CPT code 92019: Eye examination, limited, under general anesthesia2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California

CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 92019 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 92019 covers

92019 represents a limited ophthalmic diagnostic examination performed while the patient is under general anesthesia. It is commonly used for young children or patients who cannot cooperate sufficiently for an adequate examination while awake. An ophthalmologist examines the eyes and performs the maneuvers needed to address the clinical question, typically in an anesthesia-supported setting. The code represents the eye examination, not the administration of anesthesia.

Select 92019 when the examination under anesthesia is limited in scope; use 92018 when the documented examination is comprehensive. The distinction is based on the scope of the examination, not its duration or whether one or both eyes are examined. Documentation should explain why general anesthesia was needed and identify the examination performed and findings that support the limited level.

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 92019 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 92019 rate is calculated

Each of 92019’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 92019

92019 has no global surgery period, no multiple-procedure, bilateral or assistant-at-surgery adjustment, and no professional/technical split. What changes the payment is where the service happens: the place of service on the claim decides whether Medicare pays the office or the facility rate.

92019 compared with similar codes

How to choose

92018Eye examinationComprehensive, under anesthesia

Both describe ophthalmic examinations under general anesthesia. Choose 92019 for a limited examination and 92018 when the documented examination is comprehensive.

92002Eye examinationIntermediate, new patient

92002 is an intermediate ophthalmological examination for a new patient performed outside the general-anesthesia examination context. Use 92019 for a limited examination performed under general anesthesia.

92012Eye examIntermediate, established patient

92012 is an intermediate ophthalmological examination for an established patient performed outside the general-anesthesia examination context. Use 92019 for a limited examination performed under general anesthesia.

Codes related to 92019

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