AMA CPT® Assistant - 2022 Issue 8 (August)
Coding Clarification: Reporting Goniotomy (65820) (August 2022)
August 2022 pages 1-2 Coding Clarification: Reporting Goniotomy ( 65820 ) Concerns have been raised as to whether it is appropriate to report Current Procedural Terminology (CPT ® ) code 65820 , Goniotomy, when a surgeon uses a tool or device to make a single puncture in the trabecular meshwork to either: deliver viscoelastic material into Schlemm’s canal or insert an aqueous drainage device through or immediately alongside the puncture(s). Some practices have received guidance that a goniopuncture alone without the incision or excision of an appreciable length of trabecular meshwork is sufficient to report code 65820 , and that goniotomy...
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Article Overview
This article explains an August 2022 CPT Assistant clarification about reporting goniotomy and related ophthalmic procedures. It is relevant to ophthalmology coders, surgeons, and billing staff who need to understand the scope of the guidance, the relationship to prior AMA/CPT Assistant discussion, and the code sets and procedure categories referenced in the clarification.
Why This Topic Matters
The article helps readers recognize that the issue is not just the procedure name, but how the service is characterized within CPT guidance and how it relates to other ophthalmic procedure categories. It matters for anyone reviewing documentation or claims involving glaucoma-related surgery and anterior segment procedures.
Article Sections
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August 2022 pages 1-2
Introductory publication information for the clarification article.
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Coding Clarification: Reporting Goniotomy (65820)
General discussion of reporting questions for goniotomy within the CPT Assistant clarification, including the context for the article and its relationship to prior guidance.
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Questions and Answers
A Q&A format section addressing common reporting scenarios involving goniotomy and related ophthalmic procedures.
What You Will Learn
- The general scope of the CPT Assistant clarification on goniotomy reporting
- How the article frames the relationship between goniotomy and other ophthalmic procedure categories
- Which code sets and reference topics are discussed in the clarification
- The types of questions addressed in the article’s Q&A format
Who Should Read This
- Ophthalmology coders
- Medical billers
- Surgeons
- Practice managers
- Compliance staff
Codes Discussed
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