Billing code 61333: Orbital lesion removalMedicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $1,957.29 for 61333 nationally in a facility.

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

What 61333 covers

This code covers cranial or orbital exploration performed to remove a lesion in the orbit. It is distinct from an operation that only decompresses the orbit. A neurosurgeon, often working with an ophthalmic or oculoplastic surgeon, may perform the operation in a hospital or other surgical facility when the lesion is approached through a cranial route. The operative report should identify the orbital target and describe its removal and the approach used.

Report the service for the lesion-removal work, not for exploration or decompression alone. Documentation should establish the lesion’s orbital location, the surgical approach, and what was removed. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. 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 reporting with modifier 50, payment is at 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is 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 61333 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

61333 rates by state

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

How the 61333 rate is calculated

Each of 61333’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 61333

61333 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 50

61333 compared with similar codes

How to choose

61330Orbital decompression

Code 61330 describes transcranial orbital decompression. This code is for cranial or orbital exploration that removes an orbital lesion.

67412Orbital surgery

Code 67412 covers orbital lesion removal through an orbitotomy without a bone flap. Choose based on the documented approach, not simply the lesion’s location.

67440Orbital drainage

Code 67440 describes lesion removal through a lateral orbitotomy with a bone flap or window; this code represents a cranial exploration approach.

Codes related to 61333

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