Billing code 92145: Corneal testingMedicare rate & RVUs in Washington
Reports bilateral corneal hysteresis testing with an air-pulse instrument, commonly used to assess corneal biomechanics during glaucoma evaluation.
Medicare pays $14.09–$15.94 for 92145 in the office in Washington, from Rest Of Washington to Seattle (King Cnty). 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 92145 covers
An air-pulse instrument briefly deforms the cornea and records its response as the cornea moves inward and returns. The resulting corneal hysteresis measurement reflects corneal biomechanical behavior and may inform glaucoma risk assessment. Ophthalmologists and optometrists commonly use this test in an eye-care office; trained staff may operate the instrument, with a clinician interpreting the results.
Report one unit for the bilateral service, not separate units for each eye. Documentation should identify the test performed, retain the results, and support the clinician’s interpretation and clinical use. The code may be billed globally when one entity provides the test and interpretation, or with modifier 26 for interpretation or TC for equipment and staff. The ophthalmology diagnostic multiple procedure reduction applies to the technical component. The code is priced as bilateral, so modifier 50 does not increase payment.
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 92145 pays more and less in Washington
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Of Washington | $14.09 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $15.94 | Unavailable |
How the 92145 rate is calculated
Each of 92145’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 · 92145
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.10Practice expense 0.29Malpractice 0.02
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 92145
The CMS indicators that decide how 92145 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 92145
Corneal testing
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 7 | Diagnostic ophthalmology reduction applies to the technical component. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 2 | Already bilateral by definition: paid once at 100%. |
| 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 | 1 | Diagnostic test with separate professional (26) and technical (TC) components. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 26 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
92145 without 26 · national office
$13.69
Corneal testing
92145-26 · Professional component
$5.68
Pays only the interpretation and report.
92145 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
92145 vs 92100 vs 92133 vs 92132: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 92100Serial tonometry
- 92100 reports serial intraocular pressure measurements. Use 92145 for the corneal response measurement that produces a hysteresis result.
- 92133Optic nerve OCT
- 92133 reports optic nerve imaging by OCT. It evaluates optic nerve structure, while 92145 measures corneal biomechanical response.
- 92132Eye imaging
- 92132 reports anterior-segment imaging. It documents anterior eye structures rather than measuring corneal hysteresis with an air pulse.
92145 billing questions
Is 92145 reported once or once per eye?
Report one unit for the bilateral service. The code is already priced as bilateral; modifier 50 does not increase payment.
When should modifier 26 or TC be used?
Use modifier 26 for the professional interpretation and TC for the technical service, including equipment and staff. Without either modifier, the claim represents the global service.
How does 92145 differ from serial tonometry, 92100?
92145 measures the cornea’s response to an air pulse to determine corneal hysteresis. 92100 measures intraocular pressure over a series of readings.
Can 92145 be reported with optic nerve OCT?
It may be reported with 92133 when the optic nerve OCT is separately performed and documented. The tests assess different aspects of a glaucoma evaluation.
Which part of the service is subject to the multiple procedure reduction?
The ophthalmology diagnostic multiple procedure reduction applies to the technical component of 92145.
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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