Billing code 67875: Temporary tarsorrhaphyMedicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Temporary tarsorrhaphy brings the eyelids together with sutures to protect the ocular surface, commonly for exposure-related corneal injury or impaired healing.
Medicare pays $168.47–$188.08 for 67875 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 67875 covers
An ophthalmologist, including a cornea or oculoplastic specialist, uses sutures to temporarily bring the eyelids together when the exposed ocular surface needs protection or support for healing. Common situations include exposure keratopathy from facial nerve palsy, a persistent corneal epithelial defect, or a corneal ulcer. The service may be performed in an office or facility setting.
Report 67875 for the temporary suture closure itself; document the clinical reason, the eyelid or eyelids treated, and the temporary closure performed. The same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in this minor procedure’s 0-day global period. For bilateral treatment, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. CMS lists a statutory restriction on assistant-at-surgery payment and does not permit co-surgeons or team surgery for this code.
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 67875 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
$168.47 to $188.08
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | $188.08 | $82.77 |
| Beaumont | $168.47 | $77.90 |
| Brazoria | $179.05 | $80.41 |
| Dallas | $180.04 | $80.91 |
| Fort Worth | $178.76 | $80.62 |
| Galveston | $179.49 | $80.65 |
| Houston | $181.50 | $82.66 |
| Rest Of Texas | $173.56 | $79.10 |
How the 67875 rate is calculated
Each of 67875’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 · 67875
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.32
1.32 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense3.98
3.98 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.11
0.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
5.4100
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$180.70
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 67875
The CMS indicators that decide how 67875 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 67875
Temporary tarsorrhaphy
| 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
67875 without 50 · national office
$180.70
Temporary tarsorrhaphy
67875-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$271.05
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).
67875 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 67880Eyelid revision
- Use 67875 for temporary suture closure. 67880 describes construction of intermarginal adhesions for median tarsorrhaphy.
- 67882Eyelid revision
- 67882 describes extensive intermarginal adhesion construction; 67875 is temporary closure by suture.
- 67912Eyelid weight
- 67912 treats lagophthalmos with an implanted upper-eyelid weight. 67875 temporarily closes the eyelids with sutures.
67875 billing questions
How does 67875 differ from 67880 or 67882?
67875 describes temporary eyelid closure with sutures. Codes 67880 and 67882 describe construction of intermarginal adhesions for median or more extensive tarsorrhaphy.
What documentation supports reporting 67875?
Document the ocular-surface problem prompting protection, the temporary suture closure performed, and the side treated. Examples include exposure keratopathy or a persistent corneal epithelial defect.
Can the preoperative or postoperative visit be billed separately?
The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care for this procedure.
How is bilateral treatment reported?
Use modifier 50 for bilateral treatment. CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.
How does the multiple-procedure rule affect payment?
When procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50%.
Is assistant-at-surgery or team-surgery payment available?
CMS lists a statutory restriction on assistant-at-surgery payment for 67875. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
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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