Billing code 65772: Astigmatism correctionMedicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Report this procedure when an ophthalmic surgeon makes corneal relaxing incisions to reduce astigmatism caused by prior eye surgery.
Medicare pays $434.00–$475.38 for 65772 in the office in Texas, from Beaumont to Austin. 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 65772 covers
An ophthalmic surgeon makes one or more planned corneal incisions to reduce astigmatism that developed after an earlier eye operation. The incisions relax the steep part of the cornea rather than remove a wedge of tissue. A patient with troublesome astigmatism after a corneal transplant is a typical example. The procedure may be performed in an office or surgical facility.
Report 65772 for the relaxing-incision technique when the record identifies the earlier surgery, the affected eye, the astigmatism, and the incision plan. A corneal wedge resection is reported differently. CMS treats this as major surgery: the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. CMS does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code; 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 65772 pays more and less in Texas
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
8 payment localities
$434.00 to $475.38
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | $475.38 | $359.83 |
| Beaumont | $434.00 | $334.61 |
| Brazoria | $456.12 | $347.88 |
| Dallas | $458.73 | $349.95 |
| Fort Worth | $456.09 | $348.40 |
| Galveston | $457.32 | $348.87 |
| Houston | $464.64 | $356.19 |
| Rest Of Texas | $444.63 | $340.97 |
How the 65772 rate is calculated
Each of 65772’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 · 65772
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 4.96Practice expense 8.42Malpractice 0.40
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 65772
65772 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 65772
Astigmatism correction
| 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 · 65772
Astigmatism correction
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
65772 without 50 · national office
$460.26
Astigmatism correction
65772-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$690.39
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).
65772 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
65772 vs 65775 vs 65771: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 65775Corneal surgery
- Both address astigmatism through corneal surgery. Select 65772 for relaxing incisions; select 65775 when the surgeon excises a corneal wedge.
- 65771Radial keratotomy
- 65771 describes radial keratotomy for refractive correction. Select 65772 when the documented procedure is a corneal relaxing incision for astigmatism caused by earlier surgery.
65772 billing questions
How is 65772 different from 65775?
Use 65772 when the surgeon relaxes the cornea with incisions. Use 65775 when the surgeon removes a wedge of corneal tissue to correct the astigmatism.
What should the operative note establish?
It should identify the affected eye, the prior surgery associated with the astigmatism, and the location and technique of the relaxing incisions.
How is the procedure reported when both eyes are treated?
CMS pays bilateral 65772 reported with modifier 50 at 150%.
Is a postoperative visit separately payable during the global period?
Related postoperative care during the 90-day global period is included, as is the day-before preoperative visit.
Can an assistant surgeon be paid for 65772?
No. CMS restricts assistant-at-surgery payment for this procedure and does not permit co-surgeons or team surgery.
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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