CPT code 11721: Nail debridement, six or more nails2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Alabama

Reduction of thickness and bulk of six or more diseased nails, typically mycotic toenails, reported once per session regardless of how many nails beyond five.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality5.4M Medicare services in 2024

In Alabama, Medicare pays $41.15 for 11721 in the office and $20.40 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$41.15Office (non-facility)
$20.40Hospital or facility
−8.7%vs the national office rate ($45.09)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 11721 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 11721 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Alabama
  2. What 11721 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 11721 covers

This service involves reducing thickened, dystrophic, or fungal nails by manual or mechanical methods, such as nippers, curettes, or an electric burr, until the nail plates are thinner and more comfortable. Podiatrists commonly perform it in the office, nursing facility, or home for patients whose thickened toenails cause pain or interfere with walking. Unlike trimming, debridement removes nail thickness or bulk rather than simply shortening or shaping the nails.

Report one unit when six or more nails are debrided in a session; use the one-to-five-nail code when fewer are treated. Document the nails treated, their condition, symptoms, and findings supporting medical necessity. Medicare generally excludes routine foot care unless coverage criteria are met. For coverage based on a qualifying systemic condition, document the required findings, use Q7, Q8, or Q9 when the applicable class findings support one, and identify the managing physician when required. The 0-day global includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care; a separately reported E/M requires a significant, separately identifiable service and modifier 25. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery under the statutory restriction, and co-surgeons and team surgery 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 Alabama compares for 11721

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 11721 runs from $40.65 in Arkansas to $57.63 in San Benito County, CA. Alabama pays $41.15. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

11721 in Alabama vs other payment areas
  1. Alabama · this page$41.15
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$49.96+$8.81
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$50.81+$9.66
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$48.70+$7.55
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$47.51+$6.36
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$51.37+$10.22
  7. Alaska · Alaska$54.86+$13.71

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

Every other payment area

11721 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$40.65$20.28
ArizonaArizona$44.05$21.07
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$47.24$21.25
Chico, CACalifornia$47.09$21.10
El Centro, CACalifornia$47.09$21.10
Fresno, CACalifornia$47.09$21.10
Hanford, CACalifornia$47.09$21.10
Madera, CACalifornia$47.09$21.10

11721 rates by state

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

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.

$40.65

$54.86

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

View every state and territory as a table
11721 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$54.861
AL$41.151
AR$40.651
AZ$44.051
CA$47.09–$57.6329
CO$46.581
CT$47.781
DC$50.811
DE$44.701
FL$44.80–$48.703
GA$42.63–$45.892
GU$47.911
HI$47.911
IA$41.901
ID$42.151
IL$43.79–$47.514
IN$42.361
KS$41.791
KY$42.091
LA$42.06–$43.802
MA$46.40–$50.622
MD$45.44–$50.813
ME$42.40–$44.242
MI$43.07–$45.342
MN$44.661
MO$41.50–$43.863
MS$41.081
MT$45.091
NC$42.771
ND$44.101
NE$42.071
NH$45.941
NJ$48.33–$50.442
NM$43.291
NV$44.841
NY$43.31–$52.525
OH$42.871
OK$41.971
OR$44.49–$47.802
PA$42.89–$46.792
PR$45.351
RI$46.101
SC$42.891
SD$43.981
TN$41.981
TX$42.66–$46.438
UT$43.381
VA$44.16–$50.812
VI$45.351
VT$44.011
WA$46.29–$51.512
WI$42.861
WV$42.441
WY$44.661

See 11721 in every payment locality

How the 11721 rate is calculated

Each of 11721’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 · 11721

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.53

0.53 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.77

0.77 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.05

0.05 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

1.3500

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$45.09

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

The exact Alabama inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,362

Code
11721
Physician work
0.53
Practice expense
0.77
Malpractice
0.05

GPCI2026.csv

4

Locality
Alabama
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.875
Malpractice
0.566
Office calculation for 11721 in Alabama
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.53× 1.0000.5300
Practice expense0.77× 0.8750.6738
Malpractice0.05× 0.5660.0283
Total RVUs1.2321
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Alabama$41.15

Office: (0.53 × 1 + 0.77 × 0.875 + 0.05 × 0.566) × $33.4009 = $41.15

Facility: (0.53 × 1 + 0.06 × 0.875 + 0.05 × 0.566) × $33.4009 = $20.40

Open 11721 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 11721

The CMS indicators that decide how 11721 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 11721

Nail debridement, six or more nails

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
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.

How 11721 has changed in Alabama

11721 · Office / nonfacility

$41.15

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $1.29 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $39.86 to $41.15 (3.2%).

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

    $39.86changed to$41.15

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.54 changed to 0.53
    • Malpractice RVU 0.04 changed to 0.05
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.869 changed to 0.875
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.575 changed to 0.566

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $40.73changed to$39.86

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 0.76 changed to 0.77

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $40.06changed to$40.73

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $41.33changed to$40.06

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 0.74 changed to 0.76
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.878 changed to 0.869
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.748 changed to 0.575
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $42.09changed to$41.33

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 0.72 changed to 0.74
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.888 changed to 0.878
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.921 changed to 0.748

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $42.44changed to$42.09

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $43.22changed to$42.44

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 0.70 changed to 0.72
    • Malpractice RVU 0.05 changed to 0.04
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.889 changed to 0.888
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.707 changed to 0.921

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $42.94changed to$43.22

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 0.71 changed to 0.70
    • Malpractice RVU 0.04 changed to 0.05
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.890 changed to 0.889
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.492 changed to 0.707

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $42.90changed to$42.94

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. April 1, 2018

    RVU18B

    No ratechanged to$42.90

    Held through RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D, RVU14A, RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D, RVU15A, RVU15B, RVU15C, RVU15D, RVU16A, RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D, RVU17A, RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D, RVU18AR1.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$41.15$20.40RVU26D
2026-07-01$41.15$20.40RVU26C
2026-04-01$41.15$20.40RVU26B
2026-01-01$41.15$20.40RVU26A
2025-10-01$39.86$21.87RVU25D
2025-07-01$39.86$21.87RVU25C
2025-04-01$39.86$21.87RVU25B
2025-01-01$39.86$21.87RVU25A
2024-10-01$40.73$22.21RVU24D
2024-07-01$40.73$22.21RVU24C
2024-04-01$40.73$22.21RVU24B
2024-03-09$40.73$22.21RVU24AR
2024-01-01$40.06$21.85RVU24A
2023-10-01$41.33$22.88RVU23D
2023-07-01$41.33$22.88RVU23C
2023-04-01$41.33$22.88RVU23B
2023-01-01$41.33$22.88RVU23A
2022-10-01$42.09$23.65RVU22D
2022-07-01$42.09$23.65RVU22C
2022-04-01$42.09$23.65RVU22B
2022-01-01$42.09$23.65RVU22A
2021-10-01$42.44$23.85RVU21D
2021-07-01$42.44$23.85RVU21C
2021-04-01$42.44$23.85RVU21B
2021-01-01$42.44$23.85RVU21A
2020-10-01$43.22$24.94RVU20D
2020-07-01$43.22$24.94RVU20C
2020-04-01$43.22$24.94RVU20B
2020-01-01$43.22$24.94RVU20A
2019-10-01$42.94$24.34RVU19D
2019-07-01$42.94$24.34RVU19C
2019-04-01$42.94$24.34RVU19B
2019-01-01$42.94$24.34RVU19A
2018-10-01$42.90$24.31RVU18D
2018-07-01$42.90$24.31RVU18C
2018-04-01$42.90$24.31RVU18B
2018-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU18AR1
2017-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17D
2017-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17C
2017-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17B
2017-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17A
2016-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16D
2016-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16C
2016-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16B
2016-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16A
2015-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15D
2015-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15C
2015-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15B
2015-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15A
2014-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14D
2014-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14C
2014-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14B
2014-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14A
2013-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 11721 for an earlier date of service

Where the Alabama rate applies

Alabama is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 595 cities and communities in Alabama. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Abanda
  • Abbeville
  • Adamsville
  • Addison
  • Akron
  • Alabaster
  • Albertville
  • Alexander City

Browse all communities in Alabama

11721 billing questions

How many units are reported when all ten toenails are debrided?

One unit. The code covers six or more nails, so treating seven or ten nails still counts as a single service.

When should the one-to-five-nail code be used instead?

Use 11720 when one to five nails are debrided in the session. Count only nails actually reduced in thickness or bulk, not nails that were merely trimmed.

Can nail debridement be billed with paring of corns or calluses on the same date?

Yes, 11055–11057 may be reported for separately medically necessary hyperkeratotic lesions when the distinct work is documented. An applicable NCCI edit may require a modifier.

What modifiers may be needed for this code or a same-day visit?

When coverage is based on qualifying systemic disease and class findings, report the supported Q7, Q8, or Q9 modifier as required. Append modifier 25 to a same-day E/M only when it is significant and separately identifiable from the nail debridement.

Can modifier 50 be appended when nails on both feet are treated?

No. The count of nails already captures the work across both feet, so bilateral reporting is inappropriate.

What documentation supports medical necessity?

Record the specific nails treated, mycotic or dystrophic findings, relevant symptoms such as pain or walking difficulty, and any qualifying systemic condition and managing physician information when required.

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 11721PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,362 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for AlabamaGPCI2026.csv, line 4 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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