CPT code 21700: Scalene division, without cervical rib resection2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Reports surgical division of scalene muscles, commonly for thoracic outlet decompression, when the operation does not include cervical rib resection.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 21700 in Florida.
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 21700 covers
The surgeon divides scalene muscle fibers in the neck to relieve compression associated with thoracic outlet syndrome, such as pressure affecting the brachial plexus or subclavian vessels. The operation is performed by a surgeon, commonly in a hospital operating room. This code describes the scalene release without removal of a cervical rib; a rib-resection operation falls under a different code in the same family.
Choose the code from the operation performed, documenting the indication, side, scalene muscles addressed, and whether a cervical rib was removed. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including 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 others at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; 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 21700 pays more and less in Florida
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | Unavailable | $375.68 |
| Miami, FL | Unavailable | $415.57 |
| Rest of Florida | Unavailable | $355.44 |
How the 21700 rate is calculated
Each of 21700’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 · 21700
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work6.15
6.15 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense2.23
2.23 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.57
1.57 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
9.9500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$332.34
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 21700
21700 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 21700
Scalene division, without cervical rib resection
| 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) | 1 | Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount. |
| 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 · 21700
Scalene division, without cervical rib resection
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 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
21700 without 50 · national facility
$332.34
Scalene division, without cervical rib resection
21700-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$498.51
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).
21700 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 21705Neck muscle surgeryMuscle resection
- 21700 covers scalene division without cervical rib removal. Choose 21705 when cervical rib resection is part of the operation.
- 21615Rib excisionFirst and/or cervical rib
- 21615 reports first-rib resection. It represents a rib-removal operation, while 21700 reports scalene muscle division without cervical rib resection.
- 21725Neck muscle revisionSternocleidomastoid muscle
- 21725 is an open sternocleidomastoid tenotomy, generally for a different neck-muscle condition; 21700 addresses scalene division for thoracic outlet decompression.
21700 billing questions
How does 21700 differ from 21705?
Use 21700 when scalene division is performed without cervical rib resection. When the operation includes cervical rib resection, use 21705.
Can 21700 be reported bilaterally?
CMS identifies this as a bilateral procedure. Modifier 50 is paid at 150%.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant surgeon be paid for this operation?
CMS indicates that assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
What documentation supports reporting 21700?
Document the thoracic outlet or other operative indication, laterality, scalene muscle work, and whether a cervical rib was removed. The operative note should support selection of 21700 rather than the rib-resection code.
How are multiple procedures handled in the same session?
CMS pays the highest-valued procedure in full and other procedures at 50% when performed in the same session.
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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