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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesTemporary National Codes (Non-Medicare)HCPCS hcpcs-s0812-phototherapeutic-keratectomy-ptk-corneal-procedure
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    HCPCS Level II S0812: Phototherapeutic Keratectomy (PTK)

    HCPCS Level II code S0812 represents a phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) procedure, an ophthalmic surface ablation technique that uses ultraviolet laser to remove superficial corneal opacities or irregularities; the service is a surgical corneal procedure typically performed in an ambulatory surgery center or ophthalmology clinic under monitored local or topical anesthesia for visual rehabilitation or symptom relief.

    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

    Progress1 / 7

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

    Clinical Context

    A 62-year-old patient with recurrent superficial corneal scarring and symptomatic irregular astigmatism presents to an ophthalmology clinic for evaluation. Symptoms include decreased vision, glare, and discomfort refractory to conservative treatment (lubricants, contact lens refitting). After slit-lamp examination, corneal topography, and pachymetry confirm anterior stromal irregularity and sufficient residual stromal bed, the ophthalmologist schedules a phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) to remove superficial opacities and smooth the anterior corneal surface.

    The clinical workflow includes preoperative evaluation (visual acuity, refraction, corneal imaging, informed consent), perioperative topical anesthesia and antisepsis, performing excimer laser ablation of superficial corneal tissue under sterile conditions in an ambulatory surgical center or ophthalmology outpatient suite, placement of a bandage contact lens post-procedure, and postoperative topical antibiotics and corticosteroids with scheduled follow-up visits for epithelial healing and refractive assessment. Typical sites of service are an ambulatory surgical center (ASC) or an ophthalmologist’s outpatient ophthalmic procedure room equipped with an excimer laser.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    65778Superficial keratectomy, with or without removal of corneal epithelium; single or multipleSurgical alternative or adjunct to PTK for superficial corneal pathology; may be performed when excimer laser is unavailable or for mechanical removal prior to laser
    65779Superficial keratectomy with scarring removal, keratectomy for pannus, or removal of corneal opacitiesMay be performed in conjunction with or instead of PTK when manual excision of scar tissue is indicated
    92134Corneal topography, unilateral or bilateral, with interpretation and reportPreoperative and postoperative corneal mapping to plan PTK and assess outcomes
    92287Removal of foreign body from posterior segment; however, for anterior segment foreign body removal CPT 65222 is usedNot typically used for PTK; Data not available in the input
    99024Postoperative follow-up visit global period excludedDocumented postoperative visits related to PTK that exceed routine global follow-up

    Related Modifiers

    13 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    51Modifier –51 (Multiple Procedures) is used when the same provider performs multiple procedures in the same session to identify secondary, non‑exempt procedures and indicate payment reduction logic…- Use modifier -51 when the same provider performs multiple distinct procedures during the same patient encounter: report the highest‑valued procedure first (no modifier) and append -51 to…
    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…
    58Modifier 58 (Staged or related procedure/service by the same physician during the postoperative period) indicates that a subsequent procedure performed by the same provider during the…- Use modifier 58 when the same physician/QHP performs a procedure during the postoperative/global period of an earlier procedure and the subsequent procedure is either planned or anticipated…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    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…
    66Modifier 66 (Surgical Team) is used when three or more surgeons act as primary surgeons on a single, highly complex procedure. The AMA defines it for use when a surgical team — often composed of…- Use modifier 66 when three or more surgeons act as primary surgeons working collaboratively as a surgical team on a single, highly complex or difficult procedure (for example organ…
    73Modifier 73 indicates a facility-level outpatient hospital or ASC procedure that was discontinued after the patient was prepared and taken to the procedure/operating room but before any anesthesia…- When to use: Apply CPT modifier 73 on the FACILITY (outpatient hospital or ASC) claim when the patient has been fully prepared and physically taken into the procedure/operating room but the…
    74Modifier ‑74 indicates an outpatient hospital or ASC procedure that was discontinued after anesthesia was administered and after the procedure had begun. Use this modifier when anesthesia (local,…- Use modifier -74 when a procedure in an outpatient hospital or ASC setting is terminated after anesthesia has been administered and after the procedure has commenced (for example, after incision,…

    Showing 1–10 of 13

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy CodeSpecialtyNotes
    207W00000XOphthalmology PhysicianAn ophthalmologist has the knowledge and professional skills needed to provide comprehensive eye and vision care. Ophthalmologists are medically train…
    208000000XPediatrics PhysicianA pediatrician is concerned with the physical, emotional and social health of children from birth to young adulthood. Care encompasses a broad spectru…
    363L00000XNurse Practitioner(1) A registered nurse provider with a graduate degree in nursing prepared for advanced practice involving independent and interdependent decision mak…
    174200000XMeals ProviderA public or privately owned facility providing meals to individuals traveling long distances or receiving prolonged outpatient medical services away f…
    103TA0400XAddiction (Substance Use Disorder) PsychologistA psychologist with a proficiency that involves the application of psychological treatment of addiction stemming from the use of alcohol and other psy…
    261QM2500XMedical Specialty Clinic/CenterAn entity, facility, or distinct part of a facility providing diagnostic, treatment, and prescriptive services related to a specific area of medical s…
    2865C1500XDeactivated - Military Hospital
    253Z00000XIn Home Supportive Care AgencyAn In Home Supportive Care Agency provides services in the patient's home with the goal of enabling the patient to remain at home. The services provi…

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    16 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    H11.003Unspecified pterygium of eye, bilateral
    H11.033Double pterygium of eye, bilateral
    H16.221Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, not specified as Sjogren's, right eye
    H16.222Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, not specified as Sjogren's, left eye
    H16.223Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, not specified as Sjogren's, bilateral
    H18.11Bullous keratopathy, right eye
    H18.12Bullous keratopathy, left eye
    H18.13Bullous keratopathy, bilateral
    H18.43Other calcerous corneal degeneration
    H18.49Other corneal degeneration

    Showing 1–10 of 16

    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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