Billing code 65860: Laser adhesion releaseMedicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Reports laser treatment that severs adhesions in the eye’s anterior segment, such as when an ophthalmologist treats adhesions affecting anterior-segment structures.
Medicare pays $292.76–$319.84 for 65860 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 65860 covers
An ophthalmologist uses a laser to sever adhesions within the anterior segment of the eye. The service is selected for laser treatment of these adhesions, not for an incisional approach. It may be performed in an ophthalmology office or a facility, depending on the patient and procedure setting.
Report the service when the documented work supports laser severing of anterior-segment adhesions. The record should identify the treated eye, the adhesions and structures involved, the clinical reason for treatment, and the laser procedure performed. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; 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 65860 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
$292.76 to $319.84
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | $319.84 | $213.12 |
| Beaumont | $292.76 | $200.96 |
| Brazoria | $307.26 | $207.29 |
| Dallas | $309.00 | $208.53 |
| Fort Worth | $307.27 | $207.81 |
| Galveston | $308.06 | $207.89 |
| Houston | $313.00 | $212.83 |
| Rest Of Texas | $299.70 | $203.97 |
How the 65860 rate is calculated
Each of 65860’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 · 65860
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 3.50Practice expense 5.51Malpractice 0.27
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 65860
65860 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 65860
Laser adhesion release
| 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) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| 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 · 65860
Laser adhesion release
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
65860 without 50 · national office
$309.96
Laser adhesion release
65860-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$464.94
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).
65860 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
65860 vs 65865 vs 65855 vs 66761: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 65865Eye adhesion lysis
- Use 65860 for laser severing of anterior-segment adhesions. Use 65865 when the adhesions are divided with a surgical technique.
- 65855Laser trabeculoplasty
- Code 65855 describes laser treatment of the trabecular meshwork. This code is for laser severing of anterior-segment adhesions.
- 66761Laser iridotomy
- Code 66761 describes laser iridotomy or iridectomy for glaucoma. Distinguish it from adhesion severing by the documented procedure and clinical purpose.
65860 billing questions
How is this code distinguished from 65865?
This code describes laser severing of anterior-segment adhesions. Code 65865 is the surgical-technique counterpart, so choose based on the documented method.
Is this the same as laser trabeculoplasty?
No. This code treats adhesions in the anterior segment; 65855 treats the trabecular meshwork with laser surgery.
Does the 90-day global period include related postoperative care?
Yes. CMS includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care in this code’s global period.
How should bilateral treatment be reported?
For a bilateral procedure, report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
Can an assistant surgeon be paid for this service?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is available only when medical necessity is documented. CMS does not permit co-surgeons or team surgery for this code.
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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