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CPT code 66987: Cataract surgery, complex, with ECP2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Complex cataract removal with intraocular lens placement and endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation, reported when both procedures are performed during the same operation.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities1.5K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare rate · 66987

Cataract surgery, complex, with ECP

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
0
Total RVUs
0.00
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

—

Not priced in the facility setting.

See every locality for 66987 →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 66987 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 66987 covers

An ophthalmologist reports 66987 for complex cataract removal with placement of an intraocular lens and endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) during the same operation. ECP uses an endoscope-guided laser to treat the ciliary processes and is used in glaucoma care. The cataract portion is complex because it requires additional techniques or devices beyond those used in routine cataract surgery. The combined procedure is typically performed in an operating room at an ambulatory surgery center or hospital.

Medicare assigns this service physician fee schedule status C: there is no national payment amount, and the Medicare Administrative Contractor prices each claim. The procedure has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures at 50%. For bilateral surgery, modifier 50 applies and payment is 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity; co-surgeon and team-surgery claims require supporting documentation.

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 66987 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

66987 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailableUnavailable
AlaskaUnavailableUnavailable
ArizonaUnavailableUnavailable
ArkansasUnavailableUnavailable
Atlanta, GAUnavailableUnavailable
Austin, TXUnavailableUnavailable
Bakersfield, CAUnavailableUnavailable
Baltimore area, MDUnavailableUnavailable
Beaumont, TXUnavailableUnavailable
Brazoria, TXUnavailableUnavailable

66987 rates by state

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

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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.

View every state and territory as a table
66987 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 66987 rate is calculated

Each of 66987’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 · 66987

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

0.0000

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$0.00

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 66987

66987 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 66987

Cataract surgery, complex, with ECP

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)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
Team surgery (66)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
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 · 66987

Cataract surgery, complex, with ECP

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

66987 without 50 · national facility

$0.00

Cataract surgery, complex, with ECP

66987-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$0.00

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

66987 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 66987

    Cataract surgery, complex, with ECP0 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 66988

    Cataract surgery, with ECP, noncomplex0 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 66982

    Cataract surgery, complex, without ECP9.99 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 66984

    Cataract surgery, standard, without ECP or drainage device7.17 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

66988Cataract surgeryWith ECP, noncomplex
Both include endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation with cataract surgery. Choose 66987 for a complex cataract procedure and 66988 for a routine one.
66982Cataract surgeryComplex, without ECP
Both describe complex cataract surgery with lens implantation. 66987 includes endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation; 66982 does not.
66984Cataract surgeryStandard, without ECP or drainage device
66984 is for routine cataract surgery with lens implantation, without endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation. 66987 describes a complex procedure that includes ECP.

Codes related to 66987

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

Codes related to 66987
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
66988Cataract surgery, with ECP, noncomplexRoutine cataract removal with endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation.No office rate
Used instead
66982Cataract surgery, complex, without ECPComplex cataract removal with lens implantation without endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation.No office rate
66984Cataract surgery, standard, without ECP or drainage deviceRoutine cataract removal with lens implantation, without ECP or complex techniques.No office rate

66987 billing questions

When should 66987 be chosen instead of 66982?

Use 66987 when complex cataract surgery includes endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation. Code 66982 describes complex cataract surgery without that added treatment.

How does 66987 differ from 66988?

Both include endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation with cataract surgery. Code 66987 is for a complex cataract procedure; 66988 is for a routine procedure.

Does 66987 include placement of an intraocular lens?

Yes. The service includes cataract removal and placement of an intraocular lens during the same operation.

How does Medicare price 66987?

Its physician fee schedule status is C, or carrier priced. The Medicare Administrative Contractor sets payment for each claim.

What global period applies to 66987?

It has a 90-day global period, which includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during the 90 days.

What documentation is needed for an assistant surgeon?

Medicare requires documentation of medical necessity for assistant-at-surgery payment. Co-surgeon and team-surgery claims require supporting documentation.

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

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