CPT code 99421: Online E/M, 5–10 minutes over seven days2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Arkansas

Report 99421 for an established patient’s online, asynchronous evaluation and management when the clinician’s cumulative work totals 5–10 minutes over seven days.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality89.2K Medicare services in 2024

In Arkansas, Medicare pays $14.43 for 99421 in the office and $10.42 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$14.43Office (non-facility)
$10.42Hospital or facility
−8.1%vs the national office rate ($15.70)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 99421 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 99421 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Arkansas
  2. What 99421 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 99421 covers

99421 covers a patient-initiated online evaluation and management service for an established patient. A physician or other qualified health care professional may review the patient’s secure portal message, assess the concern, review relevant records, make a management plan, and communicate recommendations or orders electronically. The service is asynchronous; it is not a scheduled video or telephone visit.

Select this level when the clinician’s cumulative time on the online evaluation and management work is 5–10 minutes during the seven-day period. Count the work across the episode rather than reporting separately for each message. Documentation should show the patient’s concern, the clinician’s assessment and management, the communication, and the total time. When the same problem leads to an in-person or other E/M service during the applicable period, the online work is generally included in that E/M service rather than reported separately.

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 Arkansas compares for 99421

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 99421 runs from $14.43 in Arkansas to $20.01 in Alaska. Arkansas pays $14.43. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

99421 in Arkansas vs other payment areas
  1. Arkansas · this page$14.43
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$17.04+$2.61
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$17.41+$2.98
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$16.99+$2.56
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$16.66+$2.23
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$17.71+$3.28
  7. Alaska · Alaska$20.01+$5.58

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

Every other payment area

99421 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$14.57$10.48
ArizonaArizona$15.40$10.86
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$16.24$11.11
Chico, CACalifornia$16.17$11.05
El Centro, CACalifornia$16.18$11.05
Fresno, CACalifornia$16.17$11.05
Hanford, CACalifornia$16.17$11.05
Madera, CACalifornia$16.17$11.05

99421 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.

$14.43

$20.01

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

View every state and territory as a table
99421 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$20.011
AL$14.571
AR$14.431
AZ$15.401
CA$16.17–$19.2629
CO$16.081
CT$16.521
DC$17.411
DE$15.591
FL$15.74–$16.993
GA$15.11–$15.962
GU$16.331
HI$16.331
IA$14.731
ID$14.811
IL$15.49–$16.664
IN$14.871
KS$14.731
KY$14.901
LA$14.90–$15.402
MA$16.05–$17.262
MD$15.81–$17.413
ME$14.91–$15.392
MI$15.20–$15.922
MN$15.421
MO$14.76–$15.383
MS$14.601
MT$15.701
NC$15.011
ND$15.301
NE$14.771
NH$15.891
NJ$16.71–$17.342
NM$15.281
NV$15.591
NY$15.17–$18.075
OH$15.121
OK$14.831
OR$15.47–$16.402
PA$15.11–$16.252
PR$15.761
RI$16.011
SC$15.091
SD$15.251
TN$14.781
TX$15.05–$16.038
UT$15.231
VA$15.39–$17.412
VI$15.761
VT$15.301
WA$16.00–$17.512
WI$14.961
WV$15.111
WY$15.521

See 99421 in every payment locality

How the 99421 rate is calculated

Each of 99421’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 · 99421

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.25

0.25 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.20

0.20 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.02

0.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

0.4700

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$15.70

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

The exact Arkansas inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

13,102

Code
99421
Physician work
0.25
Practice expense
0.20
Malpractice
0.02

GPCI2026.csv

7

Locality
Arkansas
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.859
Malpractice
0.515
Office calculation for 99421 in Arkansas
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.25× 1.0000.2500
Practice expense0.20× 0.8590.1718
Malpractice0.02× 0.5150.0103
Total RVUs0.4321
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Arkansas$14.43

Office: (0.25 × 1 + 0.2 × 0.859 + 0.02 × 0.515) × $33.4009 = $14.43

Facility: (0.25 × 1 + 0.06 × 0.859 + 0.02 × 0.515) × $33.4009 = $10.42

Open 99421 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 99421

99421 has no global surgery period, no multiple-procedure, bilateral or assistant-at-surgery adjustment, and no professional/technical split. What changes the payment is where the service happens: the place of service on the claim decides whether Medicare pays the office or the facility rate.

Place of service · 99421

Which rate does Medicare pay?

The POS code on the claim line (CMS-1500 box 24B).

POS 11 · non-facility rate · national

$15.70

Non-facility (office)
$15.70
Facility
$11.02

Higher because the practice carries its own overhead.

How 99421 has changed in Arkansas

99421 · Office / nonfacility

$14.43

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $1.00 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $13.43 to $14.43 (7.4%).

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

    $13.43changed to$14.43

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Practice expense RVU 0.18 changed to 0.20
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.860 changed to 0.859
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.518 changed to 0.515

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $13.82changed to$13.43

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $13.59changed to$13.82

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $13.72changed to$13.59

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 0.17 changed to 0.18
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.853 changed to 0.860
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.492 changed to 0.518
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $13.96changed to$13.72

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.847 changed to 0.853
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.465 changed to 0.492

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $13.78changed to$13.96

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 0.16 changed to 0.17

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $14.36changed to$13.78

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.859 changed to 0.847
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.521 changed to 0.465

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    No ratechanged to$14.36

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D, RVU14A, RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D, RVU15A, RVU15B, RVU15C, RVU15D, RVU16A, RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D, RVU17A, RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D, RVU18AR1, RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D, RVU19A, RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$14.43$10.42RVU26D
2026-07-01$14.43$10.42RVU26C
2026-04-01$14.43$10.42RVU26B
2026-01-01$14.43$10.42RVU26A
2025-10-01$13.43$11.48RVU25D
2025-07-01$13.43$11.48RVU25C
2025-04-01$13.43$11.48RVU25B
2025-01-01$13.43$11.48RVU25A
2024-10-01$13.82$11.82RVU24D
2024-07-01$13.82$11.82RVU24C
2024-04-01$13.82$11.82RVU24B
2024-03-09$13.82$11.82RVU24AR
2024-01-01$13.59$11.62RVU24A
2023-10-01$13.72$11.98RVU23D
2023-07-01$13.72$11.98RVU23C
2023-04-01$13.72$11.98RVU23B
2023-01-01$13.72$11.98RVU23A
2022-10-01$13.96$12.20RVU22D
2022-07-01$13.96$12.20RVU22C
2022-04-01$13.96$12.20RVU22B
2022-01-01$13.96$12.20RVU22A
2021-10-01$13.78$12.00RVU21D
2021-07-01$13.78$12.00RVU21C
2021-04-01$13.78$12.00RVU21B
2021-01-01$13.78$12.00RVU21A
2020-10-01$14.36$12.50RVU20D
2020-07-01$14.36$12.50RVU20C
2020-04-01$14.36$12.50RVU20B
2020-01-01$14.36$12.50RVU20A
2019-10-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU19D
2019-07-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU19C
2019-04-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU19B
2019-01-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU19A
2018-10-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU18D
2018-07-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU18C
2018-04-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU18B
2018-01-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU18AR1
2017-10-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU17D
2017-07-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU17C
2017-04-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU17B
2017-01-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU17A
2016-10-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU16D
2016-07-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU16C
2016-04-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU16B
2016-01-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU16A
2015-10-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU15D
2015-07-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU15C
2015-04-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU15B
2015-01-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU15A
2014-10-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU14D
2014-07-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU14C
2014-04-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU14B
2014-01-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU14A
2013-10-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU13D
2013-07-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU13C
2013-04-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU13B
2013-01-01Not in this releaseNot in this releaseRVU13AR

Price 99421 for an earlier date of service

Where the Arkansas rate applies

Arkansas is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 626 cities and communities in Arkansas. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Acorn
  • Adona
  • Alexander
  • Alicia
  • Alix
  • Alleene
  • Allport
  • Alma

Browse all communities in Arkansas

99421 billing questions

When should 99421 be chosen over 99422 or 99423?

Use 99421 when cumulative online E/M time is 5–10 minutes over seven days. The higher-level codes are for longer time: 11–20 minutes for 99422 and 21 minutes or more for 99423.

Can each portal message be reported as a separate unit?

No. Combine the clinician’s time for the online E/M work over the seven-day period and report the applicable level once for that episode.

What documentation supports 99421?

Document the established patient’s online concern, the clinician’s evaluation and management, the response or plan, and cumulative time for the seven-day period.

Does 99421 describe a video visit?

No. It describes asynchronous online E/M work, such as review and response through a secure patient portal; it is not a synchronous video encounter.

How does 99421 differ from G2012?

99421 captures a broader online evaluation and management episode with cumulative work over seven days. G2012 describes a brief communication technology-based check-in.

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 99421PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 13,102 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for ArkansasGPCI2026.csv, line 7 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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