Billing code 65756: Corneal transplantMedicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Reports transplantation of donor corneal endothelial tissue to treat endothelial dysfunction while retaining the recipient cornea’s anterior layers.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 65756 in Illinois.
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 65756 covers
An ophthalmic surgeon uses this code for endothelial keratoplasty, replacing the diseased inner corneal layer with donor tissue. Common clinical settings include endothelial failure associated with Fuchs dystrophy or pseudophakic bullous keratopathy. Techniques such as DSAEK and DMEK are examples of endothelial graft procedures. The service is generally performed in an operating room or ambulatory surgery center, with related postoperative care managed by the surgeon.
The operative report should establish that the transplanted tissue is an endothelial graft and identify the treated eye and surgical technique. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery services 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 65756 pays more and less in Illinois
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | Unavailable | $1,054.17 |
| East St. Louis | Unavailable | $1,004.08 |
| Rest Of Illinois | Unavailable | $981.55 |
| Suburban Chicago | Unavailable | $1,040.08 |
How the 65756 rate is calculated
Each of 65756’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 · 65756
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work16.42
16.42 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense11.96
11.96 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.31
1.31 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
29.6900
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$991.67
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 65756
65756 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 65756
Corneal transplant
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 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) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.70/0.20 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 65756
Corneal transplant
90-day global period ends
Dec 30, 2026
Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
65756 without 50 · national facility
$991.67
Corneal transplant
65756-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,487.51
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).
65756 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 65710Corneal transplant
- Use 65710 for a lamellar graft involving a different corneal layer. Use 65756 when the transplanted tissue is an endothelial graft.
- 65730Corneal transplant
- Use 65730 for a penetrating, full-thickness transplant. This code describes endothelial keratoplasty rather than replacement of the full corneal thickness.
- 65757Prep corneal endo allograft
- 65757 represents preparation of donor endothelial tissue before transplantation; 65756 represents the transplant procedure itself.
65756 billing questions
How is this different from a penetrating corneal transplant?
This code is for replacing the endothelial layer with donor tissue. A penetrating transplant replaces the full thickness of the cornea.
Can donor tissue preparation be reported separately?
billing code 65757 describes preparation of donor endothelial tissue before transplantation. Report it when that preparation service is performed and documented with the graft procedure.
Does the global period include routine postoperative visits?
Yes. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How is a bilateral transplant reported under the CMS rule?
For bilateral surgery, CMS specifies modifier 50 and payment at 150%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery services may be paid. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures subject to the multiple procedure reduction are paid at 50%.
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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