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CPT code 21555: Mass excision, subcutaneous, under 3 cm2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Virginia

Report this code for surgical removal of a subcutaneous soft-tissue mass in the neck or anterior thorax measuring under 3 cm.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality3.4K Medicare services in 2024

In Virginia, Medicare pays $449.34 for 21555 in the office and $287.15 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$449.34Office (non-facility)
$287.15Hospital or facility
−2.9%vs the national office rate ($462.60)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 21555 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 21555 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Virginia
  2. What 21555 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 21555 covers

This service covers surgical excision of a soft-tissue tumor beneath the skin in the neck or anterior thorax when the lesion is smaller than 3 cm. A common example is removal of a palpable superficial mass, such as a suspected lipoma, by a surgeon or other qualified physician in an office procedure room or operating room. Code selection depends on both the lesion’s depth and size; a deeper mass or one measuring 3 cm or more falls into a different code path.

The operative note should identify the site, show that the mass was subcutaneous rather than deep, support the size category, and describe the excision. A diagnostic sample alone is reported as a biopsy service. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, which includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery; co-surgery 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 Virginia compares for 21555

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 21555 runs from $406.13 in Arkansas to $599.45 in San Benito County, CA. Virginia pays $449.34. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

21555 in Virginia vs other payment areas
  1. Virginia · this page$449.34
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$514.74+$65.40
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$527.18+$77.84
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$517.04+$67.70
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$500.50+$51.16
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$536.52+$87.18
  7. Alaska · Alaska$534.68+$85.34

Other areas in Virginia first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

21555 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$412.43$268.05
ArkansasArkansas$406.13$264.40
ArizonaArizona$449.16$289.28
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$483.75$302.91
Chico, CACalifornia$481.49$300.65
El Centro, CACalifornia$481.63$300.79
Fresno, CACalifornia$481.49$300.65
Hanford, CACalifornia$481.49$300.65

21555 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.

$406.13

$540.47

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

View every state and territory as a table
21555 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$534.681
AL$412.431
AR$406.131
AZ$449.161
CA$481.49–$599.4529
CO$477.751
CT$494.521
DC$527.181
DE$456.811
FL$462.90–$517.043
GA$434.78–$473.392
GU$493.031
HI$493.031
IA$420.051
ID$423.671
IL$451.38–$500.504
IN$426.171
KS$419.611
KY$426.281
LA$426.23–$448.262
MA$475.34–$524.302
MD$465.32–$527.183
ME$427.75–$449.742
MI$439.49–$470.672
MN$452.201
MO$419.62–$447.963
MS$412.881
MT$462.551
NC$432.191
ND$446.331
NE$421.981
NH$471.741
NJ$498.59–$521.592
NM$442.691
NV$458.331
NY$439.15–$552.215
OH$436.171
OK$423.721
OR$453.24–$491.652
PA$435.98–$482.772
PR$465.561
RI$472.201
SC$435.221
SD$444.421
TN$422.051
TX$433.09–$477.508
UT$441.431
VA$449.34–$527.182
VI$465.561
VT$446.011
WA$473.97–$533.562
WI$430.791
WV$434.281
WY$455.481

See 21555 in every payment locality

How the 21555 rate is calculated

Each of 21555’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 · 21555

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work3.86

3.86 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense9.17

9.17 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.82

0.82 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

13.8500

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$462.60

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

The exact Virginia inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

2,004

Code
21555
Physician work
3.86
Practice expense
9.17
Malpractice
0.82

GPCI2026.csv

106

Locality
Virginia
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.983
Malpractice
0.706
Office calculation for 21555 in Virginia
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work3.86× 1.0003.8600
Practice expense9.17× 0.9839.0141
Malpractice0.82× 0.7060.5789
Total RVUs13.4530
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Virginia$449.34

Office: (3.86 × 1 + 9.17 × 0.983 + 0.82 × 0.706) × $33.4009 = $449.34

Facility: (3.86 × 1 + 4.23 × 0.983 + 0.82 × 0.706) × $33.4009 = $287.15

Open 21555 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 21555

21555 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 21555

Mass excision, subcutaneous, under 3 cm

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)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 · 21555

Mass excision, subcutaneous, under 3 cm

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

21555 without 51 · national office

$462.60

Mass excision, subcutaneous, under 3 cm

21555-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$231.30

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

Codes related to 21555

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

Codes related to 21555
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Virginia
Same family
21552Soft-tissue excision, subcutaneous, 3 cm or largerSubcutaneous neck or anterior thorax mass excision for lesions measuring 3 cm or more.No office rate
Used instead
21550Soft-tissue biopsy, deep neck or thoraxBiopsy pathway when the service obtains a diagnostic sample rather than excising the mass.$265.66
21556Tumor excision, deep, under 5 cmFor a deep neck or anterior thorax soft-tissue tumor under 5 cm.No office rate
21554Tumor excision, deep, 5 cm or largerFor a deep neck or anterior thorax soft-tissue tumor measuring 5 cm or more.No office rate

How 21555 has changed in Virginia

21555 · Office / nonfacility

$449.34

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $37.03 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $412.31 to $449.34 (9.0%).

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

    $412.31changed to$449.34

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 3.96 changed to 3.86
    • Practice expense RVU 8.30 changed to 9.17
    • Malpractice RVU 0.81 changed to 0.82
    • Work GPCI 1.002 changed to 1.000
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.984 changed to 0.983
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.755 changed to 0.706

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $425.94changed to$412.31

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 8.35 changed to 8.30

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $418.99changed to$425.94

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $436.43changed to$418.99

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Malpractice RVU 0.79 changed to 0.81
    • Work GPCI 1.000 changed to 1.002
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.990 changed to 0.984
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.826 changed to 0.755

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $448.39changed to$436.43

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 8.33 changed to 8.35
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.995 changed to 0.990
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.897 changed to 0.826

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $446.62changed to$448.39

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 8.19 changed to 8.33
    • Malpractice RVU 0.77 changed to 0.79

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $437.61changed to$446.62

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 7.52 changed to 8.19
    • Malpractice RVU 0.79 changed to 0.77
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.991 changed to 0.995
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.903 changed to 0.897

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $428.65changed to$437.61

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 7.31 changed to 7.52
    • Malpractice RVU 0.80 changed to 0.79
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.986 changed to 0.991
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.908 changed to 0.903

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $421.44changed to$428.65

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 7.12 changed to 7.31

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $417.62changed to$421.44

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 7.09 changed to 7.12
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.985 changed to 0.986
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.866 changed to 0.908

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $416.22changed to$417.62

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 7.11 changed to 7.09
    • Malpractice RVU 0.82 changed to 0.80
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.983 changed to 0.985
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.824 changed to 0.866

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $417.48changed to$416.22

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 7.12 changed to 7.11
    • Malpractice RVU 0.80 changed to 0.82

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $415.40changed to$417.48

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $409.91changed to$415.40

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 7.04 changed to 7.12
    • Malpractice RVU 0.75 changed to 0.80
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.980 changed to 0.983
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.778 changed to 0.824

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $417.39changed to$409.91

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 7.92 changed to 7.04
    • Malpractice RVU 0.78 changed to 0.75
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.977 changed to 0.980
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.731 changed to 0.778

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $417.39

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$449.34$287.15RVU26D
2026-07-01$449.34$287.15RVU26C
2026-04-01$449.34$287.15RVU26B
2026-01-01$449.34$287.15RVU26A
2025-10-01$412.31$296.13RVU25D
2025-07-01$412.31$296.13RVU25C
2025-04-01$412.31$296.13RVU25B
2025-01-01$412.31$296.13RVU25A
2024-10-01$425.94$302.13RVU24D
2024-07-01$425.94$302.13RVU24C
2024-04-01$425.94$302.13RVU24B
2024-03-09$425.94$302.13RVU24AR
2024-01-01$418.99$297.20RVU24A
2023-10-01$436.43$306.94RVU23D
2023-07-01$436.43$306.94RVU23C
2023-04-01$436.43$306.94RVU23B
2023-01-01$436.43$306.94RVU23A
2022-10-01$448.39$312.04RVU22D
2022-07-01$448.39$312.04RVU22C
2022-04-01$448.39$312.04RVU22B
2022-01-01$448.39$312.04RVU22A
2021-10-01$446.62$310.18RVU21D
2021-07-01$446.62$310.18RVU21C
2021-04-01$446.62$310.18RVU21B
2021-01-01$446.62$310.18RVU21A
2020-10-01$437.61$313.15RVU20D
2020-07-01$437.61$313.15RVU20C
2020-04-01$437.61$313.15RVU20B
2020-01-01$437.61$313.15RVU20A
2019-10-01$428.65$311.74RVU19D
2019-07-01$428.65$311.74RVU19C
2019-04-01$428.65$311.74RVU19B
2019-01-01$428.65$311.74RVU19A
2018-10-01$421.44$311.40RVU18D
2018-07-01$421.44$311.40RVU18C
2018-04-01$421.44$311.40RVU18B
2018-01-01$421.44$311.40RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$417.62$309.80RVU17D
2017-07-01$417.62$309.80RVU17C
2017-04-01$417.62$309.80RVU17B
2017-01-01$417.62$309.80RVU17A
2016-10-01$416.22$308.17RVU16D
2016-07-01$416.22$308.17RVU16C
2016-04-01$416.22$308.17RVU16B
2016-01-01$416.22$308.17RVU16A
2015-10-01$417.48$308.33RVU15D
2015-07-01$417.48$308.33RVU15C
2015-04-01$415.40$306.80RVU15B
2015-01-01$415.40$306.80RVU15A
2014-10-01$409.91$303.89RVU14D
2014-07-01$409.91$303.89RVU14C
2014-04-01$409.91$303.89RVU14B
2014-01-01$409.91$303.89RVU14A
2013-10-01$417.39$303.05RVU13D
2013-07-01$417.39$303.05RVU13C
2013-04-01$417.39$303.05RVU13B
2013-01-01$417.39$303.05RVU13AR

Price 21555 for an earlier date of service

Where the Virginia rate applies

Virginia is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 628 cities and communities in Virginia. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Abbs Valley
  • Abingdon
  • Accomac
  • Adwolf
  • Afton
  • Alberta
  • Aldie
  • Allison Gap

Browse all communities in Virginia

21555 billing questions

How is this code distinguished from the 3 cm-or-larger subcutaneous excision code?

Use this code for a subcutaneous neck or anterior thorax mass under 3 cm. A subcutaneous mass measuring 3 cm or more is reported with 21552.

Can this code be used when the surgeon takes only a biopsy?

No. This code describes excision of the mass; a procedure limited to obtaining a diagnostic sample follows the biopsy code pathway, such as 21550.

Does this code include related postoperative visits?

Medicare’s 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.

Should modifier 50 be used for masses on both sides?

No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply to this code, and modifier 50 is inappropriate.

How does Medicare handle multiple procedures performed in the same session?

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

Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be billed for this procedure?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

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 21555PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,004 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for VirginiaGPCI2026.csv, line 106 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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