CPT code 68811: Tear duct probing, general anesthesia2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Arizona
Reports probing of an obstructed nasolacrimal duct under general anesthesia, commonly for persistent tear-drainage blockage in an infant.
In Arizona, Medicare pays $115.12 for 68811 in a facility. There’s no office rate.
Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 68811 nationwide
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
On this page 11 sections
What 68811 covers
An ophthalmologist passes a probe through the tear-drainage opening and canaliculus to open an obstructed nasolacrimal duct; irrigation may also be performed. A common setting is the operating room, where an infant with persistent congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction undergoes probing under general anesthesia after conservative care has not resolved symptoms.
Choose this code when the duct probing requires general anesthesia; distinguish it from probing without that requirement and from procedures that add a tube or balloon dilation. The operative note should identify the treated side, obstruction and probing performed, use of irrigation, and general anesthesia. Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included. For bilateral work, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. 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.
How Arizona compares for 68811
Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the facility rate for 68811 runs from $107.28 in Arkansas to $147.34 in Alaska. Arizona pays $115.12. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.
- Arizona · this page$115.12
- Los Angeles, CA · California$128.42+$13.30
- Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$131.13+$16.01
- Miami, FL · Florida$127.52+$12.40
- Chicago, IL · Illinois$124.74+$9.62
- Manhattan, NY · New York$133.18+$18.06
- Alaska · Alaska$147.34+$32.22
Other areas in Arizona first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.
Every other payment area
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| AlabamaAlabama | — | $108.42 |
| ArkansasArkansas | — | $107.28 |
| Bakersfield, CACalifornia | — | $122.05 |
| Chico, CACalifornia | — | $121.57 |
| El Centro, CACalifornia | — | $121.59 |
| Fresno, CACalifornia | — | $121.57 |
| Hanford, CACalifornia | — | $121.57 |
| Madera, CACalifornia | — | $121.57 |
| Merced, CACalifornia | — | $121.57 |
| Modesto, CACalifornia | — | $121.57 |
| Napa, CACalifornia | — | $136.42 |
| Oxnard, CACalifornia | — | $127.42 |
| Redding, CACalifornia | — | $121.57 |
| Rest of CaliforniaCalifornia | — | $121.57 |
| Riverside, CACalifornia | — | $123.21 |
| Sacramento, CACalifornia | — | $126.38 |
| Salinas, CACalifornia | — | $125.88 |
| San Diego, CACalifornia | — | $127.91 |
| Marin County, CACalifornia | — | $143.12 |
| San Francisco, CACalifornia | — | $142.95 |
| San Benito County, CACalifornia | — | $146.15 |
| Santa Clara County, CACalifornia | — | $145.45 |
| San Luis Obispo, CACalifornia | — | $123.97 |
| Santa Cruz, CACalifornia | — | $128.43 |
| Santa Maria, CACalifornia | — | $126.10 |
| Santa Rosa, CACalifornia | — | $129.67 |
| Stockton, CACalifornia | — | $121.57 |
| Vallejo, CACalifornia | — | $136.18 |
| Visalia, CACalifornia | — | $121.57 |
| Yuba City, CACalifornia | — | $121.57 |
| ColoradoColorado | — | $120.73 |
| ConnecticutConnecticut | — | $124.05 |
| DelawareDelaware | — | $116.68 |
| Fort Lauderdale, FLFlorida | — | $122.34 |
| Rest of FloridaFlorida | — | $117.64 |
| Atlanta, GAGeorgia | — | $119.64 |
| Rest of GeorgiaGeorgia | — | $112.51 |
| Hawaii, Guam, HIHawaii | — | $123.10 |
| IowaIowa | — | $109.81 |
| IdahoIdaho | — | $110.47 |
| East St. Louis, ILIllinois | — | $118.19 |
| Rest of IllinoisIllinois | — | $115.54 |
| Suburban Chicago, ILIllinois | — | $123.34 |
| IndianaIndiana | — | $110.92 |
| KansasKansas | — | $109.73 |
| KentuckyKentucky | — | $110.95 |
| New Orleans, LALouisiana | — | $114.96 |
| Rest of LouisianaLouisiana | — | $110.95 |
| Metropolitan Boston, MAMassachusetts | — | $130.17 |
| Rest of MassachusettsMassachusetts | — | $120.42 |
| Baltimore area, MDMaryland | — | $123.74 |
| Rest of MarylandMaryland | — | $118.40 |
| Rest of MaineMaine | — | $111.21 |
| Southern Maine, MEMaine | — | $115.22 |
| Detroit, MIMichigan | — | $119.06 |
| Rest of MichiganMichigan | — | $113.36 |
| MinnesotaMinnesota | — | $115.66 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MOMissouri | — | $114.05 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MOMissouri | — | $114.90 |
| Rest of MissouriMissouri | — | $109.74 |
| MississippiMississippi | — | $108.51 |
| MontanaMontana | — | $117.56 |
| North CarolinaNorth Carolina | — | $112.03 |
| North DakotaNorth Dakota | — | $114.60 |
| NebraskaNebraska | — | $110.16 |
| New HampshireNew Hampshire | — | $119.23 |
| Northern New JerseyNew Jersey | — | $130.41 |
| Rest of New JerseyNew Jersey | — | $125.46 |
| New MexicoNew Mexico | — | $113.95 |
| NevadaNevada | — | $116.79 |
| NYC suburbs and Long Island, NYNew York | — | $136.04 |
| Poughkeepsie and northern NYC suburbs, NYNew York | — | $126.48 |
| Queens, NYNew York | — | $133.57 |
| Rest of New YorkNew York | — | $113.29 |
| OhioOhio | — | $112.76 |
| OklahomaOklahoma | — | $110.49 |
| Portland, OROregon | — | $123.39 |
| Rest of OregonOregon | — | $115.86 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia, PAPennsylvania | — | $121.85 |
| Rest of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania | — | $112.72 |
| Puerto RicoPuerto Rico | — | $118.11 |
| Rhode IslandRhode Island | — | $119.95 |
| South CarolinaSouth Carolina | — | $112.58 |
| South DakotaSouth Dakota | — | $114.24 |
| TennesseeTennessee | — | $110.18 |
| Austin, TXTexas | — | $120.35 |
| Beaumont, TXTexas | — | $112.20 |
| Brazoria, TXTexas | — | $116.42 |
| Dallas, TXTexas | — | $117.15 |
| Fort Worth, TXTexas | — | $116.65 |
| Galveston, TXTexas | — | $116.77 |
| Houston, TXTexas | — | $119.52 |
| Rest of TexasTexas | — | $114.24 |
| UtahUtah | — | $113.71 |
| VirginiaVirginia | — | $115.15 |
| Virgin Islands, VIUnited States Virgin Islands | — | $118.11 |
| VermontVermont | — | $114.54 |
| Rest of WashingtonWashington | — | $120.07 |
| King County, WAWashington | — | $132.16 |
| WisconsinWisconsin | — | $111.76 |
| West VirginiaWest Virginia | — | $112.42 |
| WyomingWyoming | — | $116.27 |
68811 rates by state
Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.
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
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | No published base rate | 1 |
| AL | No published base rate | 1 |
| AR | No published base rate | 1 |
| AZ | No published base rate | 1 |
| CA | No published base rate | 29 |
| CO | No published base rate | 1 |
| CT | No published base rate | 1 |
| DC | No published base rate | 1 |
| DE | No published base rate | 1 |
| FL | No published base rate | 3 |
| GA | No published base rate | 2 |
| GU | No published base rate | 1 |
| HI | No published base rate | 1 |
| IA | No published base rate | 1 |
| ID | No published base rate | 1 |
| IL | No published base rate | 4 |
| IN | No published base rate | 1 |
| KS | No published base rate | 1 |
| KY | No published base rate | 1 |
| LA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MD | No published base rate | 3 |
| ME | No published base rate | 2 |
| MI | No published base rate | 2 |
| MN | No published base rate | 1 |
| MO | No published base rate | 3 |
| MS | No published base rate | 1 |
| MT | No published base rate | 1 |
| NC | No published base rate | 1 |
| ND | No published base rate | 1 |
| NE | No published base rate | 1 |
| NH | No published base rate | 1 |
| NJ | No published base rate | 2 |
| NM | No published base rate | 1 |
| NV | No published base rate | 1 |
| NY | No published base rate | 5 |
| OH | No published base rate | 1 |
| OK | No published base rate | 1 |
| OR | No published base rate | 2 |
| PA | No published base rate | 2 |
| PR | No published base rate | 1 |
| RI | No published base rate | 1 |
| SC | No published base rate | 1 |
| SD | No published base rate | 1 |
| TN | No published base rate | 1 |
| TX | No published base rate | 8 |
| UT | No published base rate | 1 |
| VA | No published base rate | 2 |
| VI | No published base rate | 1 |
| VT | No published base rate | 1 |
| WA | No published base rate | 2 |
| WI | No published base rate | 1 |
| WV | No published base rate | 1 |
| WY | No published base rate | 1 |
How the 68811 rate is calculated
Each of 68811’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 · 68811
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.70
1.70 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense1.67
1.67 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.15
0.15 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
3.5200
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$117.57
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
The exact Arizona inputs and CMS source lines
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
7,573
- Code
- 68811
- Physician work
- 1.70
- Practice expense
- 1.67
- Malpractice
- 0.15
GPCI2026.csv
6
- Locality
- Arizona
- Physician work
- 1.000
- Practice expense
- 0.969
- Malpractice
- 0.856
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 1.70 | × 1.000 | 1.7000 |
| Practice expense | 1.67 | × 0.969 | 1.6182 |
| Malpractice | 0.15 | × 0.856 | 0.1284 |
| Total RVUs | 3.4466 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Facility rate, Arizona$115.12
Facility: (1.7 × 1 + 1.67 × 0.969 + 0.15 × 0.856) × $33.4009 = $115.12
Payment rules and modifiers for 68811
68811 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 68811
Tear duct probing, general anesthesia
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 010 | Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 days after are 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. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.80/0.10 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 68811
Tear duct probing, general anesthesia
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.
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
68811 without 50 · national facility
$117.57
Tear duct probing, general anesthesia
68811-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$176.36
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).
How 68811 has changed in Arizona
68811 · Office / nonfacility
Rate unavailable
Effective 2026-10-01
A rate is unavailable in one of these releases, so a change cannot be calculated.
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
| Effective from | Office | Facility | CMS release |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $115.12 | RVU26D |
| 2026-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $115.12 | RVU26C |
| 2026-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $115.12 | RVU26B |
| 2026-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $115.12 | RVU26A |
| 2025-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $128.51 | RVU25D |
| 2025-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $128.51 | RVU25C |
| 2025-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $128.51 | RVU25B |
| 2025-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $128.51 | RVU25A |
| 2024-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $131.31 | RVU24D |
| 2024-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $131.31 | RVU24C |
| 2024-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $131.31 | RVU24B |
| 2024-03-09 | Not available in this setting | $131.31 | RVU24AR |
| 2024-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $129.17 | RVU24A |
| 2023-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $131.22 | RVU23D |
| 2023-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $131.22 | RVU23C |
| 2023-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $131.22 | RVU23B |
| 2023-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $131.22 | RVU23A |
| 2022-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $130.25 | RVU22D |
| 2022-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $130.25 | RVU22C |
| 2022-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $130.25 | RVU22B |
| 2022-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $130.25 | RVU22A |
| 2021-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $131.60 | RVU21D |
| 2021-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $131.60 | RVU21C |
| 2021-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $131.60 | RVU21B |
| 2021-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $131.60 | RVU21A |
| 2020-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $134.40 | RVU20D |
| 2020-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $134.40 | RVU20C |
| 2020-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $134.40 | RVU20B |
| 2020-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $134.40 | RVU20A |
| 2019-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $136.55 | RVU19D |
| 2019-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $136.55 | RVU19C |
| 2019-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $136.55 | RVU19B |
| 2019-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $136.55 | RVU19A |
| 2018-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $137.10 | RVU18D |
| 2018-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $137.10 | RVU18C |
| 2018-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $137.10 | RVU18B |
| 2018-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $137.10 | RVU18AR1 |
| 2017-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $137.17 | RVU17D |
| 2017-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $137.17 | RVU17C |
| 2017-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $137.17 | RVU17B |
| 2017-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $137.17 | RVU17A |
| 2016-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $168.42 | RVU16D |
| 2016-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $168.42 | RVU16C |
| 2016-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $168.42 | RVU16B |
| 2016-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $168.42 | RVU16A |
| 2015-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $208.70 | RVU15D |
| 2015-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $208.70 | RVU15C |
| 2015-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $207.66 | RVU15B |
| 2015-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $207.66 | RVU15A |
| 2014-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $216.73 | RVU14D |
| 2014-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $216.73 | RVU14C |
| 2014-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $216.73 | RVU14B |
| 2014-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $216.73 | RVU14A |
| 2013-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $216.39 | RVU13D |
| 2013-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $216.39 | RVU13C |
| 2013-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $216.39 | RVU13B |
| 2013-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $216.39 | RVU13AR |
Where the Arizona rate applies
Arizona is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 467 cities and communities in Arizona. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.
- Aguila
- Ajo
- Ak Chin
- Ak-Chin Village
- Alamo Lake
- Ali Chuk
- Ali Chukson
- Ali Molina
68811 billing questions
When should 68811 be chosen instead of 68810?
Use 68811 when nasolacrimal duct probing requires general anesthesia. 68810 is the related probing code when general anesthesia is not required.
Does 68811 include irrigation?
Yes. Irrigation may be performed as part of the duct probing and is included in this service.
How is bilateral probing reported?
Report modifier 50 for bilateral work. CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
What documentation supports 68811?
Document the obstruction, side treated, probing performed, whether irrigation was used, and that the procedure required general anesthesia.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
Are postoperative visits included?
Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included.
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
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