CPT code 13121: Complex repair, scalp, arm, or leg, 2.6–7.5 cm2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $417.85 for 13121 nationally in the office and $215.44 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $372.24–$545.97.

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

What 13121 covers

This code covers a complex repair of a wound on the scalp, arm, or leg, with a repaired length from 2.6 through 7.5 cm. The repair involves more than routine layered closure, such as extensive undermining or other substantial measures needed to close a complicated wound. Surgeons, dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and emergency physicians may perform these repairs in office, outpatient, or hospital settings, including after trauma or removal of a lesion.

Choose the code by the wound’s anatomic group, repair complexity, and length; documentation should identify the site, final repaired length, and work supporting complex rather than intermediate closure. Related postoperative visits are included in the 10-day global period. When multiple procedures occur 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; assistant-at-surgery services are not paid, 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.

Where 13121 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

13121 rates by state

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

How the 13121 rate is calculated

Each of 13121’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 13121

13121 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 51

13121 compared with similar codes

How to choose

13120Complex repairScalp, arm, or leg; 1.1–2.5 cm

Both apply to complex repairs on the scalp, arms, or legs. Select 13121 for a repaired length of 2.6–7.5 cm and 13120 for the shorter range.

13122Complex repairAdditional scalp or limb length

13121 is the primary code for a repair in its length range; 13122 reports qualifying additional length beyond that primary range.

13101Complex repairTrunk, 2.6–7.5 cm

Both describe complex repair, but 13101 is for the trunk. Use 13121 for the scalp, arm, or leg.

13131Complex repairFace and related sites, 1.1–2.5 cm

13131 applies to a different anatomic group, including the hands and feet; 13121 covers the scalp, arms, and legs.

Codes related to 13121

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

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates