No office rate
Choose 21137 for contouring alone. Choose 21138 when the documented forehead procedure also includes augmentation.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
21137 in El Centro
Office / nonfacility
Not available in this setting
Base rate per service
Facility setting
$690.19
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.
Craniofacial surgery
About 21137: Forehead reduction with contouring only
Reports surgical reduction and contouring of prominent forehead bone, including brow shaping, when the work does not include augmentation or frontal sinus setback.
This operation reduces and reshapes the frontal bone to address forehead prominence or brow bossing. A craniofacial, plastic, or facial plastic surgeon typically performs it in an operating room, often as part of facial skeletal surgery. The defining scope is contouring alone: the procedure does not include augmentation or setback of the anterior frontal sinus wall.
Select the code from the operative report’s documented work, not from the patient’s stated goal or the general label of facial feminization surgery. Documentation should identify the forehead and brow work and distinguish bone contouring from an implant or graft and from frontal sinus wall osteotomy and setback. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate; an assistant at surgery may be paid, while co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
CMS billing rules for 21137
- 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 may be paid.
- Co-surgeons
- Co-surgeons not permitted.
- Team surgery
- Team surgery not permitted.
Where the value comes from
- Work RVU9.98 · 49%
- Practice expense (office) RVU8.68 · 42%
- Malpractice RVU1.85 · 9%
16
Medicare services in 2024 · #6025 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.
21137 compared with similar codes
Office rates for El Centro, from the same CMS release.
No office rate
Choose 21139 when frontal sinus wall setback accompanies contouring. Without that setback, forehead contouring alone is the scope of 21137.
No office rate
21172 describes reconstruction of the supra-lateral orbital rim and lateral forehead. It is not the code for standalone reduction and contouring of forehead prominence.
The same code, a different location
How does El Centro compare?
21137 across payment areas
Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0
El Centro · This locality
Unavailable
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Other payment areas listed in California appear first, followed by selected cross-country examples. The chart compares amounts, not distance.
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
Merced
California · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$689.88
No comparable office rate is available.
Modesto
California · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$689.88
No comparable office rate is available.
Napa
California · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$767.85
No comparable office rate is available.
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
California · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$723.86
No comparable office rate is available.
Redding
California · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$689.88
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of California
California · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$689.88
No comparable office rate is available.
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
California · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$709.80
No comparable office rate is available.
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
California · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$715.64
No comparable office rate is available.
Salinas
California · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$712.81
No comparable office rate is available.
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
California · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$723.58
No comparable office rate is available.
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)
California · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$802.16
No comparable office rate is available.
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty)
California · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$800.06
No comparable office rate is available.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty)
California · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$821.19
No comparable office rate is available.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty)
California · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$812.60
No comparable office rate is available.
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
California · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$702.35
No comparable office rate is available.
Santa Cruz-Watsonville
California · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$725.71
No comparable office rate is available.
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
California · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$713.84
No comparable office rate is available.
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
California · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$732.48
No comparable office rate is available.
Stockton
California · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$689.88
No comparable office rate is available.
Vallejo
California · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$764.82
No comparable office rate is available.
Visalia
California · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$689.88
No comparable office rate is available.
Yuba City
California · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$689.88
No comparable office rate is available.
Dc + Md/Va Suburbs
District of Columbia · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$761.64
No comparable office rate is available.
Miami
Florida · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$791.42
No comparable office rate is available.
Chicago
Illinois · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$768.86
No comparable office rate is available.
Manhattan
New York · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$789.56
No comparable office rate is available.
Alaska*
Alaska · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$842.82
No comparable office rate is available.
Alabama
Alabama · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$621.99
No comparable office rate is available.
Arkansas
Arkansas · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$614.20
No comparable office rate is available.
Arizona
Arizona · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$667.17
No comparable office rate is available.
Colorado
Colorado · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$694.08
No comparable office rate is available.
Connecticut
Connecticut · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$727.02
No comparable office rate is available.
Delaware
Delaware · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$677.00
No comparable office rate is available.
Fort Lauderdale
Florida · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$738.75
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Florida
Florida · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$703.38
No comparable office rate is available.
Atlanta
Georgia · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$703.11
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Georgia
Georgia · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$665.61
No comparable office rate is available.
Hawaii, Guam
Hawaii · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$698.76
No comparable office rate is available.
Iowa
Iowa · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$623.15
No comparable office rate is available.
Idaho
Idaho · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$629.29
No comparable office rate is available.
East St. Louis
Illinois · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$724.52
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Illinois
Illinois · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$694.62
No comparable office rate is available.
Suburban Chicago
Illinois · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$742.92
No comparable office rate is available.
Indiana
Indiana · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$632.13
No comparable office rate is available.
Kansas
Kansas · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$626.57
No comparable office rate is available.
Kentucky
Kentucky · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$647.62
No comparable office rate is available.
New Orleans
Louisiana · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$676.35
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Louisiana
Louisiana · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$649.12
No comparable office rate is available.
Metropolitan Boston
Massachusetts · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$748.17
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Massachusetts
Massachusetts · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$693.21
No comparable office rate is available.
Baltimore/Surr. Cntys
Maryland · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$726.19
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Maryland
Maryland · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$686.80
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Maine
Maine · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$638.50
No comparable office rate is available.
Southern Maine
Maine · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$659.64
No comparable office rate is available.
Detroit
Michigan · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$717.29
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Michigan
Michigan · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$667.80
No comparable office rate is available.
Minnesota
Minnesota · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$649.96
No comparable office rate is available.
Metropolitan Kansas City
Missouri · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$665.95
No comparable office rate is available.
Metropolitan St. Louis
Missouri · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$671.26
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Missouri
Missouri · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$643.44
No comparable office rate is available.
Mississippi
Mississippi · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$628.63
No comparable office rate is available.
Montana**
Montana · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$684.93
No comparable office rate is available.
North Carolina
North Carolina · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$643.32
No comparable office rate is available.
North Dakota**
North Dakota · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$648.35
No comparable office rate is available.
Nebraska
Nebraska · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$624.29
No comparable office rate is available.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$689.22
No comparable office rate is available.
Northern Nj
New Jersey · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$756.64
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of New Jersey
New Jersey · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$731.05
No comparable office rate is available.
New Mexico
New Mexico · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$673.41
No comparable office rate is available.
Nevada**
Nevada · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$675.02
No comparable office rate is available.
Nyc Suburbs/Long Island
New York · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$814.14
No comparable office rate is available.
Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs
New York · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$740.57
No comparable office rate is available.
Queens
New York · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$786.46
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of New York
New York · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$652.20
No comparable office rate is available.
Ohio
Ohio · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$660.32
No comparable office rate is available.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$640.25
No comparable office rate is available.
Portland
Oregon · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$706.75
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Oregon
Oregon · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$665.54
No comparable office rate is available.
Metropolitan Philadelphia
Pennsylvania · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$714.87
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$657.88
No comparable office rate is available.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$687.31
No comparable office rate is available.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$694.28
No comparable office rate is available.
South Carolina
South Carolina · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$653.75
No comparable office rate is available.
South Dakota**
South Dakota · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$644.02
No comparable office rate is available.
Tennessee
Tennessee · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$630.06
No comparable office rate is available.
Austin
Texas · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$695.49
No comparable office rate is available.
Beaumont
Texas · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$654.57
No comparable office rate is available.
Brazoria
Texas · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$671.52
No comparable office rate is available.
Dallas
Texas · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$678.12
No comparable office rate is available.
Fort Worth
Texas · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$676.02
No comparable office rate is available.
Galveston
Texas · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$675.06
No comparable office rate is available.
Houston
Texas · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$708.92
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Texas
Texas · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$664.27
No comparable office rate is available.
Utah
Utah · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$661.35
No comparable office rate is available.
Virginia
Virginia · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$661.96
No comparable office rate is available.
Virgin Islands
United States Virgin Islands · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$687.31
No comparable office rate is available.
Vermont
Vermont · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$651.63
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Washington
Washington · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$689.98
No comparable office rate is available.
Seattle (King Cnty)
Washington · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$756.22
No comparable office rate is available.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$630.12
No comparable office rate is available.
West Virginia
West Virginia · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$673.71
No comparable office rate is available.
Wyoming**
Wyoming · 21137
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$668.99
No comparable office rate is available.
See how rates vary across the country
21137 · Office / nonfacility · Non-QP. Choose a state to explore its payment localities. A range means the amount varies within that state.
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.
View all state and territory rates as a table
| State / territory | Rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | No published base rate | 1 |
| AL | No published base rate | 1 |
| AR | No published base rate | 1 |
| AZ | No published base rate | 1 |
| CA | No published base rate | 29 |
| CO | No published base rate | 1 |
| CT | No published base rate | 1 |
| DC | No published base rate | 1 |
| DE | No published base rate | 1 |
| FL | No published base rate | 3 |
| GA | No published base rate | 2 |
| GU | No published base rate | 1 |
| HI | No published base rate | 1 |
| IA | No published base rate | 1 |
| ID | No published base rate | 1 |
| IL | No published base rate | 4 |
| IN | No published base rate | 1 |
| KS | No published base rate | 1 |
| KY | No published base rate | 1 |
| LA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MD | No published base rate | 3 |
| ME | No published base rate | 2 |
| MI | No published base rate | 2 |
| MN | No published base rate | 1 |
| MO | No published base rate | 3 |
| MS | No published base rate | 1 |
| MT | No published base rate | 1 |
| NC | No published base rate | 1 |
| ND | No published base rate | 1 |
| NE | No published base rate | 1 |
| NH | No published base rate | 1 |
| NJ | No published base rate | 2 |
| NM | No published base rate | 1 |
| NV | No published base rate | 1 |
| NY | No published base rate | 5 |
| OH | No published base rate | 1 |
| OK | No published base rate | 1 |
| OR | No published base rate | 2 |
| PA | No published base rate | 2 |
| PR | No published base rate | 1 |
| RI | No published base rate | 1 |
| SC | No published base rate | 1 |
| SD | No published base rate | 1 |
| TN | No published base rate | 1 |
| TX | No published base rate | 8 |
| UT | No published base rate | 1 |
| VA | No published base rate | 2 |
| VI | No published base rate | 1 |
| VT | No published base rate | 1 |
| WA | No published base rate | 2 |
| WI | No published base rate | 1 |
| WV | No published base rate | 1 |
| WY | No published base rate | 1 |
Where does this rate apply?
El Centro is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 18 cities and communities in California, 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.
Use this rate
What is a percentage of Medicare worth?
Turn a percentage into dollars for 21137 in El Centro. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.
Reference amount per service
$759.21
$690.19 × 110% = $759.21
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.
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 21137 in El Centro.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
1,883
- Code
- 21137
- Physician work
- 9.98
- Practice expense
- 8.68
- Malpractice
- 1.85
GPCI2026.csv
10
- Locality
- El Centro
- Physician work
- 1.017
- Practice expense
- 1.096
- Malpractice
- 0.541
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 9.98 | × 1.017 | 10.1497 |
| Practice expense | 8.68 | × 1.096 | 9.5133 |
| Malpractice | 1.85 | × 0.541 | 1.0009 |
| Total RVUs | 20.6638 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Facility rate, El Centro$690.19
Open 21137 in the RVU calculator →
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Facility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 9.98 | 1.017 |
| Practice expense | 8.68 | 1.096 |
| Malpractice | 1.85 | 0.541 |
(9.98 × 1.017 + 8.68 × 1.096 + 1.85 × 0.541) × $33.4009 = $690.19
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
21137 · Office / nonfacility
Rate unavailable
Effective 2026-10-01
A rate is unavailable in one of these releases, so a change cannot be calculated.
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
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 from | Office / nonfacility | Facility | CMS release |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $690.19 | RVU26D |
| 2026-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $690.19 | RVU26C |
| 2026-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $690.19 | RVU26B |
| 2026-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $690.19 | RVU26A |
| 2025-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $749.71 | RVU25D |
| 2025-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $749.71 | RVU25C |
| 2025-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $749.71 | RVU25B |
| 2025-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $749.71 | RVU25A |
21137 billing questions
How is 21137 distinguished from 21138?
Use 21137 for forehead bone reduction and contouring alone. 21138 describes contouring that also includes augmentation.
When is 21139 more appropriate?
Use 21139 when the operation includes contouring and setback of the anterior frontal sinus wall. Contouring without that setback is the distinguishing work for 21137.
Can modifier 50 be reported?
No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this forehead procedure; the code is not reported as a paired right-and-left service.
Are related postoperative visits included?
Yes. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How does Medicare handle another procedure performed in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures in the same session are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction.
May an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted for this code under the listed CMS rules.
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.
1,88021123,,Geniop sldg augmentation,A,,11.06,10.62,NA,10.62,,1.61,23.29,23.29,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,0,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,88121125,,Augmentation mndblr prostc,A,,10.53,65.97,,6.39,,1.21,77.71,18.13,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,0,2,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,88221127,,Augmentation mndblr b1 grf,A,,12.13,105.28,,7.31,,1.39,118.80,20.83,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,0,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,88321137,,Rdctj forehead cntrg only,A,,9.98,8.68,NA,8.68,,1.85,20.51,20.51,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,0,2,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,88421138,,Rdctj forehead cntrg&prostc,A,,12.55,9.86,NA,9.86,,2.34,24.75,24.75,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,0,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,88521139,,Rdctj forehead cntrg&setback,A,,14.64,12.11,NA,12.11,,2.72,29.47,29.47,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,0,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,88621141,,Rcnstj midface lefort i 1pc,A,,19.08,14.34,NA,14.34,,2.76,36.18,36.18,0,090,0.10,0.69,0.21,2,0,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
707102,AR,13,ARKANSAS,1.000,0.859,0.515
801112,CA,54,BAKERSFIELD,1.019,1.096,0.609
901112,CA,55,CHICO,1.017,1.096,0.536
1001182,CA,71,EL CENTRO,1.017,1.096,0.541
1101112,CA,56,FRESNO,1.017,1.096,0.536
1201112,CA,57,HANFORD-CORCORAN,1.017,1.096,0.536
1301182,CA,18,LOS ANGELES-LONG BEACH-ANAHEIM (LOS ANGELES/ORANGE CNTY),1.041,1.183,0.664