS does not permit co-surgeons or team surgery 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
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