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CPT code 12017: Wound repair, face and related sites, 20.1–30 cm2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports simple closure of superficial wounds totaling 20.1–30.0 cm on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membranes.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities53 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $154.31 for 12017 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 12017

Wound repair, face and related sites, 20.1–30 cm

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
3.1
Total RVUs
4.62
Global days
000

National rate · 2026

$154.31

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 12017 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

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

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 12017 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 12017 covers

This code covers simple, usually one-layer closure of superficial wounds on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membranes when the total repaired length is 20.1–30.0 cm. It is used for repairs such as facial or lip lacerations that do not require the more involved closure represented by an intermediate or complex repair. Physicians in emergency departments, hospital facilities, urgent care, and surgical or outpatient settings may perform the service.

Select the code by repair type, anatomical group, and total length of wounds repaired in that group. Document each wound’s location and length, the closure method, and why the repair is simple. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; 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 12017 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

12017 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$139.92
AlaskaUnavailable$195.99
ArizonaUnavailable$149.79
ArkansasUnavailable$138.19
Atlanta, GAUnavailable$160.25
Austin, TXUnavailable$152.98
Bakersfield, CAUnavailable$148.47
Baltimore area, MDUnavailable$163.95
Beaumont, TXUnavailable$150.24
Brazoria, TXUnavailable$149.19

12017 rates by state

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

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Local rates. Clear comparisons.

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

View every state and territory as a table
12017 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 12017 rate is calculated

Each of 12017’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 · 12017

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work3.10

3.10 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.74

0.74 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.78

0.78 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

4.6200

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$154.31

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 12017

The CMS indicators that decide how 12017 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 12017

Wound repair, face and related sites, 20.1–30 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

12017 without 51 · national facility

$154.31

Wound repair, face and related sites, 20.1–30 cm

12017-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$77.16

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

12017 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

5 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 12017

    Wound repair, face and related sites, 20.1–30 cm3.1 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 12016

    Simple wound repair, face group, 12.6–20 cm2.61 wRVU

    $267.54

  • 12018

    Wound repair, face group, over 30 cm3.52 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 12006

    Simple wound repair, 20.1–30 cm, specified sites2.33 wRVU

    $240.15

  • 12056

    Wound repair, face, 20.1–30 cm5.17 wRVU

    $623.59

How to choose

12016Simple wound repairFace group, 12.6–20 cm
Use 12016 when simple repairs in this anatomical group total 12.6–20.0 cm; 12017 covers 20.1–30.0 cm.
12018Wound repairFace group, over 30 cm
Use 12018 when the simple repairs in this anatomical group total more than 30.0 cm.
12006Simple wound repair20.1–30 cm, specified sites
The length range is the same, but 12006 is for simple repairs in a different anatomical group: scalp, axillae, trunk, or extremities.
12056Wound repairFace, 20.1–30 cm
Both codes cover a 20.1–30.0 cm repair in the face-related anatomical group; 12056 is for intermediate rather than simple repair.

Codes related to 12017

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

Codes related to 12017
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
12016Simple wound repair, face group, 12.6–20 cmSimple repair of the same anatomical group when total length is 12.6–20.0 cm.$235.10–$338.39
12018Wound repair, face group, over 30 cmSimple repair of the same anatomical group when total length exceeds 30.0 cm.No office rate
12011Wound repair, face, 2.5 cm or lessSimple repair of the same anatomical group at the shortest length level.$122.19–$182.83
Used instead
12006Simple wound repair, 20.1–30 cm, specified sitesSimple repair at the same length level for a different anatomical group.$211.40–$305.03
12056Wound repair, face, 20.1–30 cmIntermediate repair of the same anatomical group and length range when closure complexity warrants it.$548.99–$812.84

12017 billing questions

How is the 20.1–30.0 cm length determined when there are several wounds?

Add the lengths of the simple repairs in this anatomical group. Keep documentation of each wound’s site and measured length to support the total.

When should a more involved repair code be considered instead?

Choose the repair code that matches the documented closure complexity. This code is for simple superficial closure, not a repair requiring intermediate or complex techniques.

Can modifier 50 be reported for wounds on both sides of the face?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code; modifier 50 should not be used.

How are other procedures performed in the same session paid?

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction.

What must be documented for an assistant at surgery?

Document the medical necessity for the assistant. CMS payment for an assistant at surgery is conditional on that documentation.

Does the global period include same-day follow-up care?

Yes. This minor procedure has a 0-day global period, which includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care.

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 12017PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,408 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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