CPT code 21048: Maxillary excision, extraoral approach, partial maxillectomy2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $906.83 for 21048 nationally in a facility.

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

What 21048 covers

This service removes a complex benign cyst or tumor from the upper jaw through an external approach, with bone division and partial removal of the maxilla. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons commonly perform it for extensive maxillary lesions, including an odontogenic cyst when its extent requires this operation. The operative report should identify the lesion and site and describe the external approach, osteotomy, and partial maxillectomy performed.

Choose this code based on the documented approach and extent of bone removal, not simply the presence of a cyst or tumor. A less extensive lesion treated by enucleation and curettage may fit 21040; an intraoral operation of this extent is represented by 21049. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care for 90 days. When other procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Modifier 50 is not appropriate for this service. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity, co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is 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 21048 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

21048 rates by state

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

How the 21048 rate is calculated

Each of 21048’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 21048

21048 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 51

21048 compared with similar codes

How to choose

21049Maxillary cyst excisionWith extraoral approach and repair

This code represents the extraoral approach. Use 21049 when the complex maxillary lesion operation is performed through an intraoral approach.

21040Mandibular lesion excisionIntraoral approach

21040 describes enucleation and curettage of a benign maxillary or zygomatic lesion. Use 21048 when the documented operation includes an extraoral approach, osteotomy, and partial maxillectomy.

21046Mandibular lesion excisionIntraoral osteotomy required

21046 is the corresponding complex benign lesion operation on the mandible. This code is for the maxilla.

21030Bone lesion excisionMaxilla or zygoma, benign

21030 describes excision of a benign maxillary or zygomatic tumor without the specific complex extraoral osteotomy and partial maxillectomy represented by 21048.

Codes related to 21048

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

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates