CPT code 12044: Intermediate repair, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in South Carolina

Reports layered or otherwise qualifying intermediate wound repair on the neck, hands, feet, or external genitalia when total repair length is 7.6–12.5 cm.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality3.4K Medicare services in 2024

In South Carolina, Medicare pays $365.43 for 12044 in the office and $183.03 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$365.43Office (non-facility)
$183.03Hospital or facility
−5.8%vs the national office rate ($388.12)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 12044 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 12044 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in South Carolina
  2. What 12044 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 12044 covers

This code represents intermediate repair of wounds on the neck, hands, feet, or external genitalia, with a total repaired length of 7.6–12.5 cm. The repair involves layered closure of deeper tissue, or closure of a heavily contaminated wound that requires extensive cleaning. It is typically performed by a physician or other qualified practitioner in an office, emergency department, or surgical setting. The code is selected by the wound’s anatomic group, repair complexity, and measured length—not by the cause of the wound alone.

Document the wound location, length, depth or contamination, cleaning performed, and closure technique to support intermediate complexity and the selected length range. When multiple wounds in this same anatomic group receive the same type of repair, use their combined length for code selection. Medicare assigns a 10-day global period, including related postoperative visits during that period. 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 multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate; assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted, and 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 South Carolina compares for 12044

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 12044 runs from $342.98 in Arkansas to $511.86 in San Benito County, CA. South Carolina pays $365.43. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

12044 in South Carolina vs other payment areas
  1. South Carolina · this page$365.43
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$436.77+$71.34
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$443.37+$77.94
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$421.64+$56.21
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$409.23+$43.80
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$447.04+$81.61
  7. Alaska · Alaska$450.98+$85.55

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

Every other payment area

12044 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$348.05$175.32
ArkansasArkansas$342.98$173.42
ArizonaArizona$377.65$186.37
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$410.22$193.87
Chico, CACalifornia$408.94$192.59
El Centro, CACalifornia$409.02$192.67
Fresno, CACalifornia$408.94$192.59
Hanford, CACalifornia$408.94$192.59

12044 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.

$342.98

$460.40

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

View every state and territory as a table
12044 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$450.981
AL$348.051
AR$342.981
AZ$377.651
CA$408.94–$511.8629
CO$403.401
CT$414.041
DC$443.371
DE$383.921
FL$383.65–$421.643
GA$361.83–$395.702
GU$418.861
HI$418.861
IA$356.351
ID$358.811
IL$372.94–$409.234
IN$360.891
KS$354.951
KY$356.951
LA$356.50–$374.212
MA$401.08–$443.052
MD$391.19–$443.373
ME$361.00–$380.272
MI$366.56–$388.772
MN$385.591
MO$350.54–$375.213
MS$346.821
MT$388.091
NC$364.751
ND$379.391
NE$358.221
NH$397.331
NJ$418.50–$438.792
NM$368.701
NV$385.931
NY$370.28–$458.315
OH$364.791
OK$356.001
OR$382.68–$415.942
PA$365.21–$403.882
PR$390.861
RI$397.401
SC$365.431
SD$378.361
TN$356.791
TX$362.82–$402.288
UT$370.451
VA$379.22–$443.372
VI$390.861
VT$378.161
WA$400.24–$451.812
WI$366.631
WV$359.141
WY$384.301

See 12044 in every payment locality

How the 12044 rate is calculated

Each of 12044’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 · 12044

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work3.11

3.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense8.07

8.07 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.44

0.44 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

11.6200

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$388.12

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

The exact South Carolina inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,420

Code
12044
Physician work
3.11
Practice expense
8.07
Malpractice
0.44

GPCI2026.csv

93

Locality
South Carolina
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.924
Malpractice
0.850
Office calculation for 12044 in South Carolina
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work3.11× 1.0003.1100
Practice expense8.07× 0.9247.4567
Malpractice0.44× 0.8500.3740
Total RVUs10.9407
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, South Carolina$365.43

Office: (3.11 × 1 + 8.07 × 0.924 + 0.44 × 0.85) × $33.4009 = $365.43

Facility: (3.11 × 1 + 2.16 × 0.924 + 0.44 × 0.85) × $33.4009 = $183.03

Open 12044 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 12044

12044 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 12044

Intermediate repair, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia

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 · 12044

Intermediate repair, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia

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

12044 without 51 · national office

$388.12

Intermediate repair, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia

12044-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$194.06

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

How 12044 has changed in South Carolina

12044 · Office / nonfacility

$365.43

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $19.80 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $345.63 to $365.43 (5.7%).

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

    $345.63changed to$365.43

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 3.19 changed to 3.11
    • Practice expense RVU 7.78 changed to 8.07
    • Malpractice RVU 0.48 changed to 0.44
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.913 changed to 0.924
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.817 changed to 0.850

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $357.61changed to$345.63

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 7.87 changed to 7.78
    • Malpractice RVU 0.45 changed to 0.48

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $351.77changed to$357.61

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $360.61changed to$351.77

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 7.84 changed to 7.87
    • Malpractice RVU 0.44 changed to 0.45
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.908 changed to 0.913
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.756 changed to 0.817
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $363.54changed to$360.61

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 7.77 changed to 7.84
    • Malpractice RVU 0.43 changed to 0.44
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.903 changed to 0.908
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.756

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $364.21changed to$363.54

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 7.68 changed to 7.77
    • Malpractice RVU 0.45 changed to 0.43

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $352.98changed to$364.21

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 6.95 changed to 7.68
    • Malpractice RVU 0.46 changed to 0.45
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.907 changed to 0.903
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.624 changed to 0.695

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $346.19changed to$352.98

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 6.75 changed to 6.95
    • Malpractice RVU 0.47 changed to 0.46
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.912 changed to 0.907
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.553 changed to 0.624

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $340.63changed to$346.19

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 6.58 changed to 6.75
    • Malpractice RVU 0.49 changed to 0.47

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $338.81changed to$340.63

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 6.52 changed to 6.58
    • Malpractice RVU 0.48 changed to 0.49
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.634 changed to 0.553

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $338.43changed to$338.81

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 6.49 changed to 6.52
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.715 changed to 0.634

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $339.39changed to$338.43

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Malpractice RVU 0.47 changed to 0.48

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $337.70changed to$339.39

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $332.57changed to$337.70

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 6.35 changed to 6.49
    • Malpractice RVU 0.50 changed to 0.47
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.911 changed to 0.912
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.618 changed to 0.715

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $338.24changed to$332.57

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 7.13 changed to 6.35
    • Malpractice RVU 0.52 changed to 0.50
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.909 changed to 0.911
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.520 changed to 0.618

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $338.24

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$365.43$183.03RVU26D
2026-07-01$365.43$183.03RVU26C
2026-04-01$365.43$183.03RVU26B
2026-01-01$365.43$183.03RVU26A
2025-10-01$345.63$199.15RVU25D
2025-07-01$345.63$199.15RVU25C
2025-04-01$345.63$199.15RVU25B
2025-01-01$345.63$199.15RVU25A
2024-10-01$357.61$202.91RVU24D
2024-07-01$357.61$202.91RVU24C
2024-04-01$357.61$202.91RVU24B
2024-03-09$357.61$202.91RVU24AR
2024-01-01$351.77$199.60RVU24A
2023-10-01$360.61$203.07RVU23D
2023-07-01$360.61$203.07RVU23C
2023-04-01$360.61$203.07RVU23B
2023-01-01$360.61$203.07RVU23A
2022-10-01$363.54$202.61RVU22D
2022-07-01$363.54$202.61RVU22C
2022-04-01$363.54$202.61RVU22B
2022-01-01$363.54$202.61RVU22A
2021-10-01$364.21$203.20RVU21D
2021-07-01$364.21$203.20RVU21C
2021-04-01$364.21$203.20RVU21B
2021-01-01$364.21$203.20RVU21A
2020-10-01$352.98$207.65RVU20D
2020-07-01$352.98$207.65RVU20C
2020-04-01$352.98$207.65RVU20B
2020-01-01$352.98$207.65RVU20A
2019-10-01$346.19$206.83RVU19D
2019-07-01$346.19$206.83RVU19C
2019-04-01$346.19$206.83RVU19B
2019-01-01$346.19$206.83RVU19A
2018-10-01$340.63$207.33RVU18D
2018-07-01$340.63$207.33RVU18C
2018-04-01$340.63$207.33RVU18B
2018-01-01$340.63$207.33RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$338.81$207.89RVU17D
2017-07-01$338.81$207.89RVU17C
2017-04-01$338.81$207.89RVU17B
2017-01-01$338.81$207.89RVU17A
2016-10-01$338.43$208.14RVU16D
2016-07-01$338.43$208.14RVU16C
2016-04-01$338.43$208.14RVU16B
2016-01-01$338.43$208.14RVU16A
2015-10-01$339.39$209.29RVU15D
2015-07-01$339.39$209.29RVU15C
2015-04-01$337.70$208.25RVU15B
2015-01-01$337.70$208.25RVU15A
2014-10-01$332.57$205.30RVU14D
2014-07-01$332.57$205.30RVU14C
2014-04-01$332.57$205.30RVU14B
2014-01-01$332.57$205.30RVU14A
2013-10-01$338.24$200.93RVU13D
2013-07-01$338.24$200.93RVU13C
2013-04-01$338.24$200.93RVU13B
2013-01-01$338.24$200.93RVU13AR

Price 12044 for an earlier date of service

Where the South Carolina rate applies

South Carolina is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 475 cities and communities in South Carolina. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Abbeville
  • Abney Crossroads
  • Adams Run
  • Aiken
  • Alcolu
  • Allendale
  • Anderson
  • Andrews

Browse all communities in South Carolina

12044 billing questions

How is 12044 distinguished from 12042 or 12045?

Use the same anatomic group and intermediate-repair criteria, then select by total repaired length. 12042 covers the shorter 2.6–7.5 cm range; 12045 covers 12.6–20.0 cm.

Which wound locations qualify for this code?

The relevant site group is the neck, hands, feet, and external genitalia. A similar-length intermediate repair on a different anatomic group may fall under another code.

What documentation supports intermediate repair?

Record the site and length, the wound’s depth or contamination, any extensive cleaning, and the closure layers or technique. The record should support both intermediate complexity and the selected length range.

Can separate wounds be combined to select the length code?

Combine lengths when the wounds are in the same anatomic group and receive the same type of repair. Document each wound and its measurement.

Are related postoperative visits separately reported during the global period?

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

Can modifier 50 or an assistant-at-surgery claim be used?

Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service; co-surgeons and team surgery are also 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 12044PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,420 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for South CarolinaGPCI2026.csv, line 93 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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