CPT code 66983: Cataract extraction, intracapsular with lens implant2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

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

What 66983 covers

This one-stage operation removes the cataractous lens together with its capsule and places an intraocular lens implant during the same procedure. Ophthalmologists report it when performing cataract surgery by the intracapsular method. The distinction from common extracapsular procedures is that the lens capsule is removed rather than preserved. The operation is typically performed in an operating room or ambulatory surgery setting, with documentation supporting the extraction method and lens placement during that operation.

Medicare assigns this CPT code physician fee schedule status C: no national payment is published, and the Medicare Administrative Contractor sets payment for each claim. The 90-day global period includes 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 50% payment. For bilateral surgery, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery; 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 66983 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

66983 rates by state

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

How the 66983 rate is calculated

Each of 66983’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 66983

66983 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 50

66983 compared with similar codes

How to choose

66984Cataract surgeryStandard, without ECP or drainage device

Both include cataract removal and lens implantation in one operation. Choose 66983 for intracapsular removal; 66984 describes extracapsular removal.

66982Cataract surgeryComplex, without ECP

This code is for intracapsular removal with lens implantation. Code 66982 describes complex extracapsular cataract removal with lens implantation.

66920Lens extractionIntracapsular technique

Code 66920 describes intracapsular cataract extraction without lens implantation during the procedure; 66983 includes the implant.

66985Lens implantationSecondary implant

Code 66985 describes insertion of an intraocular lens as a separate service, rather than lens placement during cataract extraction.

Codes related to 66983

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

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates