CPT code 21014: Tumor excision, deep, 2 cm or larger2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
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 doesn’t publish an office rate for 21014 in California.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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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 in California
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
29 of 29 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | Unavailable | $487.07 |
| Chico, CA | Unavailable | $483.39 |
| El Centro, CA | Unavailable | $483.61 |
| Fresno, CA | Unavailable | $483.39 |
| Hanford, CA | Unavailable | $483.39 |
| Los Angeles, CA | Unavailable | $512.36 |
| Madera, CA | Unavailable | $483.39 |
| Marin County, CA | Unavailable | $562.18 |
| Merced, CA | Unavailable | $483.39 |
| Modesto, CA | Unavailable | $483.39 |
| Napa, CA | Unavailable | $538.13 |
| Oxnard, CA | Unavailable | $507.33 |
| Redding, CA | Unavailable | $483.39 |
| Rest of California | Unavailable | $483.39 |
| Riverside, CA | Unavailable | $497.59 |
| Sacramento, CA | Unavailable | $501.47 |
| Salinas, CA | Unavailable | $499.49 |
| San Benito County, CA | Unavailable | $575.59 |
| San Diego, CA | Unavailable | $507.08 |
| San Francisco, CA | Unavailable | $560.68 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | Unavailable | $492.16 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | Unavailable | $569.46 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | Unavailable | $508.60 |
| Santa Maria, CA | Unavailable | $500.22 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | Unavailable | $513.34 |
| Stockton, CA | Unavailable | $483.39 |
| Vallejo, CA | Unavailable | $535.97 |
| Visalia, CA | Unavailable | $483.39 |
| Yuba City, CA | Unavailable | $483.39 |
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
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
| 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 · 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.
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%).
21014 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
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.
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
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