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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

21497 in Austin

Office / nonfacility

$747.38

Base rate per service

Facility setting

$583.06

Base rate per service

Amounts below use the non-QP conversion factor for participating physicians. These are base physician payments before claim-level adjustments, not patient costs or total hospital charges.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery

About 21497: Interdental wiring for nonfracture stabilization

Interdental wiring stabilizes the jaws through dental fixation for a documented nonfracture indication, rather than as part of coded fracture treatment.

This service involves placing wire between teeth to hold the jaws in a stable position for a nonfracture indication. It is generally performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, often in a facility setting. The clinical record should identify why interdental stabilization is needed and describe the wiring performed; the indication should not be a fracture treated under a fracture-specific code.

Report the service when the documented work is interdental wiring for a nonfracture condition, not merely because wires are present as part of another procedure. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is not appropriate for this code. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

CMS billing rules for 21497

Global period
Major surgery with a 90-day global period: the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included.
Multiple procedures
Standard multiple procedure reduction: the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50% when performed in the same session.
Bilateral procedures
Bilateral adjustment does not apply; the descriptor or anatomy makes modifier 50 inappropriate.
Assistant at surgery
Assistant at surgery is paid only with documentation of medical necessity.
Co-surgeons
Co-surgeons not permitted.
Team surgery
Team surgery not permitted.

Where the value comes from

  • Work RVU4.52 · 21%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU16.45 · 77%
  • Malpractice RVU0.50 · 2%

27

Medicare services in 2024 · #5726 by national volume

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.

21497 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Austin, from the same CMS release.

21453

Mandibular fracture care

Closed, interdental fixation

$1,167.86

Use 21453 for closed treatment of a mandibular fracture with interdental fixation. Use 21497 for interdental wiring when the indication is not a fracture.

21462

Mandibular fracture repair

Open, interdental fixation

$2,123.48

Use 21462 for open treatment of a mandibular fracture with interdental fixation. This code describes nonfracture interdental wiring instead.

21499

Unlisted muscskel px head

No office rate

Use 21499 only when no listed code describes the service. Code 21497 specifically describes interdental wiring for a nonfracture indication.

The same code, a different location

How does Austin compare?

In Beaumont, the office rate for 21497 is $666.48—$80.90 lower than the $747.38 rate in Austin. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

21497 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Austin · This locality

    $747.38

  2. Beaumont

    $666.48

    $80.90 lower than Austin

  3. Brazoria

    $709.71

    $37.67 lower than Austin

  4. Dallas

    $713.91

    $33.47 lower than Austin

  5. Fort Worth

    $708.63

    $38.75 lower than Austin

  6. Galveston

    $711.61

    $35.77 lower than Austin

  7. Houston

    $720.76

    $26.62 lower than Austin

Other payment areas listed in Texas appear first, followed by selected cross-country examples. The chart compares amounts, not distance.

Across 109 of 109 CMS payment localities with a supported office rate, 21497 ranges from $631.55 in Arkansas to $968.83 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty). This is a geographic range, not an average.

The code’s RVUs stay the same in these comparisons. Geographic adjustments to work, practice expense and malpractice change the dollar amount. A city name alone may not identify the payment area for a service address.

Compare all 108 other payment areas

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 21497

    Office

    $687.48

    Facility

    $540.08

    $59.90 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty)

    California · 21497

    Office

    $818.24

    Facility

    $634.51

    $70.86 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 21497

    Office

    $824.96

    Facility

    $642.00

    $77.58 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 21497

    Office

    $765.18

    Facility

    $603.50

    $17.80 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 21497

    Office

    $742.55

    Facility

    $586.46

    $4.83 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 21497

    Office

    $825.58

    Facility

    $645.10

    $78.20 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 21497

    Office

    $820.82

    Facility

    $655.41

    $73.44 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 21497

    Office

    $641.19

    Facility

    $505.29

    $106.19 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 21497

    Office

    $631.55

    Facility

    $498.13

    $115.83 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 21497

    Office

    $697.68

    Facility

    $547.18

    $49.70 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Bakersfield

    California · 21497

    Office

    $766.20

    Facility

    $595.98

    $18.82 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Chico

    California · 21497

    Office

    $764.68

    Facility

    $594.46

    $17.30 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • El Centro

    California · 21497

    Office

    $764.77

    Facility

    $594.54

    $17.39 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Fresno

    California · 21497

    Office

    $764.68

    Facility

    $594.46

    $17.30 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Hanford-Corcoran

    California · 21497

    Office

    $764.68

    Facility

    $594.46

    $17.30 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Madera

    California · 21497

    Office

    $764.68

    Facility

    $594.46

    $17.30 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Merced

    California · 21497

    Office

    $764.68

    Facility

    $594.46

    $17.30 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 21497

    Office

    $764.68

    Facility

    $594.46

    $17.30 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 21497

    Office

    $893.14

    Facility

    $688.43

    $145.76 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 21497

    Office

    $815.05

    Facility

    $631.47

    $67.67 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 21497

    Office

    $764.68

    Facility

    $594.46

    $17.30 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 21497

    Office

    $764.68

    Facility

    $594.46

    $17.30 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 21497

    Office

    $770.13

    Facility

    $599.90

    $22.75 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 21497

    Office

    $804.36

    Facility

    $623.73

    $56.98 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 21497

    Office

    $801.41

    Facility

    $621.40

    $54.03 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 21497

    Office

    $821.69

    Facility

    $635.93

    $74.31 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 21497

    Office

    $947.70

    Facility

    $728.70

    $200.32 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty)

    California · 21497

    Office

    $947.13

    Facility

    $728.14

    $199.75 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty)

    California · 21497

    Office

    $968.83

    Facility

    $744.87

    $221.45 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty)

    California · 21497

    Office

    $966.51

    Facility

    $742.55

    $219.13 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 21497

    Office

    $788.31

    Facility

    $611.40

    $40.93 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 21497

    Office

    $830.67

    Facility

    $641.96

    $83.29 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 21497

    Office

    $804.80

    Facility

    $623.71

    $57.42 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 21497

    Office

    $839.17

    Facility

    $648.45

    $91.79 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 21497

    Office

    $764.68

    Facility

    $594.46

    $17.30 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 21497

    Office

    $892.32

    Facility

    $687.61

    $144.94 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 21497

    Office

    $764.68

    Facility

    $594.46

    $17.30 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 21497

    Office

    $764.68

    Facility

    $594.46

    $17.30 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 21497

    Office

    $750.44

    Facility

    $585.18

    $3.06 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 21497

    Office

    $765.95

    Facility

    $598.68

    $18.57 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 21497

    Office

    $709.59

    Facility

    $556.14

    $37.79 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 21497

    Office

    $737.75

    Facility

    $580.42

    $9.63 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 21497

    Office

    $701.34

    Facility

    $552.86

    $46.04 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 21497

    Office

    $729.72

    Facility

    $571.92

    $17.66 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 21497

    Office

    $660.98

    Facility

    $522.44

    $86.40 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 21497

    Office

    $785.36

    Facility

    $608.77

    $37.98 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 21497

    Office

    $660.34

    Facility

    $518.23

    $87.04 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 21497

    Office

    $664.36

    Facility

    $521.47

    $83.02 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 21497

    Office

    $690.10

    Facility

    $547.21

    $57.28 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 21497

    Office

    $678.72

    Facility

    $536.92

    $68.66 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 21497

    Office

    $745.90

    Facility

    $586.39

    $1.48 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 21497

    Office

    $668.42

    Facility

    $524.45

    $78.96 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 21497

    Office

    $656.09

    Facility

    $515.68

    $91.29 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 21497

    Office

    $654.71

    Facility

    $516.64

    $92.67 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 21497

    Office

    $686.97

    Facility

    $540.82

    $60.41 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 21497

    Office

    $653.23

    Facility

    $515.78

    $94.15 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 21497

    Office

    $828.06

    Facility

    $642.62

    $80.68 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 21497

    Office

    $745.26

    Facility

    $581.72

    $2.12 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 21497

    Office

    $763.60

    Facility

    $596.95

    $16.22 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 21497

    Office

    $723.85

    Facility

    $566.67

    $23.53 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 21497

    Office

    $666.85

    Facility

    $523.96

    $80.53 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 21497

    Office

    $706.01

    Facility

    $552.09

    $41.37 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 21497

    Office

    $709.34

    Facility

    $559.47

    $38.04 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 21497

    Office

    $671.47

    Facility

    $529.67

    $75.91 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 21497

    Office

    $721.29

    Facility

    $561.48

    $26.09 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 21497

    Office

    $683.22

    Facility

    $537.38

    $64.16 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 21497

    Office

    $690.78

    Facility

    $542.92

    $56.60 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 21497

    Office

    $640.86

    Facility

    $506.98

    $106.52 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 21497

    Office

    $636.39

    Facility

    $502.66

    $110.99 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 21497

    Office

    $717.08

    Facility

    $561.77

    $30.30 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 21497

    Office

    $674.28

    Facility

    $529.37

    $73.10 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 21497

    Office

    $707.20

    Facility

    $551.88

    $40.18 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 21497

    Office

    $664.42

    Facility

    $521.07

    $82.96 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 21497

    Office

    $737.56

    Facility

    $575.87

    $9.82 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 21497

    Office

    $815.68

    Facility

    $635.51

    $68.30 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 21497

    Office

    $775.33

    Facility

    $605.72

    $27.95 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 21497

    Office

    $674.87

    Facility

    $532.45

    $72.51 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 21497

    Office

    $714.88

    Facility

    $559.41

    $32.50 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 21497

    Office

    $844.94

    Facility

    $660.27

    $97.56 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 21497

    Office

    $779.62

    Facility

    $609.55

    $32.24 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 21497

    Office

    $834.16

    Facility

    $650.58

    $86.78 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 21497

    Office

    $684.69

    Facility

    $537.14

    $62.69 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 21497

    Office

    $669.45

    Facility

    $527.65

    $77.93 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 21497

    Office

    $654.60

    Facility

    $515.91

    $92.78 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 21497

    Office

    $776.25

    Facility

    $603.69

    $28.87 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 21497

    Office

    $709.96

    Facility

    $555.27

    $37.42 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 21497

    Office

    $745.59

    Facility

    $583.90

    $1.79 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 21497

    Office

    $671.14

    Facility

    $528.57

    $76.24 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 21497

    Office

    $722.91

    Facility

    $565.89

    $24.47 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 21497

    Office

    $736.31

    Facility

    $575.87

    $11.07 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 21497

    Office

    $672.85

    Facility

    $529.34

    $74.53 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 21497

    Office

    $706.03

    Facility

    $550.71

    $41.35 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 21497

    Office

    $659.39

    Facility

    $518.20

    $87.99 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 21497

    Office

    $682.45

    Facility

    $536.45

    $64.93 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 21497

    Office

    $702.87

    Facility

    $550.19

    $44.51 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 21497

    Office

    $722.91

    Facility

    $565.89

    $24.47 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 21497

    Office

    $703.37

    Facility

    $549.61

    $44.01 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 21497

    Office

    $744.21

    Facility

    $580.66

    $3.17 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 21497

    Office

    $846.33

    Facility

    $655.76

    $98.95 higher than Austin for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 21497

    Office

    $682.48

    Facility

    $533.69

    $64.90 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 21497

    Office

    $652.34

    Facility

    $517.37

    $95.04 lower than Austin for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 21497

    Office

    $712.78

    Facility

    $557.46

    $34.60 lower than Austin for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

21497 · Office / nonfacility · Non-QP. Choose a state to explore its payment localities. A range means the amount varies within that state.

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.

$631.55

$866.76

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

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$820.821
AL$641.191
AR$631.551
AZ$697.681
CA$764.68–$968.8329
CO$750.441
CT$765.951
DC$824.961
DE$709.591
FL$701.34–$765.183
GA$660.98–$729.722
GU$785.361
HI$785.361
IA$660.341
ID$664.361
IL$678.72–$745.904
IN$668.421
KS$656.091
KY$654.711
LA$653.23–$686.972
MA$745.26–$828.062
MD$723.85–$824.963
ME$666.85–$706.012
MI$671.47–$709.342
MN$721.291
MO$640.86–$690.783
MS$636.391
MT$717.081
NC$674.281
ND$707.201
NE$664.421
NH$737.561
NJ$775.33–$815.682
NM$674.871
NV$714.881
NY$684.69–$844.945
OH$669.451
OK$654.601
OR$709.96–$776.252
PA$671.14–$745.592
PR$722.911
RI$736.311
SC$672.851
SD$706.031
TN$659.391
TX$666.48–$747.388
UT$682.451
VA$702.87–$824.962
VI$722.911
VT$703.371
WA$744.21–$846.332
WI$682.481
WV$652.341
WY$712.781

Explore 21497 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

Austin is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 31 cities and communities in Texas, including the examples shown here.

Some communities span more than one payment area. Follow a city link to compare all of its mapped areas, or check the service-location ZIP above for an address-level starting point.

Browse all communities in Texas →

Why are the office and facility amounts different?

For 21497 in Austin, the physician’s office rate is $747.38 and the facility-setting rate is $583.06: a difference of $164.32.

The calculation uses a different practice-expense RVU for each setting. Both amounts here are physician fee-schedule amounts. The facility figure does not include a hospital’s separate charges, so this comparison does not tell you the total cost of receiving care in each setting.

See the inputs behind this difference →

Use this rate

What is a percentage of Medicare worth?

Turn a percentage into dollars for 21497 in Austin. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$822.12

$747.38 × 110% = $822.12

A contract may specify another Medicare year or additional adjustments. This is percentage arithmetic on the displayed base rate, not a claim adjudication.

Working with a whole code list?

Compare an offer across your annual code mix, including an older Medicare schedule or flat per-code rates.

Compare your contract offer →

How this local rate is calculated

Each RVU component is multiplied by its own geographic practice cost index (GPCI). The three adjusted components are added, then multiplied by the conversion factor. These are the inputs used for 21497 in Austin.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,996

Code
21497
Physician work
4.52
Practice expense
16.45
Malpractice
0.50

GPCI2026.csv

96

Locality
Austin
Physician work
1.002
Practice expense
1.058
Malpractice
0.886
Office / nonfacility calculation for 21497 in Austin
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work4.52× 1.0024.5290
Practice expense16.45× 1.05817.4041
Malpractice0.50× 0.8860.4430
Total RVUs22.3761
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Austin$747.38

Values as parsed from CMS release RVU26D, effective 2026-10-01. The amount is rounded to the nearest cent only at the end.

Open 21497 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work4.521.002
Practice expense16.451.058
Malpractice0.50.886

(4.52 × 1.002 + 16.45 × 1.058 + 0.5 × 0.886) × $33.4009 = $747.38

Facility

Facility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work4.521.002
Practice expense11.81.058
Malpractice0.50.886

(4.52 × 1.002 + 11.8 × 1.058 + 0.5 × 0.886) × $33.4009 = $583.06

The office and facility calculations use their respective practice-expense RVUs. The facility amount here is the physician fee, not a separate hospital or facility bill.

How this rate has changed

21497 · Office / nonfacility

$747.38

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $36.29 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $711.09 to $747.38 (5.1%).

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

    $711.09changed to$747.38

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 4.64 changed to 4.52
    • Practice expense RVU 16.17 changed to 16.45
    • Malpractice RVU 0.47 changed to 0.50
    • Work GPCI 1.000 changed to 1.002
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.046 changed to 1.058
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.914 changed to 0.886

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    Earliest loaded release: $711.09

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

Explore release dates and calculate this code in an earlier period →

Each row uses the accepted CMS release effective on that date and the same contractor and locality identifiers. Missing rates stay visible. Historical boundaries may differ; verify the service address for an older claim.

Inspect every release and its CMS source
Effective fromOffice / nonfacilityFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$747.38$583.06RVU26D
2026-07-01$747.38$583.06RVU26C
2026-04-01$747.38$583.06RVU26B
2026-01-01$747.38$583.06RVU26A
2025-10-01$711.09$590.64RVU25D
2025-07-01$711.09$590.64RVU25C
2025-04-01$711.09$590.64RVU25B
2025-01-01$711.09$590.64RVU25A

21497 billing questions

How is this distinguished from mandibular fracture treatment?

This code is for interdental wiring with a nonfracture indication. When the wiring is part of treatment for a mandibular fracture, select the fracture-specific code that matches the treatment approach.

What documentation supports reporting this code?

Document the nonfracture indication, the need for interdental stabilization, and the wiring work performed. The record should make clear that the service is not being reported as fracture treatment.

Can the wiring be separately reported with another operation?

The code represents the interdental wiring service itself. Report another procedure only when its distinct work is documented and separate reporting is supported by the applicable coding rules.

Can modifier 50 be used when both sides are treated?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code; report the service without modifier 50.

When is an assistant-at-surgery payment allowed?

CMS permits assistant-at-surgery payment only when medical necessity is documented. Co-surgeon and team-surgery payment are not permitted.

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.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense, and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indices and the applicable conversion factor. Unavailable or separately priced services are labeled rather than assigned a made-up amount.

Source: RVU26D. Effective 2026-10-01 through the day before 2027-01-01.

RVUs for 21497PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,996 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for AustinGPCI2026.csv, line 96 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet