CPT code 66180: Glaucoma shunt2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Reports glaucoma drainage-device placement to an extraocular reservoir with a graft covering the tube, typically for glaucoma requiring surgical pressure control.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 66180 in Texas.
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 66180 covers
An ophthalmologist places a drainage tube into the eye and connects it to a reservoir positioned outside the eye to divert aqueous fluid and lower intraocular pressure. A graft covers the exposed tube. This operation is generally selected for glaucoma that needs a drainage implant, including cases in which other pressure-lowering treatment has not provided adequate control. It is commonly performed in a hospital outpatient department or ambulatory surgery center.
Report this code when the procedure includes both the aqueous shunt to an extraocular reservoir and the graft. The operative report should support the glaucoma indication, shunt placement, and graft use; a shunt placement without a graft is distinguished by 66179. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For bilateral surgery, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are reduced to 50%. An assistant at surgery may be 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 66180 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 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | Unavailable | $992.84 |
| Beaumont | Unavailable | $927.99 |
| Brazoria | Unavailable | $961.96 |
| Dallas | Unavailable | $967.71 |
| Fort Worth | Unavailable | $963.79 |
| Galveston | Unavailable | $964.72 |
| Houston | Unavailable | $986.13 |
| Rest Of Texas | Unavailable | $944.25 |
How the 66180 rate is calculated
Each of 66180’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 · 66180
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work14.63
14.63 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense13.26
13.26 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.17
1.17 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
29.0600
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$970.63
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 66180
66180 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 66180
Glaucoma shunt
| 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) | 2 | Paid. |
| 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 · 66180
Glaucoma shunt
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
66180 without 50 · national facility
$970.63
Glaucoma shunt
66180-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,455.95
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).
66180 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 66179Glaucoma shunt
- Both involve an aqueous shunt to an extraocular reservoir; choose 66180 when a graft is used to cover the tube and 66179 when the shunt is placed without a graft.
- 66183Drainage device
- 66183 is for an anterior-segment drainage device without an extraocular reservoir. 66180 involves a shunt connected to an extraocular reservoir and includes a graft.
- 66184Shunt revision
- 66184 is for revision of an existing aqueous shunt, not initial shunt placement with a graft.
- 66185Shunt revision
- 66185 is for revision of an existing aqueous shunt with a graft; 66180 reports placement of a shunt with a graft.
66180 billing questions
How does 66180 differ from 66179?
66180 describes aqueous shunt placement with a graft covering the tube. Use 66179 for the corresponding shunt procedure without a graft.
Is the graft separately reported?
The graft is included in 66180 when used as part of the shunt operation. The operative report should document its use and placement.
When is 66183 a better fit?
66183 describes placement of an anterior-segment drainage device without an extraocular reservoir. 66180 is for a shunt connected to an extraocular reservoir with a graft.
How should bilateral surgery be reported?
Report bilateral surgery with modifier 50. CMS pays this bilateral procedure at 150%.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
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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