Billing code 65220: Corneal removalMedicare rate & RVUs in Nevada
Removal of a foreign particle from the cornea without slit-lamp assistance, commonly performed in an office or facility for an acute eye injury.
Medicare pays $63.67 for 65220 in the office in Nevada (Nevada**). 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 65220 covers
This service removes a foreign particle lodged on or in the cornea without using a slit lamp during the removal. It is commonly performed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist when a patient presents with an acute injury, such as a metal fragment or plant material in the cornea. The clinician examines the eye, typically uses topical anesthesia, and removes the particle with an appropriate instrument. The code is specific to the cornea; a particle on the conjunctiva or within the eye involves a different service.
Report this code when documentation identifies the corneal location and supports removal without slit-lamp assistance. A removal performed with slit-lamp assistance is reported with 65222 instead. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the 50% multiple-procedure 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.
65220 in Nevada**
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada** | $63.67 | $37.25 |
How the 65220 rate is calculated
Each of 65220’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 · 65220
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.69Practice expense 1.14Malpractice 0.09
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 65220
The CMS indicators that decide how 65220 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 65220
Corneal removal
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is 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. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
65220 without 50 · national office
$64.13
Corneal removal
65220-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$96.20
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).
65220 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
65220 vs 65222 vs 65205 vs 65210 vs 65235: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 65222Corneal removal
- Both address corneal foreign body removal. The distinguishing factor is slit-lamp assistance during removal: without it, use 65220; with it, use 65222.
- 65205Eye foreign body removal
- 65205 is for a superficial foreign body on the conjunctiva. Use 65220 when the foreign body is on or in the cornea and removal is performed without slit-lamp assistance.
- 65210Eye foreign body removal
- 65210 addresses an embedded conjunctival foreign body. Corneal location, rather than conjunctival location, supports 65220.
- 65235Intraocular removal
- 65235 concerns removal of an intraocular foreign body in the anterior segment. A foreign body on or in the cornea is reported with 65220 when removed without slit-lamp assistance.
65220 billing questions
How does 65220 differ from 65222?
Both codes describe removal of a corneal foreign body. Use 65220 when the removal is performed without slit-lamp assistance and 65222 when slit-lamp assistance is used for the removal.
Can 65220 be used for a foreign body on the conjunctiva?
No. This code is for a corneal foreign body; conjunctival removal is represented by codes such as 65205 or 65210, depending on the circumstances.
What documentation supports reporting 65220?
Document the corneal location, the foreign body removal performed, and that the removal was completed without slit-lamp assistance. The record should distinguish a corneal particle from one on the conjunctiva or inside the eye.
Is same-day evaluation and treatment included in the global period?
Yes. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, which includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care.
How is bilateral treatment paid?
When both eyes are treated in the same session, CMS pays modifier 50 at 150%.
What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction.
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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