FeeBase
Log inGet started
Menu

CPT code 21014: Tumor excision, deep, 2 cm or larger2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports excision of a deep soft-tissue tumor of the face or scalp measuring at least 2 cm, when the procedure does not involve radical resection.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities1.7K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $480.30 for 21014 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 21014

Tumor excision, deep, 2 cm or larger

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
6.95
Total RVUs
14.38
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$480.30

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 21014 →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 21014 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 21014 covers

This service involves removing a soft-tissue tumor beneath the superficial layer, such as in a subfascial or submuscular plane, on the face or scalp. It is distinct from removing a lesion confined to subcutaneous tissue. Otolaryngologists, plastic surgeons, and oral and maxillofacial surgeons may perform the procedure in an office-based operating room or hospital setting, depending on the tumor and surgical plan.

Select this code when the tumor is deep and measures 2 cm or more; document its location, depth, size, and the excision performed. A more extensive radical resection is reported with a different code. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Bilateral adjustment 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 21014 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

21014 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$435.66
AlaskaUnavailable$589.84
ArizonaUnavailable$467.63
ArkansasUnavailable$430.15
Atlanta, GAUnavailable$493.13
Austin, TXUnavailable$487.58
Bakersfield, CAUnavailable$487.07
Baltimore area, MDUnavailable$509.37
Beaumont, TXUnavailable$458.81
Brazoria, TXUnavailable$470.63

21014 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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.

View every state and territory as a table
21014 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 21014 rate is calculated

Each of 21014’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 · 21014

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work6.95

6.95 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense6.11

6.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice1.32

1.32 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

14.3800

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$480.30

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 21014

21014 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 21014

Tumor excision, deep, 2 cm or larger

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period090Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 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)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.10/0.69/0.21Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 21014

Tumor excision, deep, 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.

  • 24Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78Unplanned return to the operating room for a related complication
SurgeryVisit
Sep 23, 2026Jan 10, 2027

Pre-op dayGlobal period

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

21014 without 51 · national facility

$480.30

Tumor excision, deep, 2 cm or larger

21014-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$240.15

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

21014 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 21014

    Tumor excision, deep, 2 cm or larger6.95 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 21012

    Soft-tissue excision, subcutaneous, 2 cm or larger4.34 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 21013

    Tumor excision, deep, under 2 cm5.28 wRVU

    $565.48

  • 21016

    Tumor resection, face or scalp, 2 cm or larger14.88 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

21012Soft-tissue excisionSubcutaneous, 2 cm or larger
Both codes use the 2 cm-or-larger size threshold, but 21012 is for a subcutaneous tumor; 21014 is for a deep tumor.
21013Tumor excisionDeep, under 2 cm
Both describe deep face or scalp tumor excision. Choose 21013 for a tumor under 2 cm and 21014 for one measuring 2 cm or more.
21016Tumor resectionFace or scalp, 2 cm or larger
21016 describes radical resection of a face or scalp soft-tissue tumor measuring 2 cm or more. Use 21014 for the non-radical excision.

Codes related to 21014

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

Codes related to 21014
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
21012Soft-tissue excision, subcutaneous, 2 cm or largerSame size threshold, but for a tumor confined to subcutaneous tissue.No office rate
21013Tumor excision, deep, under 2 cmDeep face or scalp tumor excision for tumors under 2 cm.$499.35–$727.21
21011Facial tumor excision, subcutaneous, under 2 cmFace or scalp lesion excision for a subcutaneous lesion under 2 cm.$347.08–$521.36
Used instead
21016Tumor resection, face or scalp, 2 cm or largerFor radical resection of a face or scalp soft-tissue tumor measuring 2 cm or more.No office rate

21014 billing questions

How is this code distinguished from 21012?

Use 21014 for a deep tumor measuring 2 cm or more. Code 21012 describes a tumor of that size confined to subcutaneous tissue.

What documentation supports the size and depth selection?

Record the face or scalp site, the tumor's measured size, and the operative findings establishing its deep plane, such as subfascial or submuscular location.

When is 21016 more appropriate?

Use 21016 when the surgeon performs a radical resection of a face or scalp soft-tissue tumor measuring 2 cm or more, rather than the excision reported with 21014.

Should modifier 50 be appended for tumors on both sides?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code; the descriptor or anatomy makes modifier 50 unsuitable.

How does Medicare handle multiple procedures in the same session?

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures in the session are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction and paid at 50%.

Can an assistant surgeon be reported?

An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted 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
RVUs for 21014PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,840 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

Did this answer your question about what 21014 pays?

Tell us what you were actually trying to work out. We’ll answer you directly, or build the page that does.

Fee sheets

Put 21014 and the rest of your codes on one sheet

Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.

Build my fee sheet