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CPT code 11921: Skin color correction, 6.1–20.0 sq cm2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Chicago, IL

Reports intradermal pigment placement to camouflage a skin color defect when the treated area measures 6.1 through 20.0 square centimeters.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality539 Medicare services in 2024

In Chicago, IL, Medicare pays $249.85 for 11921 in the office and $131.69 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$249.85Office (non-facility)
$131.69Hospital or facility
+7.0%vs the national office rate ($233.47)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 11921 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 11921 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Chicago, IL
  2. What 11921 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 11921 covers

This service places pigment within the skin to camouflage a color defect, such as hypopigmentation from vitiligo or a scar. Dermatologists and plastic surgeons may perform it in an office or other procedural setting. The area billed at this level measures 6.1 through 20.0 square centimeters; a smaller area uses the lower level, while additional area may require the add-on code.

Document the color defect, its location, the medical reason for treatment, and the measured area. Medicare payment is restricted to specific circumstances, so the record should support the applicable coverage basis. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. An assistant is payable only when medical necessity is documented; 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 Chicago, IL compares for 11921

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 11921 runs from $205.39 in Arkansas to $305.23 in San Benito County, CA. Chicago, IL pays $249.85. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

11921 in Chicago, IL vs other payment areas
  1. Chicago, IL · this page$249.85
  2. East St. Louis, IL · Illinois$232.61−$17.24
  3. Rest of Illinois · Illinois$226.22−$23.63
  4. Suburban Chicago, IL · Illinois$247.23−$2.62
  5. Los Angeles, CA · California$261.21+$11.36
  6. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$266.48+$16.63
  7. Miami, FL · Florida$257.87+$8.02

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

Every other payment area

11921 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Manhattan, NYNew York$270.10$133.48
AlaskaAlaska$269.95$144.74
AlabamaAlabama$208.53$105.65
ArkansasArkansas$205.39$104.39
ArizonaArizona$226.86$112.93
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$245.36$116.50
Chico, CACalifornia$244.38$115.52
El Centro, CACalifornia$244.44$115.58

11921 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.

$205.39

$274.81

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

View every state and territory as a table
11921 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$269.951
AL$208.531
AR$205.391
AZ$226.861
CA$244.38–$305.2329
CO$241.841
CT$249.431
DC$266.481
DE$230.701
FL$232.36–$257.873
GA$218.55–$238.552
GU$250.331
HI$250.331
IA$212.911
ID$214.591
IL$226.22–$249.854
IN$215.861
KS$212.411
KY$214.831
LA$214.70–$225.682
MA$240.53–$265.602
MD$235.05–$266.483
ME$216.33–$227.732
MI$221.15–$235.932
MN$229.851
MO$211.23–$225.863
MS$208.321
MT$233.451
NC$218.601
ND$226.531
NE$213.961
NH$238.531
NJ$251.74–$263.662
NM$222.631
NV$231.681
NY$222.05–$277.565
OH$219.731
OK$213.851
OR$229.36–$249.132
PA$219.79–$243.382
PR$235.051
RI$238.651
SC$219.641
SD$225.711
TN$213.591
TX$218.33–$241.498
UT$222.741
VA$227.33–$266.482
VI$235.051
VT$226.111
WA$239.92–$270.562
WI$218.711
WV$217.681
WY$230.431

See 11921 in every payment locality

How the 11921 rate is calculated

Each of 11921’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 · 11921

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.88

1.88 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense4.76

4.76 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.35

0.35 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

6.9900

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$233.47

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

The exact Chicago, IL inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,382

Code
11921
Physician work
1.88
Practice expense
4.76
Malpractice
0.35

GPCI2026.csv

48

Locality
Chicago, IL
Physician work
1.007
Practice expense
1.005
Malpractice
2.295
Office calculation for 11921 in Chicago, IL
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.88× 1.0071.8932
Practice expense4.76× 1.0054.7838
Malpractice0.35× 2.2950.8032
Total RVUs7.4802
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Chicago, IL$249.85

Office: (1.88 × 1.007 + 4.76 × 1.005 + 0.35 × 2.295) × $33.4009 = $249.85

Facility: (1.88 × 1.007 + 1.24 × 1.005 + 0.35 × 2.295) × $33.4009 = $131.69

Open 11921 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 11921

The CMS indicators that decide how 11921 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 11921

Skin color correction, 6.1–20.0 sq cm

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is 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)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

11921 without 51 · national office

$233.47

Skin color correction, 6.1–20.0 sq cm

11921-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$116.74

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 11921

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

Codes related to 11921
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Chicago, IL
Same family
11920Skin tattooing, up to 6 square centimetersSame pigment-correction service for a treated area of 6.0 square centimeters or less.$229.69
Add-on codes
11922Medical tattooing, additional treated areaAdd-on code for additional treated area beyond the primary area.$69.94
Used instead
19350Nipple reconstruction, nipple–areola reconstructionFor nipple-areola reconstruction; 11921 is for standalone pigment correction by measured area.$970.83

How 11921 has changed in Chicago, IL

11921 · Office / nonfacility

$249.85

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $21.19 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $228.66 to $249.85 (9.3%).

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

    $228.66changed to$249.85

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.93 changed to 1.88
    • Practice expense RVU 4.32 changed to 4.76
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.023 changed to 1.005
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.018 changed to 2.295

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $237.70changed to$228.66

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 4.39 changed to 4.32

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $233.82changed to$237.70

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $244.13changed to$233.82

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 4.43 changed to 4.39
    • Work GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.007
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.033 changed to 1.023
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.945 changed to 2.018

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $245.98changed to$244.13

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 4.33 changed to 4.43
    • Malpractice RVU 0.34 changed to 0.35
    • Work GPCI 1.011 changed to 1.009
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.044 changed to 1.033
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.871 changed to 1.945

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $242.92changed to$245.98

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 4.19 changed to 4.33

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $236.43changed to$242.92

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 3.81 changed to 4.19
    • Work GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.011
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.039 changed to 1.044
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.898 changed to 1.871

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $225.45changed to$236.43

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 3.61 changed to 3.81
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.34
    • Work GPCI 1.008 changed to 1.009
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.034 changed to 1.039
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.925 changed to 1.898

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $217.39changed to$225.45

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 3.40 changed to 3.61

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $217.33changed to$217.39

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 3.37 changed to 3.40
    • Malpractice RVU 0.31 changed to 0.30
    • Work GPCI 1.012 changed to 1.008
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.036 changed to 1.034
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.972 changed to 1.925

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $218.09changed to$217.33

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 3.36 changed to 3.37
    • Malpractice RVU 0.32 changed to 0.31
    • Work GPCI 1.016 changed to 1.012
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.037 changed to 1.036
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.019 changed to 1.972

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $218.16changed to$218.09

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Malpractice RVU 0.31 changed to 0.32

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $217.07changed to$218.16

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $220.57changed to$217.07

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 3.32 changed to 3.36
    • Malpractice RVU 0.35 changed to 0.31
    • Work GPCI 1.023 changed to 1.016
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.044 changed to 1.037
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.048 changed to 2.019

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $225.73changed to$220.57

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 3.69 changed to 3.32
    • Malpractice RVU 0.37 changed to 0.35
    • Work GPCI 1.030 changed to 1.023
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.051 changed to 1.044
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.077 changed to 2.048

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. October 1, 2013

    RVU13D

    No ratechanged to$225.73

  17. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$249.85$131.69RVU26D
2026-07-01$249.85$131.69RVU26C
2026-04-01$249.85$131.69RVU26B
2026-01-01$249.85$131.69RVU26A
2025-10-01$228.66$140.64RVU25D
2025-07-01$228.66$140.64RVU25C
2025-04-01$228.66$140.64RVU25B
2025-01-01$228.66$140.64RVU25A
2024-10-01$237.70$143.71RVU24D
2024-07-01$237.70$143.71RVU24C
2024-04-01$237.70$143.71RVU24B
2024-03-09$237.70$143.71RVU24AR
2024-01-01$233.82$141.37RVU24A
2023-10-01$244.13$145.77RVU23D
2023-07-01$244.13$145.77RVU23C
2023-04-01$244.13$145.77RVU23B
2023-01-01$244.13$145.77RVU23A
2022-10-01$245.98$145.18RVU22D
2022-07-01$245.98$145.18RVU22C
2022-04-01$245.98$145.18RVU22B
2022-01-01$245.98$145.18RVU22A
2021-10-01$242.92$146.38RVU21D
2021-07-01$242.92$146.38RVU21C
2021-04-01$242.92$146.38RVU21B
2021-01-01$242.92$146.38RVU21A
2020-10-01$236.43$151.31RVU20D
2020-07-01$236.43$151.31RVU20C
2020-04-01$236.43$151.31RVU20B
2020-01-01$236.43$151.31RVU20A
2019-10-01$225.45$149.43RVU19D
2019-07-01$225.45$149.43RVU19C
2019-04-01$225.45$149.43RVU19B
2019-01-01$225.45$149.43RVU19A
2018-10-01$217.39$150.75RVU18D
2018-07-01$217.39$150.75RVU18C
2018-04-01$217.39$150.75RVU18B
2018-01-01$217.39$150.75RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$217.33$151.90RVU17D
2017-07-01$217.33$151.90RVU17C
2017-04-01$217.33$151.90RVU17B
2017-01-01$217.33$151.90RVU17A
2016-10-01$218.09$153.12RVU16D
2016-07-01$218.09$153.12RVU16C
2016-04-01$218.09$153.12RVU16B
2016-01-01$218.09$153.12RVU16A
2015-10-01$218.16$152.95RVU15D
2015-07-01$218.16$152.95RVU15C
2015-04-01$217.07$152.18RVU15B
2015-01-01$217.07$152.18RVU15A
2014-10-01$220.57$156.24RVU14D
2014-07-01$220.57$156.24RVU14C
2014-04-01$220.57$156.24RVU14B
2014-01-01$220.57$156.24RVU14A
2013-10-01$225.73$156.36RVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 11921 for an earlier date of service

Where the Chicago, IL rate applies

Chicago, IL is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 137 cities and communities in Illinois. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

Browse all communities in Illinois

11921 billing questions

How is 11921 distinguished from 11920?

Choose 11921 when the treated skin area measures 6.1 through 20.0 square centimeters. The lower-level code is for an area of 6.0 square centimeters or less.

When is 11922 reported with 11921?

Use 11922 for additional treated area beyond the primary area, in increments of up to 20.0 square centimeters or part thereof. Document the total area treated.

What documentation supports Medicare payment?

Record the condition causing the color defect, the treated body site, the measured area, and the medical rationale. Medicare pays this service only in specific circumstances.

Can modifier 50 be used for treatment on both sides?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code, so do not use modifier 50.

What care is included in the global period?

The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. Care on a later date is not included by that global period.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity. CMS does not permit co-surgeons or team surgery for this code.

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 11921PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,382 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Chicago, ILGPCI2026.csv, line 48 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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