CPT code 40819: Frenum excision, lip or cheek fold2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Delaware

Reports surgical removal of a lip or cheek fold, commonly a labial or buccal frenum, when the fold itself is excised rather than simply released.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality64 Medicare services in 2024

In Delaware, Medicare pays $274.16 for 40819 in the office and $187.04 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$274.16Office (non-facility)
$187.04Hospital or facility
−1.0%vs the national office rate ($276.89)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 40819 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 40819 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Delaware
  2. What 40819 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 40819 covers

Code 40819 represents surgical removal of a lip or cheek fold, commonly a labial or buccal frenum, rather than release by incision alone. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon, oral surgeon, or other qualified surgeon may perform it for a restrictive or symptomatic fold in the oral vestibule. The operative note should identify the fold and site, explain the reason for excision, and describe the tissue removed.

Select this code when the fold itself is excised; a simple frenum incision is a different service, and a discrete mucosal lesion is coded according to the lesion procedure performed. The major-surgery global period 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 the others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. 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.

How Delaware compares for 40819

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 40819 runs from $246.29 in Arkansas to $363.94 in San Benito County, CA. Delaware pays $274.16. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

40819 in Delaware vs other payment areas
  1. Delaware · this page$274.16
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$311.26+$37.10
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$315.45+$41.29
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$298.31+$24.15
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$290.08+$15.92
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$317.55+$43.39
  7. Alaska · Alaska$325.85+$51.69

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

Every other payment area

40819 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$249.72$172.57
ArkansasArkansas$246.29$170.54
ArizonaArizona$269.83$184.38
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$292.78$196.14
Chico, CACalifornia$291.96$195.32
El Centro, CACalifornia$292.01$195.36
Fresno, CACalifornia$291.96$195.32
Hanford, CACalifornia$291.96$195.32

40819 rates by state

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

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.

$246.29

$327.95

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

View every state and territory as a table
40819 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$325.851
AL$249.721
AR$246.291
AZ$269.831
CA$291.96–$363.9429
CO$287.811
CT$294.751
DC$315.451
DE$274.161
FL$273.24–$298.313
GA$258.53–$281.932
GU$298.581
HI$298.581
IA$255.641
ID$257.261
IL$265.78–$290.084
IN$258.681
KS$254.561
KY$255.481
LA$255.12–$267.142
MA$286.23–$315.352
MD$279.20–$315.453
ME$258.60–$271.892
MI$261.87–$276.572
MN$275.941
MO$250.99–$267.983
MS$248.681
MT$276.881
NC$261.171
ND$271.541
NE$256.961
NH$283.391
NJ$298.16–$312.432
NM$263.261
NV$275.571
NY$264.91–$325.025
OH$260.781
OK$254.981
OR$273.47–$296.542
PA$261.14–$287.732
PR$278.801
RI$283.611
SC$261.401
SD$270.911
TN$255.791
TX$259.51–$286.828
UT$264.811
VA$271.08–$315.452
VI$278.801
VT$270.581
WA$285.66–$321.572
WI$262.841
WV$256.411
WY$274.551

See 40819 in every payment locality

How the 40819 rate is calculated

Each of 40819’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 · 40819

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work2.45

2.45 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense5.57

5.57 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.27

0.27 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

8.2900

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$276.89

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

The exact Delaware inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

4,868

Code
40819
Physician work
2.45
Practice expense
5.57
Malpractice
0.27

GPCI2026.csv

40

Locality
Delaware
Physician work
1.005
Practice expense
0.988
Malpractice
0.899
Office calculation for 40819 in Delaware
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.45× 1.0052.4623
Practice expense5.57× 0.9885.5032
Malpractice0.27× 0.8990.2427
Total RVUs8.2081
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Delaware$274.16

Office: (2.45 × 1.005 + 5.57 × 0.988 + 0.27 × 0.899) × $33.4009 = $274.16

Facility: (2.45 × 1.005 + 2.93 × 0.988 + 0.27 × 0.899) × $33.4009 = $187.04

Open 40819 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 40819

40819 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 40819

Frenum excision, lip or cheek fold

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)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.09/0.81/0.10Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 40819

Frenum excision, lip or cheek fold

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

40819 without 51 · national office

$276.89

Frenum excision, lip or cheek fold

40819-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$138.45

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

How 40819 has changed in Delaware

40819 · Office / nonfacility

$274.16

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $9.98 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $264.18 to $274.16 (3.8%).

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

    $264.18changed to$274.16

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 2.51 changed to 2.45
    • Practice expense RVU 5.46 changed to 5.57
    • Malpractice RVU 0.23 changed to 0.27
    • Work GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.005
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.992 changed to 0.988
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.949 changed to 0.899

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $269.21changed to$264.18

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 5.37 changed to 5.46
    • Malpractice RVU 0.24 changed to 0.23

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $264.82changed to$269.21

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $274.85changed to$264.82

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 5.33 changed to 5.37
    • Malpractice RVU 0.23 changed to 0.24
    • Work GPCI 1.007 changed to 1.009
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.007 changed to 0.992
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.938 changed to 0.949
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $281.80changed to$274.85

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 5.30 changed to 5.33
    • Malpractice RVU 0.22 changed to 0.23
    • Work GPCI 1.005 changed to 1.007
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.022 changed to 1.007
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.927 changed to 0.938

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $287.74changed to$281.80

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 5.41 changed to 5.30
    • Malpractice RVU 0.21 changed to 0.22

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $295.65changed to$287.74

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 5.33 changed to 5.41
    • Malpractice RVU 0.22 changed to 0.21
    • Work GPCI 1.006 changed to 1.005
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.021 changed to 1.022
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.023 changed to 0.927

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $332.74changed to$295.65

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 6.13 changed to 5.33
    • Malpractice RVU 0.41 changed to 0.22
    • Work GPCI 1.007 changed to 1.006
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.019 changed to 1.021
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.119 changed to 1.023

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $336.05changed to$332.74

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 6.23 changed to 6.13

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $337.46changed to$336.05

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 6.26 changed to 6.23
    • Work GPCI 1.010 changed to 1.007
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.025 changed to 1.019
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.101 changed to 1.119

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $340.92changed to$337.46

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 6.32 changed to 6.26
    • Malpractice RVU 0.43 changed to 0.41
    • Work GPCI 1.012 changed to 1.010
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.031 changed to 1.025
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.083 changed to 1.101

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $338.78changed to$340.92

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 6.25 changed to 6.32
    • Malpractice RVU 0.41 changed to 0.43

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $337.09changed to$338.78

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $330.86changed to$337.09

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 6.18 changed to 6.25
    • Malpractice RVU 0.32 changed to 0.41
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.038 changed to 1.031
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.878 changed to 1.083

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $332.66changed to$330.86

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 6.72 changed to 6.18
    • Malpractice RVU 0.33 changed to 0.32
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.044 changed to 1.038
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.672 changed to 0.878

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $332.66

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$274.16$187.04RVU26D
2026-07-01$274.16$187.04RVU26C
2026-04-01$274.16$187.04RVU26B
2026-01-01$274.16$187.04RVU26A
2025-10-01$264.18$197.76RVU25D
2025-07-01$264.18$197.76RVU25C
2025-04-01$264.18$197.76RVU25B
2025-01-01$264.18$197.76RVU25A
2024-10-01$269.21$199.53RVU24D
2024-07-01$269.21$199.53RVU24C
2024-04-01$269.21$199.53RVU24B
2024-03-09$269.21$199.53RVU24AR
2024-01-01$264.82$196.28RVU24A
2023-10-01$274.85$201.82RVU23D
2023-07-01$274.85$201.82RVU23C
2023-04-01$274.85$201.82RVU23B
2023-01-01$274.85$201.82RVU23A
2022-10-01$281.80$204.35RVU22D
2022-07-01$281.80$204.35RVU22C
2022-04-01$281.80$204.35RVU22B
2022-01-01$281.80$204.35RVU22A
2021-10-01$287.74$208.57RVU21D
2021-07-01$287.74$208.57RVU21C
2021-04-01$287.74$208.57RVU21B
2021-01-01$287.74$208.57RVU21A
2020-10-01$295.65$222.32RVU20D
2020-07-01$295.65$222.32RVU20C
2020-04-01$295.65$222.32RVU20B
2020-01-01$295.65$222.32RVU20A
2019-10-01$332.74$249.75RVU19D
2019-07-01$332.74$249.75RVU19C
2019-04-01$332.74$249.75RVU19B
2019-01-01$332.74$249.75RVU19A
2018-10-01$336.05$255.71RVU18D
2018-07-01$336.05$255.71RVU18C
2018-04-01$336.05$255.71RVU18B
2018-01-01$336.05$255.71RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$337.46$258.00RVU17D
2017-07-01$337.46$258.00RVU17C
2017-04-01$337.46$258.00RVU17B
2017-01-01$337.46$258.00RVU17A
2016-10-01$340.92$260.45RVU16D
2016-07-01$340.92$260.45RVU16C
2016-04-01$340.92$260.45RVU16B
2016-01-01$340.92$260.45RVU16A
2015-10-01$338.78$258.38RVU15D
2015-07-01$338.78$258.38RVU15C
2015-04-01$337.09$257.10RVU15B
2015-01-01$337.09$257.10RVU15A
2014-10-01$330.86$251.65RVU14D
2014-07-01$330.86$251.65RVU14C
2014-04-01$330.86$251.65RVU14B
2014-01-01$330.86$251.65RVU14A
2013-10-01$332.66$249.55RVU13D
2013-07-01$332.66$249.55RVU13C
2013-04-01$332.66$249.55RVU13B
2013-01-01$332.66$249.55RVU13AR

Price 40819 for an earlier date of service

Where the Delaware rate applies

Delaware is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 79 cities and communities in Delaware. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Arden
  • Ardencroft
  • Ardentown
  • Bear
  • Bellefonte
  • Bethany Beach
  • Bethel
  • Blades

Browse all communities in Delaware

40819 billing questions

How is excision different from a frenum incision?

Use 40819 when the lip or cheek fold is excised. Code 40806 describes an incision of the labial frenum, not excision of the fold.

Should modifier 50 be reported for folds on both sides?

No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for 40819 under the CMS bilateral rule.

What postoperative care is included?

The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during the 90 days after surgery.

Can an assistant surgeon be paid for this procedure?

Assistant-at-surgery payment is available only when the medical necessity of the assistant is documented.

Can co-surgeons or a surgical team report this service?

CMS does not permit co-surgeons or team surgery for 40819.

When should a mouth-lesion excision code be considered instead?

When the operative target is a discrete mucosal lesion rather than the lip or cheek fold, select the lesion-excision code that matches the documented procedure and repair.

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 40819PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 4,868 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for DelawareGPCI2026.csv, line 40 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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