CPT code 21012: Soft-tissue excision, subcutaneous, 2 cm or larger2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Massachusetts
Reports removal of a subcutaneous soft-tissue tumor of the face or scalp measuring at least 2 cm, rather than a smaller or deeper lesion.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 21012 in Massachusetts.
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
On this page 9 sections
What 21012 covers
Code 21012 describes surgical removal of a soft-tissue tumor in the subcutaneous layer of the face or scalp when the lesion measures 2 cm or more. An otolaryngologist, plastic surgeon, or oral and maxillofacial surgeon may perform the procedure in an office procedure room or operating room, depending on the lesion and setting. The word “tumor” identifies the mass being removed; it does not by itself establish malignancy. This code is not selected for a lesion confined to the skin or for a mass removed from a deeper plane.
Choose the code based on the tumor’s documented size and tissue plane, not the incision length. The operative report should identify the face or scalp site, subcutaneous location, and lesion measurement. CMS treats this as major surgery: the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included. 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 at surgery may be paid; 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 21012 pays more and less in Massachusetts
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Boston, MA | Unavailable | $355.42 |
| Rest of Massachusetts | Unavailable | $328.02 |
How the 21012 rate is calculated
Each of 21012’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 · 21012
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work4.34
4.34 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense4.45
4.45 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.91
0.91 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
9.7000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$323.99
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 21012
21012 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 21012
Soft-tissue excision, subcutaneous, 2 cm or larger
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are 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) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.69/0.21 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 21012
Soft-tissue excision, subcutaneous, 2 cm or larger
90-day global period ends
Dec 30, 2026
Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
21012 without 51 · national facility
$323.99
Soft-tissue excision, subcutaneous, 2 cm or larger
21012-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$162.00
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%).
21012 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 21011Facial tumor excisionSubcutaneous, under 2 cm
- This is the subcutaneous counterpart for a tumor under 2 cm. Use 21012 when the subcutaneous tumor measures 2 cm or more.
- 21013Tumor excisionDeep, under 2 cm
- This code is for a deeper soft-tissue tumor under 2 cm. Code 21012 describes a subcutaneous tumor measuring at least 2 cm.
- 21014Tumor excisionDeep, 2 cm or larger
- Both codes use the 2 cm-or-larger size category, but 21014 is for a deeper soft-tissue tumor; 21012 is for the subcutaneous plane.
- 21016Tumor resectionFace or scalp, 2 cm or larger
- This code describes resection of a face or scalp tumor measuring 2 cm or more. Use 21012 for subcutaneous tumor excision when the documented procedure is not a resection.
21012 billing questions
How is 21012 distinguished from 21011?
Both describe subcutaneous tumor excision on the face or scalp. Use 21012 for a lesion measuring 2 cm or more and 21011 for one under 2 cm.
When should 21013 or 21014 be considered instead?
Those codes describe a tumor in a deeper soft-tissue plane. Choose between them by documented depth and size; 21012 is for a subcutaneous tumor measuring at least 2 cm.
Does the incision length determine the size category?
No. Document the tumor’s size, not the length of the skin incision, and identify its subcutaneous plane.
Can modifier 50 be used for tumors on both sides of the face?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code. The descriptor or anatomy does not support modifier 50.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted under the CMS rules 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
Fee sheets
Put 21012 and the rest of your codes on one sheet
Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.
Build my fee sheet