Billing code 65855: Laser trabeculoplastyMedicare rate & RVUs in Guam
Reports laser treatment of the trabecular meshwork to improve aqueous drainage and lower intraocular pressure in a patient with glaucoma.
Medicare pays $261.62 for 65855 in the office in Guam (Hawaii, Guam). 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 65855 covers
An ophthalmologist directs laser energy to the trabecular meshwork, the eye’s drainage tissue, to improve aqueous outflow and reduce intraocular pressure. The procedure is commonly used for open-angle glaucoma and may be performed with selective or argon laser in an ophthalmology office or an outpatient facility. The treated eye and the laser procedure performed should be clear in the operative documentation.
Report 65855 for laser trabeculoplasty, distinguishing it from incisional procedures such as goniotomy or trabeculotomy. Related postoperative visits are included in the 10-day global period. When multiple procedures are performed in one 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%. Medicare does not pay for an assistant at surgery; co-surgeon and team-surgery payment requires supporting documentation.
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.
65855 in Hawaii, Guam
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii, Guam | $261.62 | $177.31 |
How the 65855 rate is calculated
Each of 65855’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 · 65855
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 2.93Practice expense 4.20Malpractice 0.22
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 65855
65855 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 65855
Laser trabeculoplasty
| 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) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| 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 · 65855
Laser trabeculoplasty
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
65855 without 50 · national office
$245.50
Laser trabeculoplasty
65855-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$368.25
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).
65855 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
65855 vs 65820 vs 65850 vs 65860: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 65820Goniotomy
- Choose 65855 for laser treatment of the trabecular meshwork; 65820 describes opening the drainage angle with an incisional technique.
- 65850Trabeculotomy
- 65855 uses laser energy at the trabecular meshwork. 65850 is an ab externo trabeculotomy, an incisional procedure.
- 65860Laser adhesion release
- 65860 is laser severing of adhesions in the anterior segment, not laser treatment of the trabecular meshwork for glaucoma.
65855 billing questions
How is laser trabeculoplasty different from goniotomy?
65855 describes laser treatment of the trabecular meshwork. Goniotomy uses an incisional approach to open the drainage angle.
How should bilateral treatment be reported?
For treatment of both eyes, report the procedure with modifier 50. CMS pays bilateral procedures at 150%.
Are related postoperative visits separately payable?
Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in the procedure.
What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full. Other procedures performed in that session are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction.
Can an assistant surgeon be reported?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeon or team-surgery payment requires supporting documentation.
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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