CPT code 11921: Skin color correction, 6.1–20.0 sq cm2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in New Jersey
Reports intradermal pigment placement to camouflage a skin color defect when the treated area measures 6.1 through 20.0 square centimeters.
Medicare pays $251.74–$263.66 for 11921 in the office in New Jersey, from Rest of New Jersey to Northern New Jersey. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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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.
Where 11921 pays more and less in New Jersey
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Northern New Jersey | $263.66 | $127.28 |
| Rest of New Jersey | $251.74 | $123.36 |
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
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.
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
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician 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%).
11921 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 11920Skin tattooingUp to 6 square centimeters
- Both codes describe intradermal pigment correction; select 11920 for 6.0 square centimeters or less and 11921 for 6.1 through 20.0 square centimeters.
- 11922Medical tattooingAdditional treated area
- 11921 covers the primary area measuring 6.1 through 20.0 square centimeters. 11922 reports additional treated area beyond that primary service.
- 11900Lesion injectionUp to seven lesions
- 11900 reports intralesional medication injection for skin lesions, not pigment placement to camouflage a color defect.
- 19350Nipple reconstructionNipple–areola reconstruction
- 19350 is for nipple-areola reconstruction. Use 11921 for pigment correction alone when the measured area falls within its range.
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
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