Billing code 66830: Lens lesion removalMedicare rate & RVUs in Washington
Report this service when an ophthalmic surgeon surgically removes a discrete lesion, such as a cyst or tumor, involving the eye’s natural lens.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 66830 in Washington.
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 66830 covers
An ophthalmic surgeon uses this code for surgical removal of a discrete lesion involving the natural lens, such as a lens cyst or tumor. The operative target is the lesion itself, rather than a secondary cataract membrane or lens material removed as part of cataract surgery. The procedure is typically performed in a surgical setting, with the surgeon documenting the lesion and the removal performed.
Select the code based on the operative report’s description of a lens lesion and its removal. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For bilateral surgery reported with modifier 50, CMS pays 150%. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Assistant-at-surgery services are not 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 66830 pays more and less in Washington
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Of Washington | Unavailable | $615.84 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | Unavailable | $675.72 |
How the 66830 rate is calculated
Each of 66830’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 · 66830
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work9.23
9.23 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense8.11
8.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.72
0.72 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
18.0600
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$603.22
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 66830
66830 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 66830
Lens lesion 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) | 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 · 66830
Lens lesion 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
66830 without 50 · national facility
$603.22
Lens lesion removal
66830-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$904.83
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).
66830 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 66820Secondary cataract
- 66820 treats a secondary cataract membrane by incision. This code is for removal of a discrete lesion involving the natural lens.
- 66821YAG laser capsulotomy
- 66821 uses laser treatment for a secondary cataract. This code describes surgical removal of a lens lesion, such as a cyst or tumor.
- 66840Lens aspiration
- 66840 describes aspiration of lens material. Choose this code when the operative target is a discrete lens lesion instead.
- 66850Lens removal
- 66850 describes removal of lens material by phacofragmentation; this code is for removal of a lens lesion.
66830 billing questions
How is this code different from lens-material removal codes?
Use this code when the surgeon removes a discrete lesion involving the natural lens. Codes for lens-material removal describe procedures directed at lens material rather than a cyst or tumor.
Does the global period include postoperative care?
Yes. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How is bilateral surgery reported?
Report bilateral surgery with modifier 50. CMS pays 150% for the bilateral procedure.
Can an assistant surgeon be paid for this procedure?
CMS does not pay assistant-at-surgery services for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are also not permitted.
What documentation supports reporting this code?
The operative report should identify the discrete lens lesion, such as a cyst or tumor, and describe its surgical removal. Documentation should distinguish that target from a secondary cataract membrane or lens material.
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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