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CPT code 68840: Tear duct probing, lacrimal canaliculi2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Kansas

Probing the lacrimal canaliculi, with or without irrigation, evaluates or treats a blockage in the small tear-drainage channels near the eyelid.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality30K Medicare services in 2024

In Kansas, Medicare pays $124.25 for 68840 in the office and $97.38 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$124.25Office (non-facility)
$97.38Hospital or facility
−7.5%vs the national office rate ($134.27)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 68840 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 68840 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Kansas
  2. What 68840 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 68840 covers

An ophthalmologist, often an oculoplastic surgeon, passes a probe through the lacrimal punctum into a canaliculus to assess or relieve an obstruction. Irrigation may be performed as part of the service. The procedure is used for problems such as tearing associated with suspected canalicular narrowing or blockage, and may be performed in an office procedure room or an operating room depending on the patient and clinical circumstances.

Report 68840 when the treated structure is a lacrimal canaliculus, rather than the nasolacrimal duct. Document the affected side, the clinical indication, and the probing performed; irrigation does not require a separate code. CMS assigns a 10-day global period, so related postoperative visits during that period are included. For bilateral treatment, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. 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.

How Kansas compares for 68840

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 68840 runs from $120.29 in Arkansas to $176.81 in San Benito County, CA. Kansas pays $124.25. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

68840 in Kansas vs other payment areas
  1. Kansas · this page$124.25
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$151.26+$27.01
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$152.72+$28.47
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$142.51+$18.26
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$138.91+$14.66
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$153.14+$28.89
  7. Alaska · Alaska$159.91+$35.66

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

Every other payment area

68840 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$121.86$95.85
ArkansasArkansas$120.29$94.75
ArizonaArizona$131.08$102.28
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$142.43$109.85
Chico, CACalifornia$142.13$109.55
El Centro, CACalifornia$142.14$109.56
Fresno, CACalifornia$142.13$109.55
Hanford, CACalifornia$142.13$109.55

68840 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.

$120.29

$159.91

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

View every state and territory as a table
68840 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$159.911
AL$121.861
AR$120.291
AZ$131.081
CA$142.13–$176.8129
CO$139.811
CT$142.591
DC$152.721
DE$133.111
FL$131.87–$142.513
GA$125.25–$136.422
GU$145.181
HI$145.181
IA$124.911
ID$125.581
IL$128.23–$139.294
IN$126.241
KS$124.251
KY$124.151
LA$123.93–$129.442
MA$139.05–$152.922
MD$135.52–$152.723
ME$126.03–$132.362
MI$126.93–$133.222
MN$134.731
MO$121.93–$130.013
MS$121.141
MT$134.271
NC$127.231
ND$132.491
NE$125.561
NH$137.541
NJ$144.43–$151.362
NM$127.501
NV$133.861
NY$128.94–$156.355
OH$126.571
OK$124.091
OR$133.02–$144.042
PA$126.82–$139.262
PR$135.201
RI$137.681
SC$127.071
SD$132.281
TN$124.791
TX$126.06–$139.178
UT$128.631
VA$131.88–$152.722
VI$135.201
VT$131.901
WA$138.81–$156.012
WI$128.461
WV$123.931
WY$133.491

See 68840 in every payment locality

How the 68840 rate is calculated

Each of 68840’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 · 68840

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.27

1.27 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense2.66

2.66 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.09

0.09 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

4.0200

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$134.27

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

The exact Kansas inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

7,576

Code
68840
Physician work
1.27
Practice expense
2.66
Malpractice
0.09

GPCI2026.csv

54

Locality
Kansas
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.904
Malpractice
0.504
Office calculation for 68840 in Kansas
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.27× 1.0001.2700
Practice expense2.66× 0.9042.4046
Malpractice0.09× 0.5040.0454
Total RVUs3.7200
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Kansas$124.25

Office: (1.27 × 1 + 2.66 × 0.904 + 0.09 × 0.504) × $33.4009 = $124.25

Facility: (1.27 × 1 + 1.77 × 0.904 + 0.09 × 0.504) × $33.4009 = $97.38

Open 68840 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 68840

68840 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 68840

Tear duct probing, lacrimal canaliculi

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 · 68840

Tear duct probing, lacrimal canaliculi

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

68840 without 50 · national office

$134.27

Tear duct probing, lacrimal canaliculi

68840-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$201.41

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 68840

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

Codes related to 68840
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Kansas
Used instead
68801Punctum dilation, punctal opening, with or without irrigationDilation of a stenotic lacrimal punctum is a different intervention at the tear-drainage opening.$87.35
68810Tear duct probing, simple probingProbes the nasolacrimal duct rather than the lacrimal canaliculi.$148.44
68811Tear duct probing, general anesthesiaNasolacrimal duct probing when general anesthesia is required.No office rate
68815Duct probing, with tube or stentNasolacrimal duct probing with insertion of a tube or stent.$342.90
68816Tear duct dilation, balloon catheterNasolacrimal duct probing with balloon catheter dilation.$756.28

How 68840 has changed in Kansas

68840 · Office / nonfacility

$124.25

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $5.14 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $119.11 to $124.25 (4.3%).

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

    $119.11changed to$124.25

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.30 changed to 1.27
    • Practice expense RVU 2.57 changed to 2.66
    • Malpractice RVU 0.10 changed to 0.09
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.906 changed to 0.904
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.540 changed to 0.504

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $123.18changed to$119.11

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 2.59 changed to 2.57

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $121.17changed to$123.18

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $124.43changed to$121.17

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 2.56 changed to 2.59
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.907 changed to 0.906
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.499 changed to 0.540

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $125.13changed to$124.43

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 2.50 changed to 2.56
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.908 changed to 0.907
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.458 changed to 0.499

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $125.22changed to$125.13

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 2.47 changed to 2.50

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $124.52changed to$125.22

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 2.31 changed to 2.47
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.10
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.910 changed to 0.908
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.536 changed to 0.458

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $123.70changed to$124.52

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 2.28 changed to 2.31
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.911 changed to 0.910
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.615 changed to 0.536

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $123.24changed to$123.70

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 2.27 changed to 2.28

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $120.98changed to$123.24

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 2.22 changed to 2.27
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.907 changed to 0.911
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.639 changed to 0.615

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $120.45changed to$120.98

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.903 changed to 0.907
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.662 changed to 0.639

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $120.89changed to$120.45

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $120.29changed to$120.89

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $124.74changed to$120.29

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Malpractice RVU 0.23 changed to 0.09
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.899 changed to 0.903
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.810 changed to 0.662

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $126.26changed to$124.74

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 2.44 changed to 2.22
    • Malpractice RVU 0.24 changed to 0.23
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.894 changed to 0.899
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.957 changed to 0.810

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $126.26

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$124.25$97.38RVU26D
2026-07-01$124.25$97.38RVU26C
2026-04-01$124.25$97.38RVU26B
2026-01-01$124.25$97.38RVU26A
2025-10-01$119.11$105.63RVU25D
2025-07-01$119.11$105.63RVU25C
2025-04-01$119.11$105.63RVU25B
2025-01-01$119.11$105.63RVU25A
2024-10-01$123.18$108.40RVU24D
2024-07-01$123.18$108.40RVU24C
2024-04-01$123.18$108.40RVU24B
2024-03-09$123.18$108.40RVU24AR
2024-01-01$121.17$106.63RVU24A
2023-10-01$124.43$109.06RVU23D
2023-07-01$124.43$109.06RVU23C
2023-04-01$124.43$109.06RVU23B
2023-01-01$124.43$109.06RVU23A
2022-10-01$125.13$108.79RVU22D
2022-07-01$125.13$108.79RVU22C
2022-04-01$125.13$108.79RVU22B
2022-01-01$125.13$108.79RVU22A
2021-10-01$125.22$109.37RVU21D
2021-07-01$125.22$109.37RVU21C
2021-04-01$125.22$109.37RVU21B
2021-01-01$125.22$109.37RVU21A
2020-10-01$124.52$110.40RVU20D
2020-07-01$124.52$110.40RVU20C
2020-04-01$124.52$110.40RVU20B
2020-01-01$124.52$110.40RVU20A
2019-10-01$123.70$111.88RVU19D
2019-07-01$123.70$111.88RVU19C
2019-04-01$123.70$111.88RVU19B
2019-01-01$123.70$111.88RVU19A
2018-10-01$123.24$112.09RVU18D
2018-07-01$123.24$112.09RVU18C
2018-04-01$123.24$112.09RVU18B
2018-01-01$123.24$112.09RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$120.98$110.89RVU17D
2017-07-01$120.98$110.89RVU17C
2017-04-01$120.98$110.89RVU17B
2017-01-01$120.98$110.89RVU17A
2016-10-01$120.45$110.75RVU16D
2016-07-01$120.45$110.75RVU16C
2016-04-01$120.45$110.75RVU16B
2016-01-01$120.45$110.75RVU16A
2015-10-01$120.89$111.15RVU15D
2015-07-01$120.89$111.15RVU15C
2015-04-01$120.29$110.60RVU15B
2015-01-01$120.29$110.60RVU15A
2014-10-01$124.74$115.08RVU14D
2014-07-01$124.74$115.08RVU14C
2014-04-01$124.74$115.08RVU14B
2014-01-01$124.74$115.08RVU14A
2013-10-01$126.26$115.92RVU13D
2013-07-01$126.26$115.92RVU13C
2013-04-01$126.26$115.92RVU13B
2013-01-01$126.26$115.92RVU13AR

Price 68840 for an earlier date of service

Where the Kansas rate applies

Kansas is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 740 cities and communities in Kansas. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Abbyville
  • Abilene
  • Ada
  • Admire
  • Agenda
  • Agra
  • Albert
  • Alden

Browse all communities in Kansas

68840 billing questions

When should 68840 be chosen over 68810?

Use 68840 when probing the lacrimal canaliculi. Code 68810 is for probing the nasolacrimal duct, a different part of the tear-drainage pathway.

Is irrigation separately reported with 68840?

No. Irrigation may be part of the canalicular probing service and is not separately reported as an additional service under this code.

How is bilateral canalicular probing reported?

Report modifier 50 for bilateral treatment. CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150% of the single-side amount.

Are related postoperative visits included?

Yes. The 10-day global period includes related postoperative visits during those 10 days.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted for this code. 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 68840PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 7,576 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for KansasGPCI2026.csv, line 54 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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