Cost analysis for CPT 66991 — Extracapsular removal of cataract with insertion of artificial lens and insertion of drainage device in front chamber of eye
Average Medicare Payment
$1382.27
2023 data
Total Payments (2023)
$90.5M
Services (2023)
58.8K
Price Change (2022–2023)
+1.8%
| Year | Avg Payment | Total Payments | Services | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $1358.38 | $89.0M | 58.9K | — |
| 2023 | $1382.27 | $90.5M | 58.8K | +1.8% |
The most expensive state pays 2.7x more than the cheapest for this procedure. VT averages $2158.45 vs RI at $805.02.
| State | Avg Payment | Total Payments | Services | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VT | $2158.45 | $263.3K | 122 | 2 |
| ID | $2123.27 | $968.2K | 456 | 11 |
| NJ | $2031.30 | $4.5M | 2.2K | 54 |
| CA | $1941.45 | $13.8M | 7.1K | 178 |
| CT | $1908.08 | $875.8K | 459 | 12 |
| HI | $1829.75 | $486.7K | 266 | 6 |
| NY | $1819.41 | $3.6M | 2.0K | 54 |
| NM | $1817.30 | $239.9K | 132 | 5 |
| NV | $1776.92 | $845.8K | 476 | 15 |
| OR | $1669.14 | $1.1M | 678 | 24 |
| MA | $1649.08 | $3.3M | 2.0K | 46 |
| CO | $1612.35 | $1.6M | 962 | 29 |
| GA | $1609.66 | $2.5M | 1.5K | 41 |
| ME | $1605.43 | $245.6K | 153 | 5 |
| DE | $1599.88 | $855.9K | 535 | 10 |
| MD | $1591.15 | $1.9M | 1.2K | 29 |
| NH | $1583.28 | $821.7K | 519 | 11 |
| AZ | $1545.36 | $3.2M | 2.1K | 56 |
| KS | $1523.92 | $2.0M | 1.3K | 21 |
| TX | $1521.04 | $5.5M | 3.6K | 98 |
| FL | $1509.09 | $5.3M | 3.5K | 92 |
| SC | $1499.67 | $1.4M | 954 | 23 |
| VA | $1474.89 | $1.7M | 1.1K | 27 |
| WA | $1465.91 | $2.5M | 1.7K | 39 |
| MN | $1447.92 | $1.6M | 1.1K | 29 |
| MI | $1442.63 | $1.3M | 922 | 26 |
| AR | $1440.01 | $728.6K | 506 | 11 |
| PA | $1434.68 | $4.6M | 3.2K | 69 |
| TN | $1424.94 | $1.7M | 1.2K | 35 |
| IN | $1419.00 | $1.8M | 1.3K | 23 |
| KY | $1405.53 | $601.6K | 428 | 14 |
| UT | $1405.07 | $691.3K | 492 | 16 |
| NE | $1404.64 | $1.5M | 1.1K | 27 |
| OK | $1386.93 | $721.2K | 520 | 15 |
| SD | $1369.81 | $1.2M | 872 | 10 |
| MT | $1369.26 | $954.4K | 697 | 12 |
| IA | $1339.37 | $853.2K | 637 | 17 |
| ND | $1327.39 | $550.9K | 415 | 11 |
| MS | $1316.45 | $1.5M | 1.1K | 24 |
| NC | $1287.63 | $1.7M | 1.4K | 34 |
| WI | $1272.43 | $1.5M | 1.2K | 28 |
| AL | $1260.68 | $1.0M | 821 | 14 |
| MO | $1240.71 | $1.7M | 1.4K | 31 |
| IL | $1190.52 | $1.6M | 1.3K | 35 |
| WV | $1117.22 | $205.6K | 184 | 5 |
| OH | $1065.97 | $1.9M | 1.8K | 36 |
| LA | $961.61 | $846.2K | 880 | 20 |
| RI | $805.02 | $238.3K | 296 | 9 |
| Provider | Specialty | State | Payments | Services | Avg/Service |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Drive Surgery Center, Llc | Ambulatory Surgical Center | NJ | $1.2M | 404 | $2973.52 |
| Specialty Surgical Center, Llc | Ambulatory Surgical Center | CA | $649.4K | 218 | $2978.88 |
| Island Eye Surgicenter Llc | Ambulatory Surgical Center | NY | $628.4K | 213 | $2950.44 |
| Vance Thompson Vision Surgery Center Prof Llc | Ambulatory Surgical Center | SD | $509.3K | 223 | $2284.03 |
| Laser & Surgical Services At Center For Sight Llc | Ambulatory Surgical Center | FL | $507.1K | 206 | $2461.81 |
| East Bay Surgery Center Llc | Ambulatory Surgical Center | MA | $503.4K | 194 | $2595.09 |
| Freedom Vision Surgery Center Llc | Ambulatory Surgical Center | CA | $487.8K | 164 | $2974.52 |
| Ocean County Eye Associates Llc | Ambulatory Surgical Center | NJ | $463.0K | 175 | $2645.97 |
| Roanoke Valley Center For Sight Llc | Ambulatory Surgical Center | VA | $454.6K | 193 | $2355.57 |
| Long Island Ambulatory Surgery Center, Llc | Ambulatory Surgical Center | NY | $416.7K | 142 | $2934.34 |
| Sltlbk Associates, Llc | Ambulatory Surgical Center | PA | $412.1K | 166 | $2482.80 |
| Surgical Care Center, Inc. | Ambulatory Surgical Center | IN | $403.6K | 159 | $2538.12 |
| Eye Surgery Center Of North Alabama, Inc. | Ambulatory Surgical Center | AL | $397.8K | 177 | $2247.24 |
| Sacramento Surgery Center Associates, L P | Ambulatory Surgical Center | CA | $388.5K | 113 | $3438.17 |
| 4th Street Laser & Surgery Center Inc | Ambulatory Surgical Center | CA | $383.7K | 108 | $3552.59 |
| 481 Asc Project Llc | Ambulatory Surgical Center | CA | $380.1K | 104 | $3654.71 |
| The Eye Surgery Center Of The Carolinas Lp | Ambulatory Surgical Center | NC | $375.0K | 163 | $2300.83 |
| Hancock Park Surgery Center, Llc | Ambulatory Surgical Center | CA | $374.3K | 126 | $2970.71 |
| North Valley Surgery Center Llc | Ambulatory Surgical Center | CA | $372.0K | 139 | $2675.93 |
| Tower Clock Surgery Center Llc | Ambulatory Surgical Center | WI | $368.0K | 148 | $2486.32 |
The data suggests significant pricing inconsistencies for CPT 66991. With a 2.7x price gap between the most and least expensive states, geography plays an outsized role in what Medicare pays for this procedure.
Costs have remained relatively stable over time, but the geographic variation suggests Medicare's geographic adjustment factors may not fully capture the true cost differences across states.
This analysis is based on publicly available CMS data and does not account for patient complexity, comorbidities, or facility-specific factors that may justify pricing differences.
Note: All data is from publicly available Medicare records. OpenMedicare is an independent journalism project not affiliated with CMS.