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CPT 12018: Wound repairMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports simple, single-layer closure of superficial wounds in the face-and-related-site group when the combined repair length exceeds 30 cm.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities16 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $174.02 for 12018 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 12018

Wound repair

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
3.52
Total RVUs
5.21
Global days
000

National rate · 2026

$174.02

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 12018 →

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

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 12018 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 12018 covers

This code is for straightforward closure of superficial wounds involving the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membranes. The repair is limited to a simple closure, typically a single layer, without the deeper layered work that characterizes an intermediate repair. Emergency physicians and surgeons may perform this service in an emergency department or another acute-care setting; extensive wounds in this anatomic group are less typical in an office setting.

Choose the code from the documented repair type, anatomic group, and total length. For multiple wounds with the same repair classification in this group, combine their lengths; document each wound’s site, length, depth, and closure method. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in one session, CMS pays the highest-valued procedure in full and applies the standard 50% reduction to the others. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. 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 12018 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

12018 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$157.88
Alaska*Unavailable$221.37
ArizonaUnavailable$168.95
ArkansasUnavailable$155.95
AtlantaUnavailable$180.71
AustinUnavailable$172.47
BakersfieldUnavailable$167.36
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$184.84
BeaumontUnavailable$169.50
BrazoriaUnavailable$168.25

12018 rates by state

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

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Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

View every state and territory as a table
12018 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 12018 rate is calculated

Each of 12018’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 · 12018

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 3.52Practice expense 0.81Malpractice 0.88

5.2100 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$174.02

All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 12018

The CMS indicators that decide how 12018 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 12018

Wound repair

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is 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)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

12018 without 51 · national facility

$174.02

Wound repair

12018-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$87.01

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

12018 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

12018 vs 12017 vs 12007 vs 12057: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 12018
    Wound repair · 3.52 wRVU
    —
  • 12017
    Wound repair · 3.1 wRVU
    —
  • 12007
    Wound repair · 2.83 wRVU
    $255.85
  • 12057
    Wound repair · 5.85 wRVU
    $648.65

How to choose

12017Wound repair
Both describe simple repairs in the same anatomic group. Choose 12018 when the combined length exceeds 30 cm; 12017 applies through 30 cm.
12007Wound repair
Both describe simple repairs exceeding 30 cm, but 12007 is for a different anatomic group, such as scalp, trunk, or extremities.
12057Wound repair
Both cover repairs exceeding 30 cm in the face-and-related-site group. Choose 12057 when the repair is intermediate, rather than simple.

Codes related to 12018

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

Codes related to 12018
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
12017Wound repairSimple repair in the same anatomic group for a total length of 20.1–30 cm.No office rate
12011Wound repairSimple repair in the same anatomic group for a total length of 2.5 cm or less.$122.19–$182.83
Used instead
12007Wound repairSimple repair over 30 cm in a different anatomic group, including scalp, trunk, or extremities.$225.98–$318.79
12057Wound repairIntermediate repair over 30 cm in the same face-and-related-site group.$572.21–$837.49

12018 billing questions

How is the length selected when there are several wounds?

Combine the lengths of wounds repaired with the same simple technique in this anatomic group. Keep lengths in different anatomic groups or repair classifications separate.

When is this code preferable to 12017?

Both codes describe simple repair in the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membranes. Use 12018 when the total repair length exceeds 30 cm; 12017 covers 20.1–30 cm.

How does this differ from an intermediate repair?

Use 12018 for a simple, superficial closure. A repair requiring layered closure or work on deeper tissue is intermediate; select the intermediate code for the anatomic group and total length.

Can modifier 50 be reported for this repair?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code because its descriptor and anatomy do not support modifier 50.

What documentation supports reporting 12018?

Document the wound sites, individual lengths, superficial nature of the injuries, simple closure technique, and the total length for wounds in this group.

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 12018PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,409 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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