CPT code 21029: Bone contouring, benign facial bone tumor2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Michigan
Reports operative reshaping of a benign facial bone tumor when the surgeon contours the lesion rather than performing a distinct excision.
Medicare pays $776.37–$827.24 for 21029 in the office in Michigan, from Rest of Michigan to Detroit, MI. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
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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On this page 9 sections
What 21029 covers
Code 21029 describes surgically reducing and reshaping a benign tumor of a facial bone, typically by burring or similar contouring. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon or craniofacial surgeon may perform the procedure when a bony growth creates a prominence or irregular facial contour. The operative approach and extent depend on the lesion’s location and the correction needed; this is not a code for removing a soft-tissue facial mass.
Report the code when the operative documentation supports a benign facial bone tumor treated by contouring. Record the bone and lesion treated, the technique, and the work performed; distinguish contouring from excision of a defined tumor or removal of an exostosis. 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 other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity. 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 21029 pays more and less in Michigan
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | $827.24 | $593.24 |
| Rest of Michigan | $776.37 | $554.97 |
How the 21029 rate is calculated
Each of 21029’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 · 21029
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work8.18
8.18 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense14.83
14.83 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.35
1.35 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
24.3600
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$813.65
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 21029
21029 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 21029
Bone contouring, benign facial bone tumor
| 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) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| 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 · 21029
Bone contouring, benign facial bone tumor
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
21029 without 51 · national office
$813.65
Bone contouring, benign facial bone tumor
21029-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$406.83
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%).
21029 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 21026Facial bone excisionOne or more facial bones
- 21026 describes excision of facial bone. Choose 21029 when the documented service is contouring a benign facial bone tumor rather than excising facial bone.
- 21030Bone lesion excisionMaxilla or zygoma, benign
- 21030 describes excision of a benign tumor of the maxilla or zygoma. 21029 represents contouring a benign facial bone tumor, not that excision service.
- 21031Exostosis removalMandible
- 21031 is for removal of a mandibular exostosis. Use the documented diagnosis and procedure to distinguish an exostosis removal from contouring a benign facial bone tumor.
21029 billing questions
How is 21029 different from excision of a facial bone tumor?
Use 21029 when the surgeon treats the benign tumor by contouring the facial bone. A separately excised tumor may point to a different procedure code, depending on the bone and technique.
Can 21029 be used for a mandibular or maxillary exostosis?
Do not select 21029 solely because bone was reshaped. Codes 21031 and 21032 describe removal of exostoses of the mandible and maxilla, respectively; base code selection on the documented diagnosis and procedure.
Is related postoperative care separately reported?
Related postoperative care during the 90-day global period is included, as is the day-before preoperative visit.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction when performed in the same session.
Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity. 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
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