Billing code 66761: Laser iridotomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Delaware
An ophthalmologist uses laser energy to create an opening in the peripheral iris, commonly to address narrow angles or angle-closure risk.
Medicare pays $296.69 for 66761 in the office in Delaware (Delaware). Which amount applies depends on the service address.
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 9 sections
What 66761 covers
This procedure creates an opening through the peripheral iris with laser energy so aqueous fluid can pass between the posterior and anterior chambers. Ophthalmologists commonly perform it at a slit lamp in an office setting for eyes with narrow or occludable angles, including treatment or prevention of angle closure. The service is distinct from reshaping the iris with laser or removing iris tissue through an incision.
Report the service for the laser iridotomy session, not by laser pulse or opening. Documentation should identify the treated eye or eyes, the angle-closure indication, and the laser treatment performed. CMS assigns a 10-day global period, which includes related postoperative visits during that period. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. For bilateral treatment, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. 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.
66761 in Delaware
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $296.69 | $200.66 |
How the 66761 rate is calculated
Each of 66761’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 · 66761
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 2.93Practice expense 5.81Malpractice 0.22
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 66761
66761 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 66761
Laser iridotomy
| 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 · 66761
Laser iridotomy
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
66761 without 50 · national office
$299.27
Laser iridotomy
66761-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$448.91
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).
66761 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
66761 vs 66762 vs 66740 vs 66770: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 66762Iris laser
- Choose 66761 for a laser opening through the peripheral iris; 66762 is for laser reshaping of the iris, with or without an opening.
- 66740Ciliary body ablation
- 66740 describes an incisional iridectomy for glaucoma. Use 66761 when the documented treatment is a laser-created iris opening.
- 66770Intraocular lesion removal
- 66770 is for removal of an iris lesion. It is not the code for a laser opening used to address narrow angles.
66761 billing questions
How is this different from 66762?
66761 creates an opening through the peripheral iris. Code 66762 describes laser reshaping of the iris, with or without an iridotomy.
Is the code reported per eye or per laser pulse?
Report the service by treatment session, not by pulse or individual opening. For bilateral treatment, CMS specifies modifier 50 payment at 150%.
Are postoperative checks separately reported during the global period?
Related postoperative visits for 10 days are included in the global period.
What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and the other procedure or procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction.
Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be paid for this procedure?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted under the CMS rules for this code.
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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