CPT code 66505: Iris surgery2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Reports surgical removal of peripheral iris tissue through an eye incision to treat glaucoma, rather than creating an opening by incision or laser alone.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 66505 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 66505 covers
An ophthalmic surgeon removes a small portion of peripheral iris tissue through a surgical entry at the cornea-sclera junction. The procedure is used for glaucoma when excising peripheral iris is the planned treatment, such as to create an alternate route for aqueous fluid flow. It is performed in a surgical setting, commonly as an operating-room procedure, rather than as a routine office examination or laser treatment.
Select this code when the operative report supports peripheral iris tissue removal for glaucoma; distinguish it from an incision-only iridotomy and from procedures removing a larger or different extent of iris. Document the treated eye, glaucoma indication, surgical approach, and tissue removed. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When multiple procedures occur 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 are not paid; 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.
Where 66505 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 | $399.61 |
| East St. Louis | Unavailable | $375.56 |
| Rest Of Illinois | Unavailable | $368.80 |
| Suburban Chicago | Unavailable | $398.82 |
How the 66505 rate is calculated
Each of 66505’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 · 66505
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work4.11
4.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense7.01
7.01 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.34
0.34 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
11.4600
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$382.77
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 66505
66505 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 66505
Iris surgery
| 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) | 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) | 0.10/0.70/0.20 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 66505
Iris surgery
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
66505 without 50 · national facility
$382.77
Iris surgery
66505-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$574.16
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).
66505 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
66505 vs 66500 vs 66761: Medicare rates
How to choose
66505 billing questions
How is this different from 66500?
This code describes surgical excision of peripheral iris tissue for glaucoma. Code 66500 is for an incision-only iridotomy, without the same peripheral tissue excision.
Can this be reported for a laser iridotomy?
No. This code describes surgical iris tissue removal; laser peripheral iridotomy is reported with 66761 when that service is performed.
Are related postoperative visits separately billable?
The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in this code’s global period.
How should bilateral procedures be reported?
For a bilateral procedure, report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral service at 150%.
How does CMS handle other procedures performed in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures in the session are paid at 50%.
May an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?
CMS does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
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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