CPT code 67820: Eyelash epilation, forceps technique2026 Medicare rate & RVUs
Forceps epilation removes misdirected eyelashes that irritate the eye, typically when a clinician treats trichiasis in an office or outpatient setting.
Medicare pays $18.70 for 67820 nationally in the office and $19.04 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $17.30–$24.08.
Medicare rate · 67820
Eyelash epilation, forceps technique
- Work RVUs
- 0.31
- Total RVUs
- 0.56
- Global days
- 000
National rate · 2026
$18.70
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 67820 →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.
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On this page 10 sections
What 67820 covers
This service treats trichiasis by pulling misdirected eyelashes with forceps. The lashes may rub the cornea or conjunctiva and cause irritation or injury. An ophthalmologist or other qualified ophthalmic clinician commonly performs the treatment in an office or outpatient setting. The technique is specific: the clinician removes the offending lashes with forceps rather than using an alternative method or surgically altering the lid margin or tarsus.
Report the service when documentation supports trichiasis and forceps removal of the lashes. Record the treated eye and side, the clinical problem, and the method used. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. 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. For bilateral treatment, 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 67820 pays more and less
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
109 payment localities
$17.30 to $24.08
109 of 109 payment localities
67820 rates by state
Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.
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Local rates. Clear comparisons.
Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.
$17.30
$24.08
Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.
View every state and territory as a table
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $24.08 | 1 |
| AL | $17.45 | 1 |
| AR | $17.30 | 1 |
| AZ | $18.37 | 1 |
| CA | $19.31–$22.93 | 29 |
| CO | $19.17 | 1 |
| CT | $19.64 | 1 |
| DC | $20.71 | 1 |
| DE | $18.60 | 1 |
| FL | $18.70–$20.04 | 3 |
| GA | $18.00–$18.99 | 2 |
| GU | $19.48 | 1 |
| HI | $19.48 | 1 |
| IA | $17.65 | 1 |
| ID | $17.74 | 1 |
| IL | $18.41–$19.68 | 4 |
| IN | $17.80 | 1 |
| KS | $17.64 | 1 |
| KY | $17.79 | 1 |
| LA | $17.79–$18.34 | 2 |
| MA | $19.14–$20.55 | 2 |
| MD | $18.85–$20.71 | 3 |
| ME | $17.84–$18.39 | 2 |
| MI | $18.12–$18.89 | 2 |
| MN | $18.46 | 1 |
| MO | $17.63–$18.34 | 3 |
| MS | $17.46 | 1 |
| MT | $18.70 | 1 |
| NC | $17.95 | 1 |
| ND | $18.31 | 1 |
| NE | $17.70 | 1 |
| NH | $18.94 | 1 |
| NJ | $19.89–$20.63 | 2 |
| NM | $18.20 | 1 |
| NV | $18.60 | 1 |
| NY | $18.12–$21.39 | 5 |
| OH | $18.04 | 1 |
| OK | $17.73 | 1 |
| OR | $18.48–$19.55 | 2 |
| PA | $18.04–$19.33 | 2 |
| PR | $18.78 | 1 |
| RI | $19.08 | 1 |
| SC | $18.02 | 1 |
| SD | $18.26 | 1 |
| TN | $17.70 | 1 |
| TX | $17.97–$19.09 | 8 |
| UT | $18.18 | 1 |
| VA | $18.38–$20.71 | 2 |
| VI | $18.78 | 1 |
| VT | $18.30 | 1 |
| WA | $19.09–$20.84 | 2 |
| WI | $17.92 | 1 |
| WV | $17.99 | 1 |
| WY | $18.53 | 1 |
How the 67820 rate is calculated
Each of 67820’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 · 67820
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.31
0.31 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.23
0.23 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.02
0.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
0.5600
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$18.70
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 67820
The CMS indicators that decide how 67820 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 67820
Eyelash epilation, forceps technique
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is 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. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
67820 without 50 · national office
$18.70
Eyelash epilation, forceps technique
67820-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$28.05
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).
67820 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 67825Trichiasis correctionNon-forceps method
- Choose 67820 for forceps removal of misdirected lashes. Choose 67825 when the clinician epilates by another method, such as electrosurgery or cryotherapy.
- 67830Trichiasis repairIncision of lid margin
- 67820 describes forceps removal of lashes; 67830 is for correction through an incision-based procedure on the lid margin.
- 67835Trichiasis repairTarsal incision
- 67820 removes lashes with forceps. 67835 involves a more extensive correction that includes excision of tarsal tissue.
67820 billing questions
How does 67820 differ from 67825?
67820 is for removing misdirected lashes with forceps. 67825 is used when epilation is performed by a method other than forceps, such as electrosurgery or cryotherapy.
When is 67830 more appropriate?
Use 67830 when the clinician corrects trichiasis through an incision-based lid-margin procedure, rather than simply removing lashes with forceps.
What should the note document?
Document trichiasis, the affected eye and side, the lashes or area treated, and that forceps were used for removal.
How is bilateral treatment reported?
CMS identifies this as a bilateral procedure: modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Document treatment on both sides and follow applicable claim-format instructions.
Are same-day evaluation and postoperative care separately included?
The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. The service is also subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction when other procedures are performed in the same session.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
CMS does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
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
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