LCD Reference Article Billing and Coding Article

Billing and Coding: Cataract Extraction (including Complex Cataract Surgery)

A58592

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Draft Articles are works in progress and not necessarily a reflection of the current billing and coding practices. Revisions to codes are carefully and thoroughly reviewed and are not intended to change the original intent of the LCD.

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Source Article ID
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Article ID
A58592
Original ICD-9 Article ID
Not Applicable
Article Title
Billing and Coding: Cataract Extraction (including Complex Cataract Surgery)
Article Type
Billing and Coding
Original Effective Date
07/11/2021
Revision Effective Date
07/11/2021
Revision Ending Date
N/A
Retirement Date
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CMS National Coverage Policy

Social Security Act (Title XVIII) Standard References:

  • Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, Section 1833(e) states that no payment shall be made to any provider of services or other person under this part unless there has been furnished such information as may be necessary in order to determine the amounts due such provider or other person under this part for the period with respect to which the amounts are being paid or for any prior period.

Article Guidance

Article Text

This Billing and Coding Article provides billing and coding guidance for Local Coverage Determination (LCD) L38926, Cataract Extraction (including Complex Cataract Surgery). Please refer to the LCD for reasonable and necessary requirements.

Coding Guidance

Notice: It is not appropriate to bill Medicare for services that are not covered (as described by the entire LCD) as if they are covered. When billing for non-covered services, use the appropriate modifier.

The primary diagnosis submitted by the physician performing the preoperative ophthalmologic evaluation must be cataract (ICD-10-CM codes listed in the "ICD-10 Codes that Support Medical Necessity" section of this article).

The diagnoses submitted by the physician performing the evaluation and management component of the preoperative workup, when it is medically necessary, should indicate cataract (ICD-10-CM codes listed in the "ICD-10 Codes that Support Medical Necessity" section of this article) as the primary or secondary diagnosis.

Complex cataract extraction should require devices or techniques not generally used in routine cataract surgery.

Documentation Requirements

  1. All documentation must be maintained in the patient's medical record and made available to the contractor upon request.
  2. Every page of the record must be legible and include appropriate patient identification information (e.g., complete name, dates of service[s]). The documentation must include the legible signature of the physician or non-physician practitioner responsible for and providing the care to the patient.
  3. The submitted medical record must support the use of the selected ICD-10-CM code(s). The submitted CPT/HCPCS code must describe the service performed.
  4. When complex cataract procedures are reported the medical record must support that devices or techniques not generally used in routine cataract surgery were used, for example:
    • Insertion of iris retractors through additional incisions
    • Mechanical expansion of the pupil using iris hooks
    • Creation of a sector iridectomy with subsequent suture repair of iris sphincter
    • Use of intraoperative iris expansion device to maintain pupil dilation (i.e., Malyugin ring), iris sphincterotomies created with scissors
    • The need to support the lens implant with permanent intraocular sutures
    • Placement of a capsular support ring is necessary to allow secure placement of an intraocular lens

Response To Comments

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Coding Information

Bill Type Codes

Code Description

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Revenue Codes

Code Description

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CPT/HCPCS Codes

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CPT/HCPCS Modifiers

Group 1

Group 1 Paragraph

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Group 1 Codes

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ICD-10-CM Codes that Support Medical Necessity

Group 1

(106 Codes)
Group 1 Paragraph


It is the provider’s responsibility to select codes carried out to the highest level of specificity and selected from the ICD-10-CM code book appropriate to the year in which the service is rendered for the claim(s) submitted.

The following ICD-10-CM codes support medical necessity and provide coverage for CPT codes: 66840, 66850, 66852, 66920, 66940, 66983, 66984 and 66988:

Group 1 Codes
Code Description
E08.36 Diabetes mellitus due to underlying condition with diabetic cataract
E09.36 Drug or chemical induced diabetes mellitus with diabetic cataract
E10.36 Type 1 diabetes mellitus with diabetic cataract
E11.36 Type 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic cataract
E13.36 Other specified diabetes mellitus with diabetic cataract
H20.21 Lens-induced iridocyclitis, right eye
H20.22 Lens-induced iridocyclitis, left eye
H20.23 Lens-induced iridocyclitis, bilateral
H25.011 Cortical age-related cataract, right eye
H25.012 Cortical age-related cataract, left eye
H25.013 Cortical age-related cataract, bilateral
H25.031 Anterior subcapsular polar age-related cataract, right eye
H25.032 Anterior subcapsular polar age-related cataract, left eye
H25.033 Anterior subcapsular polar age-related cataract, bilateral
H25.041 Posterior subcapsular polar age-related cataract, right eye
H25.042 Posterior subcapsular polar age-related cataract, left eye
H25.043 Posterior subcapsular polar age-related cataract, bilateral
H25.091 Other age-related incipient cataract, right eye
H25.092 Other age-related incipient cataract, left eye
H25.093 Other age-related incipient cataract, bilateral
H25.11 Age-related nuclear cataract, right eye
H25.12 Age-related nuclear cataract, left eye
H25.13 Age-related nuclear cataract, bilateral
H25.21 Age-related cataract, morgagnian type, right eye
H25.22 Age-related cataract, morgagnian type, left eye
H25.23 Age-related cataract, morgagnian type, bilateral
H25.811 Combined forms of age-related cataract, right eye
H25.812 Combined forms of age-related cataract, left eye
H25.813 Combined forms of age-related cataract, bilateral
H25.89 Other age-related cataract
H26.001 Unspecified infantile and juvenile cataract, right eye
H26.002 Unspecified infantile and juvenile cataract, left eye
H26.003 Unspecified infantile and juvenile cataract, bilateral
H26.011 Infantile and juvenile cortical, lamellar, or zonular cataract, right eye
H26.012 Infantile and juvenile cortical, lamellar, or zonular cataract, left eye
H26.013 Infantile and juvenile cortical, lamellar, or zonular cataract, bilateral
H26.031 Infantile and juvenile nuclear cataract, right eye
H26.032 Infantile and juvenile nuclear cataract, left eye
H26.033 Infantile and juvenile nuclear cataract, bilateral
H26.041 Anterior subcapsular polar infantile and juvenile cataract, right eye
H26.042 Anterior subcapsular polar infantile and juvenile cataract, left eye
H26.043 Anterior subcapsular polar infantile and juvenile cataract, bilateral
H26.051 Posterior subcapsular polar infantile and juvenile cataract, right eye
H26.052 Posterior subcapsular polar infantile and juvenile cataract, left eye
H26.053 Posterior subcapsular polar infantile and juvenile cataract, bilateral
H26.061 Combined forms of infantile and juvenile cataract, right eye
H26.062 Combined forms of infantile and juvenile cataract, left eye
H26.063 Combined forms of infantile and juvenile cataract, bilateral
H26.09 Other infantile and juvenile cataract
H26.101 Unspecified traumatic cataract, right eye
H26.102 Unspecified traumatic cataract, left eye
H26.103 Unspecified traumatic cataract, bilateral
H26.111 Localized traumatic opacities, right eye
H26.112 Localized traumatic opacities, left eye
H26.113 Localized traumatic opacities, bilateral
H26.121 Partially resolved traumatic cataract, right eye
H26.122 Partially resolved traumatic cataract, left eye
H26.123 Partially resolved traumatic cataract, bilateral
H26.131 Total traumatic cataract, right eye
H26.132 Total traumatic cataract, left eye
H26.133 Total traumatic cataract, bilateral
H26.211 Cataract with neovascularization, right eye
H26.212 Cataract with neovascularization, left eye
H26.213 Cataract with neovascularization, bilateral
H26.221 Cataract secondary to ocular disorders (degenerative) (inflammatory), right eye
H26.222 Cataract secondary to ocular disorders (degenerative) (inflammatory), left eye
H26.223 Cataract secondary to ocular disorders (degenerative) (inflammatory), bilateral
H26.231 Glaucomatous flecks (subcapsular), right eye
H26.232 Glaucomatous flecks (subcapsular), left eye
H26.233 Glaucomatous flecks (subcapsular), bilateral
H26.31 Drug-induced cataract, right eye
H26.32 Drug-induced cataract, left eye
H26.33 Drug-induced cataract, bilateral
H26.411 Soemmering's ring, right eye
H26.412 Soemmering's ring, left eye
H26.413 Soemmering's ring, bilateral
H26.491 Other secondary cataract, right eye
H26.492 Other secondary cataract, left eye
H26.493 Other secondary cataract, bilateral
H26.8 Other specified cataract
H27.111 Subluxation of lens, right eye
H27.112 Subluxation of lens, left eye
H27.113 Subluxation of lens, bilateral
H27.121 Anterior dislocation of lens, right eye
H27.122 Anterior dislocation of lens, left eye
H27.123 Anterior dislocation of lens, bilateral
H27.131 Posterior dislocation of lens, right eye
H27.132 Posterior dislocation of lens, left eye
H27.133 Posterior dislocation of lens, bilateral
H28* Cataract in diseases classified elsewhere
H40.51X1 Glaucoma secondary to other eye disorders, right eye, mild stage
H40.51X2 Glaucoma secondary to other eye disorders, right eye, moderate stage
H40.51X3 Glaucoma secondary to other eye disorders, right eye, severe stage
H40.51X4 Glaucoma secondary to other eye disorders, right eye, indeterminate stage
H40.52X1 Glaucoma secondary to other eye disorders, left eye, mild stage
H40.52X2 Glaucoma secondary to other eye disorders, left eye, moderate stage
H40.52X3 Glaucoma secondary to other eye disorders, left eye, severe stage
H40.52X4 Glaucoma secondary to other eye disorders, left eye, indeterminate stage
H40.53X1 Glaucoma secondary to other eye disorders, bilateral, mild stage
H40.53X2 Glaucoma secondary to other eye disorders, bilateral, moderate stage
H40.53X3 Glaucoma secondary to other eye disorders, bilateral, severe stage
H40.53X4 Glaucoma secondary to other eye disorders, bilateral, indeterminate stage
H40.89* Other specified glaucoma
H59.021 Cataract (lens) fragments in eye following cataract surgery, right eye
H59.022 Cataract (lens) fragments in eye following cataract surgery, left eye
H59.023 Cataract (lens) fragments in eye following cataract surgery, bilateral
Group 1 Medical Necessity ICD-10-CM Codes Asterisk Explanation


*Note: 
When reporting ICD-10 code H40.89, one of the following codes must also be reported: H25.21, H25.22 or H25.23.

*Note: When reporting ICD-10 code H28, the underlying disease (e.g., hypoparathyroidism, myotonia, myxedema, protein-calorie malnutrition) should be reported as the primary diagnosis.

Group 2

(116 Codes)
Group 2 Paragraph


It is the provider’s responsibility to select codes carried out to the highest level of specificity and selected from the ICD-10-CM code book appropriate to the year in which the service is rendered for the claim(s) submitted.

The following ICD-10-CM codes support medical necessity and provide coverage for CPT codes: 66982 and 66987.

Group 2 Codes
Code Description
E08.36 Diabetes mellitus due to underlying condition with diabetic cataract
E09.36 Drug or chemical induced diabetes mellitus with diabetic cataract
E10.36 Type 1 diabetes mellitus with diabetic cataract
E11.36 Type 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic cataract
E13.36 Other specified diabetes mellitus with diabetic cataract
H20.21 Lens-induced iridocyclitis, right eye
H20.22 Lens-induced iridocyclitis, left eye
H20.23 Lens-induced iridocyclitis, bilateral
H21.221 Degeneration of ciliary body, right eye
H21.222 Degeneration of ciliary body, left eye
H21.223 Degeneration of ciliary body, bilateral
H21.261 Iris atrophy (essential) (progressive), right eye
H21.262 Iris atrophy (essential) (progressive), left eye
H21.263 Iris atrophy (essential) (progressive), bilateral
H21.271 Miotic pupillary cyst, right eye
H21.272 Miotic pupillary cyst, left eye
H21.273 Miotic pupillary cyst, bilateral
H21.29 Other iris atrophy
H21.531 Iridodialysis, right eye
H21.532 Iridodialysis, left eye
H21.533 Iridodialysis, bilateral
H21.561 Pupillary abnormality, right eye
H21.562 Pupillary abnormality, left eye
H21.563 Pupillary abnormality, bilateral
H21.81 Floppy iris syndrome
H21.89 Other specified disorders of iris and ciliary body
H22 Disorders of iris and ciliary body in diseases classified elsewhere
H25.011 Cortical age-related cataract, right eye
H25.012 Cortical age-related cataract, left eye
H25.013 Cortical age-related cataract, bilateral
H25.031 Anterior subcapsular polar age-related cataract, right eye
H25.032 Anterior subcapsular polar age-related cataract, left eye
H25.033 Anterior subcapsular polar age-related cataract, bilateral
H25.041 Posterior subcapsular polar age-related cataract, right eye
H25.042 Posterior subcapsular polar age-related cataract, left eye
H25.043 Posterior subcapsular polar age-related cataract, bilateral
H25.11 Age-related nuclear cataract, right eye
H25.12 Age-related nuclear cataract, left eye
H25.13 Age-related nuclear cataract, bilateral
H25.21 Age-related cataract, morgagnian type, right eye
H25.22 Age-related cataract, morgagnian type, left eye
H25.23 Age-related cataract, morgagnian type, bilateral
H25.811 Combined forms of age-related cataract, right eye
H25.812 Combined forms of age-related cataract, left eye
H25.813 Combined forms of age-related cataract, bilateral
H25.89 Other age-related cataract
H26.001 Unspecified infantile and juvenile cataract, right eye
H26.002 Unspecified infantile and juvenile cataract, left eye
H26.003 Unspecified infantile and juvenile cataract, bilateral
H26.011 Infantile and juvenile cortical, lamellar, or zonular cataract, right eye
H26.012 Infantile and juvenile cortical, lamellar, or zonular cataract, left eye
H26.013 Infantile and juvenile cortical, lamellar, or zonular cataract, bilateral
H26.031 Infantile and juvenile nuclear cataract, right eye
H26.032 Infantile and juvenile nuclear cataract, left eye
H26.033 Infantile and juvenile nuclear cataract, bilateral
H26.041 Anterior subcapsular polar infantile and juvenile cataract, right eye
H26.042 Anterior subcapsular polar infantile and juvenile cataract, left eye
H26.043 Anterior subcapsular polar infantile and juvenile cataract, bilateral
H26.051 Posterior subcapsular polar infantile and juvenile cataract, right eye
H26.052 Posterior subcapsular polar infantile and juvenile cataract, left eye
H26.053 Posterior subcapsular polar infantile and juvenile cataract, bilateral
H26.061 Combined forms of infantile and juvenile cataract, right eye
H26.062 Combined forms of infantile and juvenile cataract, left eye
H26.063 Combined forms of infantile and juvenile cataract, bilateral
H26.09 Other infantile and juvenile cataract
H26.101 Unspecified traumatic cataract, right eye
H26.102 Unspecified traumatic cataract, left eye
H26.103 Unspecified traumatic cataract, bilateral
H26.121 Partially resolved traumatic cataract, right eye
H26.122 Partially resolved traumatic cataract, left eye
H26.123 Partially resolved traumatic cataract, bilateral
H26.131 Total traumatic cataract, right eye
H26.132 Total traumatic cataract, left eye
H26.133 Total traumatic cataract, bilateral
H26.20 Unspecified complicated cataract
H26.211 Cataract with neovascularization, right eye
H26.212 Cataract with neovascularization, left eye
H26.213 Cataract with neovascularization, bilateral
H26.221 Cataract secondary to ocular disorders (degenerative) (inflammatory), right eye
H26.222 Cataract secondary to ocular disorders (degenerative) (inflammatory), left eye
H26.223 Cataract secondary to ocular disorders (degenerative) (inflammatory), bilateral
H26.31 Drug-induced cataract, right eye
H26.32 Drug-induced cataract, left eye
H26.33 Drug-induced cataract, bilateral
H26.8 Other specified cataract
H27.111 Subluxation of lens, right eye
H27.112 Subluxation of lens, left eye
H27.113 Subluxation of lens, bilateral
H27.121 Anterior dislocation of lens, right eye
H27.122 Anterior dislocation of lens, left eye
H27.123 Anterior dislocation of lens, bilateral
H27.131 Posterior dislocation of lens, right eye
H27.132 Posterior dislocation of lens, left eye
H27.133 Posterior dislocation of lens, bilateral
H28* Cataract in diseases classified elsewhere
H40.51X1 Glaucoma secondary to other eye disorders, right eye, mild stage
H40.51X2 Glaucoma secondary to other eye disorders, right eye, moderate stage
H40.51X3 Glaucoma secondary to other eye disorders, right eye, severe stage
H40.51X4 Glaucoma secondary to other eye disorders, right eye, indeterminate stage
H40.52X1 Glaucoma secondary to other eye disorders, left eye, mild stage
H40.52X2 Glaucoma secondary to other eye disorders, left eye, moderate stage
H40.52X3 Glaucoma secondary to other eye disorders, left eye, severe stage
H40.52X4 Glaucoma secondary to other eye disorders, left eye, indeterminate stage
H40.53X1 Glaucoma secondary to other eye disorders, bilateral, mild stage
H40.53X2 Glaucoma secondary to other eye disorders, bilateral, moderate stage
H40.53X3 Glaucoma secondary to other eye disorders, bilateral, severe stage
H40.53X4 Glaucoma secondary to other eye disorders, bilateral, indeterminate stage
H40.89* Other specified glaucoma
H57.09 Other anomalies of pupillary function
Q12.1 Congenital displaced lens
Q12.2 Coloboma of lens
Q12.4 Spherophakia
Q12.8 Other congenital lens malformations
Q13.0 Coloboma of iris
Q13.1 Absence of iris
Q13.2 Other congenital malformations of iris
Group 2 Medical Necessity ICD-10-CM Codes Asterisk Explanation


*Note:
When reporting ICD-10 code H40.89, one of the following codes must also be reported: H25.21, H25.22 or H25.23.

*Note: When reporting ICD-10 code H28, the underlying disease (e.g., hypoparathyroidism, myotonia, myxedema, protein-calorie malnutrition) should be reported as the primary diagnosis.

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ICD-10-CM Codes that DO NOT Support Medical Necessity

Group 1

(1 Code)
Group 1 Paragraph

All those not listed under the “ICD-10 Codes that Support Medical Necessity” section of this article.

Group 1 Codes
Code Description
XX000 Not Applicable
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ICD-10-PCS Codes

Group 1

Group 1 Paragraph

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Group 1 Codes

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Additional ICD-10 Information

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Bill Type Codes

Contractors may specify Bill Types to help providers identify those Bill Types typically used to report this service. Absence of a Bill Type does not guarantee that the article does not apply to that Bill Type. Complete absence of all Bill Types indicates that coverage is not influenced by Bill Type and the article should be assumed to apply equally to all claims.

Code Description

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Revenue Codes

Contractors may specify Revenue Codes to help providers identify those Revenue Codes typically used to report this service. In most instances Revenue Codes are purely advisory. Unless specified in the article, services reported under other Revenue Codes are equally subject to this coverage determination. Complete absence of all Revenue Codes indicates that coverage is not influenced by Revenue Code and the article should be assumed to apply equally to all Revenue Codes.

Code Description

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Other Coding Information

Group 1

Group 1 Paragraph

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Group 1 Codes

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Coding Table Information

Excluded CPT/HCPCS Codes - Table Format
Code Descriptor Generic Name Descriptor Brand Name Exclusion Effective Date Exclusion End Date Reason for Exclusion
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Non-Excluded CPT/HCPCS Ended Codes - Table Format
Code Descriptor Generic Name Descriptor Brand Name Exclusion Effective Date Exclusion End Date Reason for Exclusion
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Revision History Information

Revision History Date Revision History Number Revision History Explanation
07/11/2021 R3

Article revised and published on 11/4/2021 to correct Revision History Number R2 below to indicate that the article was revised and published on 10/28/2021 to correct a typographical error.

07/11/2021 R2

Article revised and published on 8/28/2021 to correct typographical errors.

07/11/2021 R1

Article revised and published 7/8/2021 to reflect addition to the asterisk explanations to article becoming effective 7/11/2021.

Final Article posted 5/27/2021 effective for dates of service on and after 7/11/2021.

Draft Article posted on 1/14/2021.

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Associated Documents

Medicare BPM Ch 15.50.2 SAD Determinations
Medicare BPM Ch 15.50.2
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Updated On Effective Dates Status
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