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CPT code 68530: Tear duct clearance, obstruction removal2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in New Hampshire

Removal of obstructing material from the lacrimal drainage duct, reported when a tear duct concretion or similar blockage is cleared.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality2.4K Medicare services in 2024

In New Hampshire, Medicare pays $444.82 for 68530 in the office and $214.99 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$444.82Office (non-facility)
$214.99Hospital or facility
+2.6%vs the national office rate ($433.54)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 68530 nationwide

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

We’ll open 68530 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in New Hampshire
  2. What 68530 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 68530 covers

This procedure clears obstructing material, such as a dacryolith, from the lacrimal drainage duct. Ophthalmologists, including oculoplastic surgeons, perform it for patients with tear drainage blockage that may cause persistent tearing or recurrent inflammation. The service concerns removal of the obstruction, rather than simple probing or placement of a drainage tube.

Report the code when the operative record supports actual clearance of obstructing material from the duct; document the site and what was removed. Medicare assigns a 10-day global period, so related postoperative visits during that period are included. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others are subject to the standard 50% reduction. For bilateral performance, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted, and 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.

How New Hampshire compares for 68530

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 68530 runs from $386.20 in Arkansas to $576.67 in San Benito County, CA. New Hampshire pays $444.82. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

68530 in New Hampshire vs other payment areas
  1. New Hampshire · this page$444.82
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$490.91+$46.09
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$495.15+$50.33
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$460.29+$15.47
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$448.02+$3.20
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$495.93+$51.11
  7. Alaska · Alaska$509.37+$64.55

Other areas in New Hampshire first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

68530 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$391.53$198.35
ArkansasArkansas$386.20$196.55
ArizonaArizona$422.78$208.85
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$461.32$219.35
Chico, CACalifornia$460.40$218.43
El Centro, CACalifornia$460.45$218.47
Fresno, CACalifornia$460.40$218.43
Hanford, CACalifornia$460.40$218.43

68530 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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.

$386.20

$518.54

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
68530 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$509.371
AL$391.531
AR$386.201
AZ$422.781
CA$460.40–$576.6729
CO$452.371
CT$461.301
DC$495.151
DE$429.561
FL$424.89–$460.293
GA$402.55–$440.642
GU$471.201
HI$471.201
IA$402.101
ID$404.331
IL$412.39–$449.814
IN$406.571
KS$399.761
KY$399.051
LA$398.24–$416.902
MA$449.67–$496.362
MD$437.63–$495.153
ME$405.72–$427.362
MI$408.34–$429.332
MN$435.761
MO$391.40–$418.993
MS$388.901
MT$433.521
NC$409.831
ND$427.991
NE$404.351
NH$444.821
NJ$467.21–$490.352
NM$410.221
NV$432.291
NY$415.59–$506.665
OH$407.201
OK$398.971
OR$429.55–$466.782
PA$408.13–$449.972
PR$436.741
RI$444.841
SC$409.071
SD$427.331
TN$401.581
TX$405.55–$450.338
UT$414.371
VA$425.63–$495.152
VI$436.741
VT$425.891
WA$448.97–$506.782
WI$414.321
WV$397.801
WY$431.111

See 68530 in every payment locality

How the 68530 rate is calculated

Each of 68530’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 · 68530

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work3.61

3.61 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense9.09

9.09 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.28

0.28 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

12.9800

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$433.54

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

The exact New Hampshire inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

7,560

Code
68530
Physician work
3.61
Practice expense
9.09
Malpractice
0.28

GPCI2026.csv

74

Locality
New Hampshire
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
1.041
Malpractice
0.875
Office calculation for 68530 in New Hampshire
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work3.61× 1.0003.6100
Practice expense9.09× 1.0419.4627
Malpractice0.28× 0.8750.2450
Total RVUs13.3177
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, New Hampshire$444.82

Office: (3.61 × 1 + 9.09 × 1.041 + 0.28 × 0.875) × $33.4009 = $444.82

Facility: (3.61 × 1 + 2.48 × 1.041 + 0.28 × 0.875) × $33.4009 = $214.99

Open 68530 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 68530

68530 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 68530

Tear duct clearance, obstruction removal

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period010Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 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)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.10/0.80/0.10Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 68530

Tear duct clearance, obstruction removal

10-day global period ends

Oct 11, 2026

Covers Oct 1, 2026 through Oct 11, 2026 (11 days).

Visit on Oct 31, 2026

After the global period ends: visits and procedures are billed normally.

SurgeryVisit
Sep 28, 2026Oct 14, 2026

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

68530 without 50 · national office

$433.54

Tear duct clearance, obstruction removal

68530-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$650.31

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

Codes related to 68530

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

Codes related to 68530
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, New Hampshire
Used instead
68810Tear duct probing, simple probingProbing, with or without irrigation, addresses duct patency without coding obstruction-material removal.$164.53
68815Duct probing, with tube or stentProbing with tube or stent insertion is the relevant choice when the service includes intubation.$383.62
68840Tear duct probing, lacrimal canaliculiProbing the lacrimal canaliculi addresses obstruction in a more proximal part of the drainage pathway.$137.54
68720Tear drainage surgery, no tube or stentDacryocystorhinostomy creates a drainage bypass rather than clearing obstructing material from the duct.No office rate

How 68530 has changed in New Hampshire

68530 · Office / nonfacility

$444.82

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $24.06 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $420.76 to $444.82 (5.7%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $420.76changed to$444.82

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 3.70 changed to 3.61
    • Practice expense RVU 8.75 changed to 9.09
    • Malpractice RVU 0.29 changed to 0.28
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.034 changed to 1.041
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.898 changed to 0.875

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $440.53changed to$420.76

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 8.96 changed to 8.75
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.29

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $433.34changed to$440.53

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $448.50changed to$433.34

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 8.95 changed to 8.96
    • Malpractice RVU 0.29 changed to 0.30
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.036 changed to 1.034
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.907 changed to 0.898

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $456.99changed to$448.50

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 8.91 changed to 8.95
    • Malpractice RVU 0.28 changed to 0.29
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.038 changed to 1.036
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.917 changed to 0.907

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $464.80changed to$456.99

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 9.03 changed to 8.91
    • Malpractice RVU 0.27 changed to 0.28

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $455.60changed to$464.80

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 8.30 changed to 9.03
    • Malpractice RVU 0.28 changed to 0.27
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.042 changed to 1.038
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.984 changed to 0.917

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $455.77changed to$455.60

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 8.29 changed to 8.30
    • Malpractice RVU 0.27 changed to 0.28
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.045 changed to 1.042
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.050 changed to 0.984

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $452.64changed to$455.77

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 8.22 changed to 8.29

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $447.51changed to$452.64

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 8.08 changed to 8.22
    • Malpractice RVU 0.28 changed to 0.27
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.052 changed to 1.045
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.962 changed to 1.050

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $447.68changed to$447.51

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 8.09 changed to 8.08
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.058 changed to 1.052
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.873 changed to 0.962

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $448.92changed to$447.68

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 8.08 changed to 8.09

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $446.69changed to$448.92

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $456.68changed to$446.69

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 8.04 changed to 8.08
    • Malpractice RVU 0.69 changed to 0.28
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.051 changed to 1.058
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.867 changed to 0.873

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    No ratechanged to$456.68

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$444.82$214.99RVU26D
2026-07-01$444.82$214.99RVU26C
2026-04-01$444.82$214.99RVU26B
2026-01-01$444.82$214.99RVU26A
2025-10-01$420.76$247.17RVU25D
2025-07-01$420.76$247.17RVU25C
2025-04-01$420.76$247.17RVU25B
2025-01-01$420.76$247.17RVU25A
2024-10-01$440.53$253.63RVU24D
2024-07-01$440.53$253.63RVU24C
2024-04-01$440.53$253.63RVU24B
2024-03-09$440.53$253.63RVU24AR
2024-01-01$433.34$249.49RVU24A
2023-10-01$448.50$255.77RVU23D
2023-07-01$448.50$255.77RVU23C
2023-04-01$448.50$255.77RVU23B
2023-01-01$448.50$255.77RVU23A
2022-10-01$456.99$256.55RVU22D
2022-07-01$456.99$256.55RVU22C
2022-04-01$456.99$256.55RVU22B
2022-01-01$456.99$256.55RVU22A
2021-10-01$464.80$258.35RVU21D
2021-07-01$464.80$258.35RVU21C
2021-04-01$464.80$258.35RVU21B
2021-01-01$464.80$258.35RVU21A
2020-10-01$455.60$265.69RVU20D
2020-07-01$455.60$265.69RVU20C
2020-04-01$455.60$265.69RVU20B
2020-01-01$455.60$265.69RVU20A
2019-10-01$455.77$268.60RVU19D
2019-07-01$455.77$268.60RVU19C
2019-04-01$455.77$268.60RVU19B
2019-01-01$455.77$268.60RVU19A
2018-10-01$452.64$270.18RVU18D
2018-07-01$452.64$270.18RVU18C
2018-04-01$452.64$270.18RVU18B
2018-01-01$452.64$270.18RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$447.51$268.56RVU17D
2017-07-01$447.51$268.56RVU17C
2017-04-01$447.51$268.56RVU17B
2017-01-01$447.51$268.56RVU17A
2016-10-01$447.68$267.37RVU16D
2016-07-01$447.68$267.37RVU16C
2016-04-01$447.68$267.37RVU16B
2016-01-01$447.68$267.37RVU16A
2015-10-01$448.92$267.58RVU15D
2015-07-01$448.92$267.58RVU15C
2015-04-01$446.69$266.24RVU15B
2015-01-01$446.69$266.24RVU15A
2014-10-01$456.68$279.72RVU14D
2014-07-01$456.68$279.72RVU14C
2014-04-01$456.68$279.72RVU14B
2014-01-01$456.68$279.72RVU14A
2013-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 68530 for an earlier date of service

Where the New Hampshire rate applies

New Hampshire is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 100 cities and communities in New Hampshire. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Alton
  • Amherst
  • Antrim
  • Ashland
  • Bartlett
  • Belmont
  • Bennington
  • Berlin

Browse all communities in New Hampshire

68530 billing questions

When is this code more appropriate than probing the nasolacrimal duct?

Use 68530 when the service clears obstructing material from the lacrimal duct. Probing under 68810 describes probing, with or without irrigation, rather than removal of a concretion.

Does placing a lacrimal tube change the code choice?

When probing includes insertion of a tube or stent, compare the service with 68815. The operative documentation should show whether the work was obstruction removal or probing with intubation.

How should bilateral treatment be reported?

For bilateral performance, report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.

Are postoperative visits separately reported during the global period?

Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in the procedure payment.

Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?

CMS does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code, and 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

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 68530PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 7,560 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for New HampshireGPCI2026.csv, line 74 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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