CPT code 68720 represents a dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR), a surgical procedure to restore tear drainage by creating a new passage between the lacrimal sac and the nasal cavity. DCR is a definitive treatment for nasolacrimal duct obstruction, commonly performed by ophthalmic plastic surgeons and otolaryngologists. Nationally, this code denotes an operative intervention with implications for surgical settings, anesthesia use, and post-operative care pathways.

Key payers included in this overview are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical context for the procedure, typical sites of service (hospital operating room and ambulatory surgery center), and the types of benchmarks and policy items typically associated with a surgical ophthalmologic code such as reimbursement benchmarks, authorization and coverage considerations, and coding compliance issues. The summary highlights where CPT code 68720 fits within care delivery for lacrimal system disorders and what clinical and administrative stakeholders should expect when this procedure is billed.

This publication provides practical reference material: code definition and clinical purpose, payer coverage scope, and the kinds of metrics and policy updates that commonly affect utilization and payment for surgical lacrimal procedures. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.