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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesTemporary National Codes (Non-Medicare)HCPCS hcpcs-s0516-safety-eyeglass-frames
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    HCPCS Level II S0516: Safety Eyeglass Frames

    HCPCS Level II code S0516 describes safety eyeglass frames provided as durable medical equipment for patients needing protective eyewear; the service involves supplying prescription or non-prescription safety frames intended to protect the eyes and is typically furnished in durable medical equipment suppliers, optical shops, or outpatient clinics where eyewear is dispensed and fitted.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Fixed Wing Air Ambulance Transport, Air Ambulance, Ambulance Services (for Tennessee Only).

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    Table of contents

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    • Billing CodesCPT, HCPCS, DRG & more
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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A patient employed in a construction setting presents to an occupational health clinic after enrollment in a workplace safety program requiring protective eyewear. The patient requires issuance of safety eyeglass frames to accommodate either plano safety lenses or prescription lenses fitted by an optical dispenser. The clinical workflow begins with the employer or occupational health coordinator ordering S0516 for the cost of safety eyeglass frames. A licensed optician or medical equipment supplier verifies worker eligibility, documents the need for protective frames meeting ANSI Z87.1 or equivalent standards, captures frame measurements and any prescription details, and dispenses the frames. If lenses are required, a refraction performed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist may precede lens fabrication and attachment. Billing for S0516 is submitted by the supplying vendor or clinic, often alongside services for vision testing, lens fabrication, or fitting, with appropriate modifiers applied where coverage policies require (for example, if the service is provided under a contract, if bilateral supplies are needed, or if unusual circumstances increase resource use). Typical sites of service include an outpatient clinic, optical dispensary, workplace onsite health unit, or durable medical equipment supplier location.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    92015External eye photography with interpretation and reportMay be used when documentation of ocular findings or injury is required prior to issuance of protective frames in a medical setting.
    92083Visual field examination, extendedMay be performed when visual field assessment influences lens design or safety requirements before dispensing frames.
    99173Screening test of visual acuity, quantitative, automated with printoutCommonly used in occupational settings to document baseline visual acuity prior to providing safety eyeglass frames.
    99174Instrument-based ocular screening — photoscreeningMay be used in pediatric or special testing circumstances related to screening before supply of protective eyewear.
    97760Orthotic management and training, upper extremity, initial encounterData not relevant to eyewear; included only when durable medical equipment workflows overlap — otherwise not typically used.

    Note: If a listed CPT code is not applicable in a payer's policy for S0516, billing should follow the payer's guidance for bundling and supplemental services.

    Related Modifiers

    8 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    54Modifier ‑54 (“Surgical care only”) is appended to a CPT surgical procedure when the reporting surgeon performs the intraoperative (surgical) component but does not furnish the preoperative and/or…- Use modifier -54 when the reporting surgeon provided only the intraoperative (surgical) component of a procedure and preoperative and/or postoperative management has been or will be provided by…
    55Modifier –55 indicates the billing provider furnished only postoperative management for a procedure that has a global surgical period. According to AAPC, this modifier is appended to the same CPT…- Use modifier -55 when billing the same CPT surgical code that has a 10- or 90-day global period and you, as a provider other than the original surgeon, furnished ONLY postoperative management (no…
    56Modifier ‑56 indicates the reporting provider furnished only the preoperative management for a surgical procedure and did not perform the intraoperative or postoperative care. It is used in…- Use Modifier -56 when a provider performs only the preoperative management in a split‑care situation (one physician manages preop care while a different physician performs the intraoperative…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy CodeSpecialtyNotes
    152W00000XOptometristDoctors of optometry (ODs) are the primary health care professionals for the eye. Optometrists examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases, injurie…
    163W00000XRegistered Nurse(1) A registered nurse is a person qualified by graduation from an accredited nursing school (depending upon schooling, a registered nurse may receive…
    363AM0700XMedical Physician AssistantPhysician Assistants & Advanced Practice Nursing Providers · Physician Assistant
    163WC1500XCommunity Health Registered NurseNursing Service Providers · Registered Nurse
    103TP2700XDeactivated - Psychologist Psychotherapy
    152WC0802XCorneal and Contact Management OptometristThe professional activities performed by an Optometrist related to the fitting of contact lenses to an eye, ongoing evaluation of the cornea's ability…
    235500000XSpeech/Language/Hearing Specialist/TechnologistGeneral classification identifying individuals who are trained on a specific piece of equipment or technical procedure.
    2080I0007XPediatric Clinical & Laboratory Immunology PhysicianA pediatrician who specializes in clinical and laboratory immunology disease management.

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    21 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    G44.1Vascular headache, not elsewhere classified
    G44.209Tension-type headache, unspecified, not intractable
    H02.831Dermatochalasis of right upper eyelid
    H10.9Unspecified conjunctivitis
    H16.9Unspecified keratitis
    H18.513Endothelial corneal dystrophy, bilateral
    H21.9Unspecified disorder of iris and ciliary body
    H35.30Unspecified macular degeneration
    H40.9Unspecified glaucoma
    H54.7Unspecified visual loss

    Showing 1–10 of 21

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Emergency & Medical Transportation1 / 3

    9 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Fixed Wing Air Ambulance TransportCigna2026-08-15
    Air AmbulanceAmbetter Georgia2026-08-01
    Ambulance Services (for Tennessee Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-08-01
    Ambulance Services (for New Mexico Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-08-01
    Clinical Policy: Air AmbulanceArizona Complete Health2026-08-01
    Clinical Policy: Air AmbulanceCentene2026-08-01
    Air AmbulanceCentene2026-08-01
    Clinical Policy: Air AmbulanceAmbetter Nevada2026-08-01
    Ambulance TransportProvidence Health Plan2026-07-01

    Related Codes

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S2152-SOLID-ORGAN-TRANSPLANTATION-GLOBAL-CARE

    HCPCS Level II S2152: Solid Organ Procurement and Transplantation

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S2266-INDUCED-ABORTION-29-TO-31-WEEKS

    HCPCS Level II S2266: Induced Abortion, 29 to 31 Weeks

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S3630-EOSINOPHIL-COUNT-BLOOD-DIRECT

    HCPCS Level II S3630: Eosinophil Count, Blood, Direct

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S4017-INCOMPLETE-ART-CYCLE-CANCELLED-PRIOR-TO-STIMULATION

    HCPCS Level II S4017: Incomplete Cycle — Cancelled Prior to Stimulation

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S8055-ULTRASOUND-GUIDANCE-MULTIFETAL-REDUCTION-TC

    HCPCS Level II S8055: Ultrasound Guidance for Multifetal Pregnancy Reduction

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S8940-EQUESTRIAN-HIPPOTHERAPY-PER-SESSION

    HCPCS Level II S8940: Equestrian/Hippotherapy, Per Session

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S9024-PARANASAL-SINUS-ULTRASOUND

    HCPCS Level II S9024: Paranasal Sinus Ultrasound

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S9366-HOME-TPN-1-2L-PER-DAY-HOME-INFUSION

    HCPCS Level II S9366: Home Infusion TPN, 1–2 L/day

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S9446-GROUP-PATIENT-EDUCATION-NON-PHYSICIAN

    HCPCS S9446: Patient Education, Non-Physician Provider, Group, Per Session

    HCPCS-LEVEL-II-S9451-EXERCISE-CLASS-NON-PHYSICIAN-SESSION

    HCPCS S9451: Exercise Classes, Non-Physician Provider, Per Session

    Showing 1–10 of 532

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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