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

CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 66987 in California.

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

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 in California

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

29 of 29 payment localities

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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 66987

66987 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

66987 compared with similar codes

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.

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