CPT code 14020: Tissue rearrangement, scalp, arm, or leg; up to 10 sq cm2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $717.45 for 14020 nationally in the office and $504.69 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $637.96–$926.24.

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

What 14020 covers

This code covers rearrangement of skin and nearby tissue to close a defect on the scalp, an arm, or a leg when the applicable area is no more than 10 sq cm. The surgeon advances, rotates, or transposes tissue next to the wound rather than bringing in a distant graft. It may be performed after lesion or tumor removal, or for a traumatic or other cutaneous defect when local tissue is rearranged. Dermatologic, plastic, general, and other surgeons may perform the procedure in an office procedure room, ambulatory surgery center, or hospital.

Select the size level using the total defect area, including the primary defect and the secondary defect created by the tissue transfer, rather than the lesion’s dimensions alone. The operative report should identify the site, flap or rearrangement performed, and documented defect measurements. The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this descriptor. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery; 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 14020 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

14020 rates by state

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

How the 14020 rate is calculated

Each of 14020’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 14020

14020 has a 90-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

14020 compared with similar codes

How to choose

14021Tissue transferScalp, arms, or legs

Use 14021 for a scalp, arm, or leg defect in the next size range. This code is for a total area of 10 sq cm or less.

14000Tissue transferTrunk, defect up to 10 sq cm

The area threshold is similar, but 14000 is for trunk sites; this code is for the scalp, arms, or legs.

14040Tissue rearrangementDefined sites, 10 cm² or less

14040 covers specified face and other listed sites such as the hand or foot. This code is for scalp, arm, or leg sites.

14060Local flap repairEyelid, nose, ear, or lip up to 10 cm²

14060 covers specified eyelid, nose, ear, or lip sites. Use this code for an eligible scalp, arm, or leg defect.

Codes related to 14020

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