2020 Reimbursement Changes for Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation with Cataract Surgery

Two CPT codes to cover endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) for the treatment of mild to moderate glaucoma when performed at the time of cataract surgery have been created. The new codes took effect January 1, 2020 and include CPT 66987 and CPT 66988.

• CPT 66987: Extracapsular cataract removal with insertion of intraocular lens prosthesis (1-stage procedure), manual or mechanical technique (e.g., irrigation and aspiration or phacoemulsification), complex, requiring devices or techniques not generally used in routine cataract surgery … or performed on patients in the amblyogenic developmental stage; with endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation.
• CPT 66988: Extracapsular cataract removal with insertion of intraocular lens prosthesis (1-stage procedure), manual or mechanical technique (e.g., irrigation and aspiration or phacoemulsification); with endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation.

Previous CPTs 66982 and 66984 now include “without endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation” in the description. Additionally, the CPT code for ECP (66711) will be used only when performing ECP as a stand-alone procedure