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CPT code 10121: Foreign body removal, complicated subcutaneous2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Kentucky

Reports incision and removal of a foreign object from subcutaneous tissue when extraction requires complicated dissection rather than a simple removal.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality4.7K Medicare services in 2024

In Kentucky, Medicare pays $254.90 for 10121 in the office and $162.85 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$254.90Office (non-facility)
$162.85Hospital or facility
−7.4%vs the national office rate ($275.22)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 10121 nationwide

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

We’ll open 10121 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Kentucky
  2. What 10121 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 10121 covers

A clinician uses an incision and dissection to locate and remove a foreign object lodged in subcutaneous tissue, the tissue beneath the skin. Examples include embedded splinters, glass fragments, or metal. The code is appropriate when the removal involves complicated dissection; the object’s material or size alone does not establish that level. These procedures may occur in an office, emergency department, or other setting where a clinician treats the wound.

Document the object’s location and depth, the incision and dissection performed, and why removal was complicated. Use 10120 for a simple subcutaneous removal. Medicare includes related postoperative visits for 10 days in this minor procedure’s global period. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, Medicare pays the highest-valued procedure in full and reduces the others to 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service; co-surgeon and team-surgery billing are not permitted.

This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.

How Kentucky compares for 10121

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 10121 runs from $244.63 in Arkansas to $355.77 in San Benito County, CA. Kentucky pays $254.90. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

10121 in Kentucky vs other payment areas
  1. Kentucky · this page$254.90
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$306.34+$51.44
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$312.33+$57.43
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$301.74+$46.84
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$293.15+$38.25
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$316.45+$61.55
  7. Alaska · Alaska$325.38+$70.48

Other areas in Kentucky first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

10121 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$248.05$157.45
ArkansasArkansas$244.63$155.68
ArizonaArizona$268.02$167.69
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$288.60$175.11
Chico, CACalifornia$287.49$174.01
El Centro, CACalifornia$287.56$174.07
Fresno, CACalifornia$287.49$174.01
Hanford, CACalifornia$287.49$174.01

10121 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

$244.63

$325.38

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
10121 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$325.381
AL$248.051
AR$244.631
AZ$268.021
CA$287.49–$355.7729
CO$284.611
CT$293.021
DC$312.331
DE$272.311
FL$273.98–$301.743
GA$258.94–$280.822
GU$293.631
HI$293.631
IA$252.841
ID$254.671
IL$267.29–$293.154
IN$256.041
KS$252.291
KY$254.901
LA$254.76–$266.722
MA$283.26–$311.112
MD$277.15–$312.333
ME$256.56–$268.982
MI$261.78–$277.862
MN$271.321
MO$250.97–$266.933
MS$247.811
MT$275.201
NC$259.031
ND$267.681
NE$253.981
NH$280.741
NJ$295.97–$309.442
NM$263.391
NV$273.281
NY$262.79–$324.575
OH$260.241
OK$253.841
OR$270.76–$292.642
PA$260.31–$286.392
PR$276.941
RI$281.271
SC$260.141
SD$266.801
TN$253.571
TX$258.72–$284.018
UT$263.531
VA$268.54–$312.332
VI$276.941
VT$267.221
WA$282.54–$316.712
WI$259.161
WV$257.981
WY$271.921

See 10121 in every payment locality

How the 10121 rate is calculated

Each of 10121’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.

How the rate is built · 10121

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work2.67

2.67 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense5.19

5.19 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.38

0.38 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

8.2400

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$275.22

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

The exact Kentucky inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,105

Code
10121
Physician work
2.67
Practice expense
5.19
Malpractice
0.38

GPCI2026.csv

55

Locality
Kentucky
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.889
Malpractice
0.915
Office calculation for 10121 in Kentucky
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.67× 1.0002.6700
Practice expense5.19× 0.8894.6139
Malpractice0.38× 0.9150.3477
Total RVUs7.6316
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Kentucky$254.90

Office: (2.67 × 1 + 5.19 × 0.889 + 0.38 × 0.915) × $33.4009 = $254.90

Facility: (2.67 × 1 + 2.09 × 0.889 + 0.38 × 0.915) × $33.4009 = $162.85

Open 10121 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 10121

10121 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 10121

Foreign body removal, complicated subcutaneous

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period010Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 days after are included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.10/0.80/0.10Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 10121

Foreign body removal, complicated subcutaneous

10-day global period ends

Oct 11, 2026

Covers Oct 1, 2026 through Oct 11, 2026 (11 days).

Visit on Oct 31, 2026

After the global period ends: visits and procedures are billed normally.

SurgeryVisit
Sep 28, 2026Oct 14, 2026

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

10121 without 51 · national office

$275.22

Foreign body removal, complicated subcutaneous

10121-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$137.61

When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).

When to use modifier 51

Codes related to 10121

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 10121
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Kentucky
Same family
10120Foreign body removal, simple subcutaneous extractionSubcutaneous foreign body removal when the extraction is simple rather than complicated.$144.39
Used instead
20520Foreign body removal, muscle or tendon, simpleSimple foreign body removal when the object is in muscle or a tendon sheath.$211.38
20525Foreign body removal, deep or complicatedComplicated foreign body removal when the object is in muscle or a tendon sheath.$455.20

How 10121 has changed in Kentucky

10121 · Office / nonfacility

$254.90

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $18.02 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $236.88 to $254.90 (7.6%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $236.88changed to$254.90

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 2.74 changed to 2.67
    • Practice expense RVU 4.82 changed to 5.19
    • Malpractice RVU 0.39 changed to 0.38
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.877 changed to 0.889
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.913 changed to 0.915

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $244.37changed to$236.88

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 4.83 changed to 4.82
    • Malpractice RVU 0.40 changed to 0.39

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $240.38changed to$244.37

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $246.35changed to$240.38

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 4.81 changed to 4.83
    • Malpractice RVU 0.38 changed to 0.40
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.873 changed to 0.877
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.870 changed to 0.913

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $249.13changed to$246.35

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 4.76 changed to 4.81
    • Malpractice RVU 0.39 changed to 0.38
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.869 changed to 0.873
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.827 changed to 0.870

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $253.92changed to$249.13

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 4.85 changed to 4.76

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $256.47changed to$253.92

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 4.61 changed to 4.85
    • Malpractice RVU 0.41 changed to 0.39
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.874 changed to 0.869
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.823 changed to 0.827

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $257.39changed to$256.47

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 4.63 changed to 4.61
    • Malpractice RVU 0.40 changed to 0.41
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.880 changed to 0.874
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.819 changed to 0.823

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $259.03changed to$257.39

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 4.70 changed to 4.63
    • Malpractice RVU 0.39 changed to 0.40

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $255.48changed to$259.03

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 4.63 changed to 4.70
    • Malpractice RVU 0.40 changed to 0.39
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.876 changed to 0.880
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.807 changed to 0.819

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $254.04changed to$255.48

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.872 changed to 0.876
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.795 changed to 0.807

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $254.33changed to$254.04

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 4.61 changed to 4.63

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $253.07changed to$254.33

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $252.35changed to$253.07

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 4.59 changed to 4.61
    • Malpractice RVU 0.39 changed to 0.40
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.774 changed to 0.795

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $256.33changed to$252.35

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 5.15 changed to 4.59
    • Malpractice RVU 0.41 changed to 0.39
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.871 changed to 0.872
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.752 changed to 0.774

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $256.33

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$254.90$162.85RVU26D
2026-07-01$254.90$162.85RVU26C
2026-04-01$254.90$162.85RVU26B
2026-01-01$254.90$162.85RVU26A
2025-10-01$236.88$168.80RVU25D
2025-07-01$236.88$168.80RVU25C
2025-04-01$236.88$168.80RVU25B
2025-01-01$236.88$168.80RVU25A
2024-10-01$244.37$172.84RVU24D
2024-07-01$244.37$172.84RVU24C
2024-04-01$244.37$172.84RVU24B
2024-03-09$244.37$172.84RVU24AR
2024-01-01$240.38$170.02RVU24A
2023-10-01$246.35$173.58RVU23D
2023-07-01$246.35$173.58RVU23C
2023-04-01$246.35$173.58RVU23B
2023-01-01$246.35$173.58RVU23A
2022-10-01$249.13$174.55RVU22D
2022-07-01$249.13$174.55RVU22C
2022-04-01$249.13$174.55RVU22B
2022-01-01$249.13$174.55RVU22A
2021-10-01$253.92$175.69RVU21D
2021-07-01$253.92$175.69RVU21C
2021-04-01$253.92$175.69RVU21B
2021-01-01$253.92$175.69RVU21A
2020-10-01$256.47$179.83RVU20D
2020-07-01$256.47$179.83RVU20C
2020-04-01$256.47$179.83RVU20B
2020-01-01$256.47$179.83RVU20A
2019-10-01$257.39$179.69RVU19D
2019-07-01$257.39$179.69RVU19C
2019-04-01$257.39$179.69RVU19B
2019-01-01$257.39$179.69RVU19A
2018-10-01$259.03$179.20RVU18D
2018-07-01$259.03$179.20RVU18C
2018-04-01$259.03$179.20RVU18B
2018-01-01$259.03$179.20RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$255.48$178.14RVU17D
2017-07-01$255.48$178.14RVU17C
2017-04-01$255.48$178.14RVU17B
2017-01-01$255.48$178.14RVU17A
2016-10-01$254.04$177.24RVU16D
2016-07-01$254.04$177.24RVU16C
2016-04-01$254.04$177.24RVU16B
2016-01-01$254.04$177.24RVU16A
2015-10-01$254.33$177.88RVU15D
2015-07-01$254.33$177.88RVU15C
2015-04-01$253.07$176.99RVU15B
2015-01-01$253.07$176.99RVU15A
2014-10-01$252.35$176.44RVU14D
2014-07-01$252.35$176.44RVU14C
2014-04-01$252.35$176.44RVU14B
2014-01-01$252.35$176.44RVU14A
2013-10-01$256.33$174.83RVU13D
2013-07-01$256.33$174.83RVU13C
2013-04-01$256.33$174.83RVU13B
2013-01-01$256.33$174.83RVU13AR

Price 10121 for an earlier date of service

Where the Kentucky rate applies

Kentucky is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 553 cities and communities in Kentucky. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Adairville
  • Ages
  • Albany
  • Alexandria
  • Allen
  • Allensville
  • Anchorage
  • Annville

Browse all communities in Kentucky

10121 billing questions

How does 10121 differ from 10120?

Both involve removal from subcutaneous tissue. Report 10121 when the extraction requires complicated dissection; use 10120 for a simple removal.

Does the type of foreign object determine whether removal is complicated?

No. Document the location, depth, dissection, and other circumstances supporting complicated removal; the object’s material alone does not establish the code level.

Can related postoperative visits be billed separately?

Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in 10121.

Can modifier 50 be appended for removal on both sides?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for 10121, and co-surgeon or team-surgery billing is not permitted.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.

CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 10121PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,105 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for KentuckyGPCI2026.csv, line 55 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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