Billing code 66600: Iris surgeryMedicare rate & RVUs in Oregon
An ophthalmic surgeon removes an iris lesion along with iris tissue, commonly when a tumor or other focal lesion requires surgical excision.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 66600 in Oregon.
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 66600 covers
An ophthalmologist performs this operation to excise an iris lesion, such as a suspected tumor, together with the involved iris tissue. It is generally performed in an operating-room setting, with the operative approach guided by the lesion’s location and the tissue that must be removed. The excised tissue may be submitted for pathologic examination.
Report 66600 when the operation removes an iris lesion, rather than for an iridectomy performed for another purpose, such as glaucoma treatment. The operative report should identify the lesion, its location, and the excision performed. 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 other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Bilateral reporting with 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.
Where 66600 pays more and less in Oregon
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Portland | Unavailable | $838.10 |
| Rest Of Oregon | Unavailable | $781.69 |
How the 66600 rate is calculated
Each of 66600’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 · 66600
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 9.87Practice expense 13.03Malpractice 0.79
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 66600
66600 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 66600
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 · 66600
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
66600 without 50 · national facility
$791.27
Iris surgery
66600-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,186.91
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).
66600 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
66600 vs 66630 vs 66635 vs 66680: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 66630Iris excision
- 66600 describes excision of an iris lesion with iris tissue. 66630 is an iridectomy performed for glaucoma.
- 66635Iris removal
- Use 66635 for a sector iridectomy when that is the operation performed; 66600 is for excision of an iris lesion.
- 66680Iris repair
- 66600 removes an iris lesion with tissue. 66680 is an iris or ciliary body repair service, not lesion excision.
66600 billing questions
When should 66600 be chosen over an iridectomy for glaucoma?
Use 66600 when the surgeon excises an iris lesion along with iris tissue. An iridectomy performed to treat glaucoma, without lesion removal, is a different service.
What documentation supports reporting 66600?
The operative report should describe the iris lesion, its location, and the tissue excised. Documenting the surgical purpose helps distinguish lesion removal from an iridectomy for another indication.
How is bilateral surgery reported?
CMS identifies 66600 as bilateral; modifier 50 is paid at 150%. The record should support lesion removal on both eyes.
How does the 90-day global period affect postoperative billing?
The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period. CMS classifies this as major surgery.
Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?
CMS applies a statutory restriction to assistant-at-surgery payment for 66600. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?
Under the standard multiple procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50% when performed in the same session.
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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