Billing code 67121: Implant removalMedicare rate & RVUs in Virginia
Removal of previously placed intraocular material from the eye’s posterior segment, such as silicone oil used as retinal tamponade.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 67121 in Virginia.
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 67121 covers
An ophthalmic surgeon, often a vitreoretinal specialist, uses this code to remove material previously placed inside the posterior segment of the eye. A familiar example is removing silicone oil used to support the retina after retinal detachment surgery. The procedure is generally performed in an operating room or other surgical setting; the operative record should identify the material, its location, and the work performed to remove it. Material in the anterior segment belongs to a different code, and an external encircling buckle is not intraocular material.
Report 67121 for the posterior-segment material removal itself, documenting the indication and the relevant operative findings. The 90-day global period includes 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 at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons are paid only with supporting documentation, and team surgery is 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 67121 pays more and less in Virginia
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | Unavailable | $849.10 |
| Virginia | Unavailable | $749.45 |
How the 67121 rate is calculated
Each of 67121’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 · 67121
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work11.94
11.94 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense9.99
9.99 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.96
0.96 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
22.8900
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$764.55
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 67121
67121 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 67121
Implant removal
| 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) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| 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 · 67121
Implant removal
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
67121 without 50 · national facility
$764.55
Implant removal
67121-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$1,146.83
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).
67121 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 67120Implant removal
- Use 67120 for implanted material in the anterior segment. Use 67121 when the material is in the posterior segment.
- 67115Buckle release
- 67115 concerns release of external encircling material, such as a scleral buckle; 67121 concerns material located inside the posterior segment.
- 67036Vitrectomy
- 67036 addresses pars plana removal of vitreous. 67121 addresses removal of implanted material from the posterior segment; identify the specific target of the surgery.
- 67108Retinal detachment repair
- 67108 is for retinal detachment repair. Report 67121 when posterior-segment implanted material is removed; detachment repair is a distinct operative objective.
67121 billing questions
How does 67121 differ from 67120?
67121 is for implanted material inside the posterior segment; 67120 is for implanted material in the anterior segment. The operative documentation should establish where the material was located.
Can 67121 be used for removal of a scleral buckle?
No. A buckle is external encircling material, not an intraocular posterior-segment implant; 67115 addresses release of encircling material.
What documentation supports 67121?
Document the material removed, its posterior-segment location, the reason for removal, and the operative work. For silicone oil, identify its prior use as retinal tamponade when relevant.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How are multiple procedures in the same session paid?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are paid at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%.
May an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons are paid only with supporting documentation; team surgery is 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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