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CPT code 21031: Exostosis removal, mandible2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Removal of a bony exostosis of the mandible, such as a mandibular torus, when excision is performed by an oral surgeon or other qualified clinician.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality222 Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $444.51 for 21031 in the office and $283.97 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$444.51Office (non-facility)
$283.97Hospital or facility
+14.1%vs the national office rate ($389.45)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 21031 nationwide

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

We’ll open 21031 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 21031 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 21031 covers

This service removes a localized bony prominence from the mandible, commonly a mandibular torus that interferes with denture placement, oral hygiene, or function. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon or dentist typically performs the intraoral procedure in an office or surgical facility. Documentation should identify the mandibular site, the exostosis, and the clinical reason for removal.

Report this code for removal of a mandibular exostosis, not for excision of a different jaw lesion or removal of a maxillary torus. The code has a 90-day global period: the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures at 50%. For bilateral work, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery services are not 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.

How Washington, DC area compares for 21031

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 21031 runs from $344.77 in Arkansas to $512.87 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $444.51. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

21031 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$444.51
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$438.00−$6.51
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$422.38−$22.13
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$410.14−$34.37
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$448.10+$3.59
  6. Alaska · Alaska$454.17+$9.66
  7. Alabama · Alabama$349.78−$94.73

Other areas in District of Columbia first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

21031 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$344.77$227.70
ArizonaArizona$379.09$247.04
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$411.57$262.21
Chico, CACalifornia$410.30$260.94
El Centro, CACalifornia$410.37$261.02
Fresno, CACalifornia$410.30$260.94
Hanford, CACalifornia$410.30$260.94
Madera, CACalifornia$410.30$260.94

21031 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.

$344.77

$461.59

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
21031 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$454.171
AL$349.781
AR$344.771
AZ$379.091
CA$410.30–$512.8729
CO$404.721
CT$415.221
DC$444.511
DE$385.331
FL$384.91–$422.383
GA$363.32–$396.942
GU$420.061
HI$420.061
IA$358.051
ID$360.481
IL$374.26–$410.144
IN$362.541
KS$356.651
KY$358.541
LA$358.08–$375.622
MA$402.44–$444.192
MD$392.56–$444.513
ME$362.62–$381.752
MI$368.03–$389.942
MN$387.101
MO$352.16–$376.643
MS$348.521
MT$389.431
NC$366.341
ND$380.921
NE$359.921
NH$398.631
NJ$419.76–$440.012
NM$370.141
NV$387.321
NY$371.81–$459.215
OH$366.291
OK$357.621
OR$384.12–$417.202
PA$366.73–$405.132
PR$392.181
RI$398.781
SC$366.971
SD$379.921
TN$358.461
TX$364.36–$403.558
UT$371.941
VA$380.68–$444.512
VI$392.181
VT$379.681
WA$401.60–$452.942
WI$368.281
WV$360.601
WY$385.721

See 21031 in every payment locality

How the 21031 rate is calculated

Each of 21031’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 · 21031

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work3.22

3.22 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense8.01

8.01 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.43

0.43 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

11.6600

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$389.45

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

The exact Washington, DC area inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,847

Code
21031
Physician work
3.22
Practice expense
8.01
Malpractice
0.43

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 21031 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work3.22× 1.0543.3939
Practice expense8.01× 1.1789.4358
Malpractice0.43× 1.1130.4786
Total RVUs13.3083
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$444.51

Office: (3.22 × 1.054 + 8.01 × 1.178 + 0.43 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $444.51

Facility: (3.22 × 1.054 + 3.93 × 1.178 + 0.43 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $283.97

Open 21031 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 21031

21031 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 21031

Exostosis removal, mandible

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)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
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 · 21031

Exostosis removal, mandible

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 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

21031 without 50 · national office

$389.45

Exostosis removal, mandible

21031-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$584.18

Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).

When to use modifier 50

Codes related to 21031

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

Codes related to 21031
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Same family
21032Maxillary exostosis, maxillaRemoval of a maxillary torus; the corresponding service for the upper jaw.$437.65
Used instead
21025Bone excision, mandibleExcision of lower-jaw bone when the target is bone rather than a mandibular exostosis.$946.21
21040Mandibular lesion excision, intraoral approachExcision of a mandibular lesion when the diagnosis is a lesion, not an exostosis.$544.29
21044Jaw tumor excision, mandible, intraoral approachRemoval of a jaw-bone lesion when the operative target is not a torus or exostosis.No office rate

How 21031 has changed in Washington, DC area

21031 · Office / nonfacility

$444.51

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $16.55 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $427.96 to $444.51 (3.9%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $427.96changed to$444.51

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 3.30 changed to 3.22
    • Practice expense RVU 7.84 changed to 8.01
    • Malpractice RVU 0.34 changed to 0.43
    • Work GPCI 1.057 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.192 changed to 1.178
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.168 changed to 1.113

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $442.00changed to$427.96

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 7.88 changed to 7.84

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $434.78changed to$442.00

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $455.21changed to$434.78

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 7.85 changed to 7.88
    • Work GPCI 1.056 changed to 1.057
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.214 changed to 1.192
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.231 changed to 1.168

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $469.59changed to$455.21

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 7.84 changed to 7.85
    • Malpractice RVU 0.31 changed to 0.34
    • Work GPCI 1.054 changed to 1.056
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.236 changed to 1.214
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.294 changed to 1.231

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $475.19changed to$469.59

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 7.89 changed to 7.84
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.31

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $470.13changed to$475.19

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 7.52 changed to 7.89
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.221 changed to 1.236
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.277 changed to 1.294

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $473.24changed to$470.13

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 7.46 changed to 7.52
    • Malpractice RVU 0.55 changed to 0.30
    • Work GPCI 1.045 changed to 1.049
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.221
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.261 changed to 1.277

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $476.63changed to$473.24

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 7.55 changed to 7.46

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $475.74changed to$476.63

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 7.54 changed to 7.55
    • Malpractice RVU 0.56 changed to 0.55
    • Work GPCI 1.048 changed to 1.045
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.271 changed to 1.261

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $476.45changed to$475.74

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 7.57 changed to 7.54
    • Work GPCI 1.051 changed to 1.048
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.280 changed to 1.271

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $476.81changed to$476.45

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 7.56 changed to 7.57
    • Malpractice RVU 0.54 changed to 0.56

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $474.44changed to$476.81

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $465.20changed to$474.44

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 7.53 changed to 7.56
    • Malpractice RVU 0.39 changed to 0.54
    • Work GPCI 1.050 changed to 1.051
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.202 changed to 1.205
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.280

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $464.92changed to$465.20

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 8.13 changed to 7.53
    • Malpractice RVU 0.41 changed to 0.39
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.050
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.198 changed to 1.202
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.130 changed to 1.205

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $464.92

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$444.51$283.97RVU26D
2026-07-01$444.51$283.97RVU26C
2026-04-01$444.51$283.97RVU26B
2026-01-01$444.51$283.97RVU26A
2025-10-01$427.96$304.19RVU25D
2025-07-01$427.96$304.19RVU25C
2025-04-01$427.96$304.19RVU25B
2025-01-01$427.96$304.19RVU25A
2024-10-01$442.00$310.26RVU24D
2024-07-01$442.00$310.26RVU24C
2024-04-01$442.00$310.26RVU24B
2024-03-09$442.00$310.26RVU24AR
2024-01-01$434.78$305.20RVU24A
2023-10-01$455.21$316.99RVU23D
2023-07-01$455.21$316.99RVU23C
2023-04-01$455.21$316.99RVU23B
2023-01-01$455.21$316.99RVU23A
2022-10-01$469.59$322.45RVU22D
2022-07-01$469.59$322.45RVU22C
2022-04-01$469.59$322.45RVU22B
2022-01-01$469.59$322.45RVU22A
2021-10-01$475.19$325.97RVU21D
2021-07-01$475.19$325.97RVU21C
2021-04-01$475.19$325.97RVU21B
2021-01-01$475.19$325.97RVU21A
2020-10-01$470.13$333.97RVU20D
2020-07-01$470.13$333.97RVU20C
2020-04-01$470.13$333.97RVU20B
2020-01-01$470.13$333.97RVU20A
2019-10-01$473.24$344.26RVU19D
2019-07-01$473.24$344.26RVU19C
2019-04-01$473.24$344.26RVU19B
2019-01-01$473.24$344.26RVU19A
2018-10-01$476.63$351.26RVU18D
2018-07-01$476.63$351.26RVU18C
2018-04-01$476.63$351.26RVU18B
2018-01-01$476.63$351.26RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$475.74$353.35RVU17D
2017-07-01$475.74$353.35RVU17C
2017-04-01$475.74$353.35RVU17B
2017-01-01$475.74$353.35RVU17A
2016-10-01$476.45$353.92RVU16D
2016-07-01$476.45$353.92RVU16C
2016-04-01$476.45$353.92RVU16B
2016-01-01$476.45$353.92RVU16A
2015-10-01$476.81$353.41RVU15D
2015-07-01$476.81$353.41RVU15C
2015-04-01$474.44$351.65RVU15B
2015-01-01$474.44$351.65RVU15A
2014-10-01$465.20$344.63RVU14D
2014-07-01$465.20$344.63RVU14C
2014-04-01$465.20$344.63RVU14B
2014-01-01$465.20$344.63RVU14A
2013-10-01$464.92$340.60RVU13D
2013-07-01$464.92$340.60RVU13C
2013-04-01$464.92$340.60RVU13B
2013-01-01$464.92$340.60RVU13AR

Price 21031 for an earlier date of service

Where the Washington, DC area rate applies

Washington, DC area is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1 cities and communities in District of Columbia. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Washington

Browse all communities in District of Columbia

21031 billing questions

How is this code different from removal of a maxillary torus?

This code is for an exostosis of the mandible. Use 21032 for removal of a maxillary torus.

When would a mandibular bone-lesion code be more appropriate?

Use a lesion-excision code when the target is a mandibular lesion rather than a bony exostosis or torus. Document the nature and location of the condition being removed.

Does the code include related postoperative care?

Yes. Its 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.

How is bilateral removal handled?

CMS identifies the procedure as bilateral; modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Document the exostoses on both sides.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery services are not paid for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?

Under the standard multiple procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the other procedure or procedures at 50%.

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 21031PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,847 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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