CPT
60500 — Parathyroidectomy or exploration of parathyroid gland
Verify the code matches the actual service and dose.
Ophthalmology
66984 — Extracapsular cataract removal with intraocular lens prosthesis, one stage
This is the standard cataract surgery code — the most common surgery performed in the United States.
- Typical setting: Ambulatory surgery center, hospital
- National avg charge (illustrative): $600-$1,200 Medicare allowed per eye for surgeon professional fee (total ASC charges: $1,500-$3,500 per eye; premium IOL upgrades add $1,000-$3,500 out of pocket)
- Most-disputed reason: Premium IOL upsell billing: billing Medicare for a premium multifocal or toric IOL — Medicare only covers a standard monofocal IOL; the upgrade cost must be separately collected from the patient with an ABN
What it means
What 66984 actually means
This is the standard cataract surgery code — the most common surgery performed in the United States. The surgeon removes the cloudy natural lens of the eye through a small incision and replaces it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). The procedure is typically performed as an outpatient surgery under local anesthesia. The standard IOL is covered; premium lenses (toric, multifocal) are not and are an out-of-pocket upgrade.
Common errors with this code
What goes wrong on real bills.
Most bills that look correct still contain at least one of these issues. Up to 49% of medical bills contain errors (CFPB).
- Premium IOL upsell billing: billing Medicare for a premium multifocal or toric IOL — Medicare only covers a standard monofocal IOL; the upgrade cost must be separately collected from the patient with an ABN
- Bilateral same-day billing: Medicare requires cataract surgeries to be billed on different dates of service (separate appointments) — billing both eyes on the same date of service will trigger an edit
- Refraction billing: billing a refraction examination (92015) as part of the covered surgical package — refractions are not a Medicare-covered service and must be billed to patients or other payers separately
If you see 66984 on your bill
Three steps before paying.
1. Get the itemized bill. If your statement only shows a summary, request the CPT-level itemized bill before paying. Generate the request language →
2. Cross-check against the EOB. Compare what your insurer's Explanation of Benefits says you owe versus what the hospital is asking. They disagree more often than people think. Read the bill-vs-EOB guide →
3. Run a free Bill Scan. Upload the bill (and EOB if you have it) and BillBusted will flag the most likely issues with this specific code in your specific state. Run free scan →
Related codes
Other codes in this category.
People who land on 66984 often also see these adjacent codes on the same bill.
CPT
62323 — Lumbar/sacral epidural; diagnostic or therapeutic, imaging guidance
Verify the code matches the actual service and dose.
CPT
64483 — Epidural injection, lumbar/sacral, single level
Common procedure with frequent coding errors around bilateral and fluoroscopy.
CPT
64493 — Paravertebral facet joint/nerve, lumbar or sacral; single level
Verify the code matches the actual service and dose.
CPT
69210 — Removal of impacted cerumen requiring instrumentation, one or both ears
Verify the code matches the actual service and dose.
Related BillBusted guides
Plain-English reads if you see 66984 on a bill.
66984 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does 66984 usually cost?
$600-$1,200 Medicare allowed per eye for surgeon professional fee (total ASC charges: $1,500-$3,500 per eye; premium IOL upgrades add $1,000-$3,500 out of pocket). Costs vary by region, payer contract, and whether the service was performed in a hospital outpatient department (which adds a facility fee) versus a free-standing clinic.
What's the most common billing error on 66984?
Premium IOL upsell billing: billing Medicare for a premium multifocal or toric IOL — Medicare only covers a standard monofocal IOL; the upgrade cost must be separately collected from the patient with an ABN
What should I do if I see 66984 on my bill?
Request the itemized bill and the matching EOB from your insurer. Compare the units/quantity billed against what you actually received. Run a free BillBusted scan to flag the most likely errors specific to 66984 before paying.
Don't pay 66984 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.