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CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

21480 in Merced

Office / nonfacility

$184.54

Base rate per service

Facility setting

$29.32

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 21480: Closed temporomandibular dislocation treatment

Reports closed manipulation to treat a temporomandibular joint dislocation, whether the reduction is performed during initial or subsequent treatment.

This code covers closed treatment of a dislocated temporomandibular joint by manipulation, without open surgical exposure. It is used when a clinician reduces the displaced jaw joint, commonly in an emergency department or office setting. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons, otolaryngologists, and other physicians performing the reduction may report it. The code encompasses initial or subsequent closed treatment; it is not limited to the first encounter for the dislocation.

Select this code for a closed reduction, and use the complicated-treatment code when the case meets that distinction. Document the dislocation, the joint or joints treated, the closed manipulation performed, and whether treatment was initial or subsequent. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 identifies bilateral treatment and is paid at 150%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

CMS billing rules for 21480

Global period
Minor procedure with a 0-day global period: same-day preoperative and postoperative care is 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 procedure with modifier 50 is paid at 150%.
Assistant at surgery
Statutory restriction: assistant at surgery is not paid.
Co-surgeons
Co-surgeons not permitted.
Team surgery
Team surgery not permitted.

Where the value comes from

  • Work RVU0.59 · 11%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU4.43 · 86%
  • Malpractice RVU0.13 · 3%

731

Medicare services in 2024 · #3224 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.

21480 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Merced, from the same CMS release.

21485

TMJ reduction

Complicated dislocation

$1,073.05

Both describe closed treatment of a temporomandibular dislocation. Choose 21485 when the case meets the complicated-treatment distinction; otherwise use 21480.

21490

TMJ dislocation

Open treatment

No office rate

21490 is for open treatment of the dislocation. Use 21480 when the joint is treated by closed manipulation without open surgical exposure.

21073

TMJ manipulation

Requiring anesthesia

$453.29

21073 describes therapeutic TMJ manipulation requiring general anesthesia, such as for restricted joint motion. 21480 is for closed treatment of a dislocation.

The same code, a different location

How does Merced compare?

In Bakersfield, the office rate for 21480 is $184.90—$0.36 higher than the $184.54 rate in Merced. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

21480 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Merced · This locality

    $184.54

  2. Bakersfield

    $184.90

    $0.36 higher than Merced

  3. Chico

    $184.54

    The same base rate than Merced

  4. El Centro

    $184.56

    $0.02 higher than Merced

  5. Fresno

    $184.54

    The same base rate than Merced

  6. Hanford-Corcoran

    $184.54

    The same base rate than Merced

  7. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty)

    $198.44

    $13.90 higher than Merced

Other payment areas listed in California 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, 21480 ranges from $149.05 in Arkansas to $237.57 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

  • Madera

    California · 21480

    Office

    $184.54

    Facility

    $29.32

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 21480

    Office

    $184.54

    Facility

    $29.32

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 21480

    Office

    $218.17

    Facility

    $31.52

    $33.63 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 21480

    Office

    $197.86

    Facility

    $30.46

    $13.32 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 21480

    Office

    $184.54

    Facility

    $29.32

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 21480

    Office

    $184.54

    Facility

    $29.32

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 21480

    Office

    $185.94

    Facility

    $30.72

    $1.40 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 21480

    Office

    $194.83

    Facility

    $30.12

    $10.29 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 21480

    Office

    $194.14

    Facility

    $30.00

    $9.60 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 21480

    Office

    $199.62

    Facility

    $30.24

    $15.08 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 21480

    Office

    $232.20

    Facility

    $32.52

    $47.66 higher than Merced for the office setting.

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

    California · 21480

    Office

    $232.06

    Facility

    $32.37

    $47.52 higher than Merced for the office setting.

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

    California · 21480

    Office

    $237.57

    Facility

    $33.35

    $53.03 higher than Merced for the office setting.

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

    California · 21480

    Office

    $236.97

    Facility

    $32.75

    $52.43 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 21480

    Office

    $190.90

    Facility

    $29.60

    $6.36 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 21480

    Office

    $202.23

    Facility

    $30.16

    $17.69 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 21480

    Office

    $195.11

    Facility

    $29.99

    $10.57 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 21480

    Office

    $204.33

    Facility

    $30.42

    $19.79 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 21480

    Office

    $184.54

    Facility

    $29.32

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 21480

    Office

    $217.96

    Facility

    $31.31

    $33.42 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 21480

    Office

    $184.54

    Facility

    $29.32

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 21480

    Office

    $184.54

    Facility

    $29.32

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 21480

    Office

    $199.91

    Facility

    $33.08

    $15.37 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 21480

    Office

    $184.72

    Facility

    $37.29

    $0.18 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 21480

    Office

    $178.52

    Facility

    $36.19

    $6.02 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 21480

    Office

    $199.79

    Facility

    $35.23

    $15.25 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 21480

    Office

    $189.54

    Facility

    $38.71

    $5.00 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 21480

    Office

    $151.63

    Facility

    $27.72

    $32.91 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 21480

    Office

    $149.05

    Facility

    $27.39

    $35.49 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 21480

    Office

    $166.80

    Facility

    $29.57

    $17.74 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 21480

    Office

    $180.77

    Facility

    $30.09

    $3.77 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 21480

    Office

    $184.71

    Facility

    $32.19

    $0.17 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 21480

    Office

    $169.90

    Facility

    $29.98

    $14.64 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 21480

    Office

    $177.45

    Facility

    $33.99

    $7.09 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 21480

    Office

    $167.69

    Facility

    $32.30

    $16.85 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 21480

    Office

    $175.31

    Facility

    $31.43

    $9.23 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 21480

    Office

    $156.87

    Facility

    $30.54

    $27.67 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 21480

    Office

    $190.46

    Facility

    $29.44

    $5.92 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 21480

    Office

    $156.82

    Facility

    $27.24

    $27.72 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 21480

    Office

    $157.89

    Facility

    $27.60

    $26.65 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 21480

    Office

    $164.58

    Facility

    $34.29

    $19.96 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 21480

    Office

    $161.59

    Facility

    $32.29

    $22.95 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 21480

    Office

    $179.50

    Facility

    $34.06

    $5.04 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 21480

    Office

    $158.98

    Facility

    $27.70

    $25.56 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 21480

    Office

    $155.66

    Facility

    $27.63

    $28.88 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 21480

    Office

    $155.22

    Facility

    $29.32

    $29.32 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 21480

    Office

    $163.88

    Facility

    $30.61

    $20.66 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 21480

    Office

    $154.82

    Facility

    $29.48

    $29.72 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 21480

    Office

    $201.05

    Facility

    $31.96

    $16.51 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 21480

    Office

    $179.29

    Facility

    $30.17

    $5.25 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 21480

    Office

    $184.16

    Facility

    $32.20

    $0.38 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 21480

    Office

    $173.63

    Facility

    $30.31

    $10.91 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 21480

    Office

    $158.54

    Facility

    $28.25

    $26.00 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 21480

    Office

    $169.08

    Facility

    $28.74

    $15.46 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 21480

    Office

    $169.81

    Facility

    $33.15

    $14.73 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 21480

    Office

    $159.70

    Facility

    $30.40

    $24.84 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 21480

    Office

    $173.25

    Facility

    $27.52

    $11.29 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 21480

    Office

    $162.89

    Facility

    $29.91

    $21.65 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 21480

    Office

    $164.92

    Facility

    $30.10

    $19.62 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 21480

    Office

    $151.48

    Facility

    $29.41

    $33.06 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 21480

    Office

    $150.31

    Facility

    $28.38

    $34.23 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 21480

    Office

    $172.01

    Facility

    $30.39

    $12.53 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 21480

    Office

    $160.53

    Facility

    $28.40

    $24.01 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 21480

    Office

    $169.44

    Facility

    $27.82

    $15.10 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 21480

    Office

    $157.92

    Facility

    $27.21

    $26.62 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 21480

    Office

    $177.54

    Facility

    $30.11

    $7.00 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 21480

    Office

    $197.23

    Facility

    $32.95

    $12.69 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 21480

    Office

    $186.84

    Facility

    $32.19

    $2.30 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 21480

    Office

    $160.61

    Facility

    $30.74

    $23.93 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 21480

    Office

    $171.44

    Facility

    $29.68

    $13.10 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 21480

    Office

    $204.96

    Facility

    $36.58

    $20.42 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 21480

    Office

    $187.87

    Facility

    $32.80

    $3.33 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 21480

    Office

    $202.12

    Facility

    $34.73

    $17.58 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 21480

    Office

    $163.33

    Facility

    $28.79

    $21.21 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 21480

    Office

    $159.18

    Facility

    $29.88

    $25.36 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 21480

    Office

    $155.21

    Facility

    $28.75

    $29.33 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 21480

    Office

    $187.64

    Facility

    $30.30

    $3.10 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 21480

    Office

    $170.13

    Facility

    $29.08

    $14.41 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 21480

    Office

    $179.27

    Facility

    $31.85

    $5.27 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 21480

    Office

    $159.64

    Facility

    $29.64

    $24.90 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 21480

    Office

    $173.58

    Facility

    $30.40

    $10.96 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 21480

    Office

    $176.80

    Facility

    $30.51

    $7.74 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 21480

    Office

    $160.12

    Facility

    $29.26

    $24.42 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 21480

    Office

    $169.13

    Facility

    $27.51

    $15.41 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 21480

    Office

    $156.54

    Facility

    $27.81

    $28.00 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Austin

    Texas · 21480

    Office

    $180.14

    Facility

    $30.31

    $4.40 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Beaumont

    Texas · 21480

    Office

    $158.39

    Facility

    $29.52

    $26.15 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Brazoria

    Texas · 21480

    Office

    $169.89

    Facility

    $29.54

    $14.65 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Dallas

    Texas · 21480

    Office

    $170.98

    Facility

    $29.93

    $13.56 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Fort Worth

    Texas · 21480

    Office

    $169.56

    Facility

    $29.92

    $14.98 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Galveston

    Texas · 21480

    Office

    $170.39

    Facility

    $29.76

    $14.15 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Houston

    Texas · 21480

    Office

    $172.77

    Facility

    $32.14

    $11.77 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 21480

    Office

    $164.05

    Facility

    $29.65

    $20.49 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 21480

    Office

    $162.69

    Facility

    $29.57

    $21.85 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 21480

    Office

    $168.22

    Facility

    $29.01

    $16.32 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 21480

    Office

    $173.58

    Facility

    $30.40

    $10.96 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 21480

    Office

    $168.39

    Facility

    $28.19

    $16.15 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 21480

    Office

    $179.08

    Facility

    $29.95

    $5.46 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 21480

    Office

    $205.79

    Facility

    $32.03

    $21.25 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 21480

    Office

    $162.80

    Facility

    $27.12

    $21.74 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 21480

    Office

    $154.50

    Facility

    $31.43

    $30.04 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 21480

    Office

    $170.89

    Facility

    $29.27

    $13.65 lower than Merced for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

21480 · 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.

$149.05

$211.06

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

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$189.541
AL$151.631
AR$149.051
AZ$166.801
CA$184.54–$237.5729
CO$180.771
CT$184.711
DC$199.911
DE$169.901
FL$167.69–$184.723
GA$156.87–$175.312
GU$190.461
HI$190.461
IA$156.821
ID$157.891
IL$161.59–$179.504
IN$158.981
KS$155.661
KY$155.221
LA$154.82–$163.882
MA$179.29–$201.052
MD$173.63–$199.913
ME$158.54–$169.082
MI$159.70–$169.812
MN$173.251
MO$151.48–$164.923
MS$150.311
MT$172.011
NC$160.531
ND$169.441
NE$157.921
NH$177.541
NJ$186.84–$197.232
NM$160.611
NV$171.441
NY$163.33–$204.965
OH$159.181
OK$155.211
OR$170.13–$187.642
PA$159.64–$179.272
PR$173.581
RI$176.801
SC$160.121
SD$169.131
TN$156.541
TX$158.39–$180.148
UT$162.691
VA$168.22–$199.912
VI$173.581
VT$168.391
WA$179.08–$205.792
WI$162.801
WV$154.501
WY$170.891

Explore 21480 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

Merced is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 24 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.

Browse all communities in California →

Why are the office and facility amounts different?

For 21480 in Merced, the physician’s office rate is $184.54 and the facility-setting rate is $29.32: a difference of $155.22.

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 21480 in Merced. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$202.99

$184.54 × 110% = $202.99

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 21480 in Merced.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,993

Code
21480
Physician work
0.59
Practice expense
4.43
Malpractice
0.13

GPCI2026.csv

15

Locality
Merced
Physician work
1.017
Practice expense
1.096
Malpractice
0.536
Office / nonfacility calculation for 21480 in Merced
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.59× 1.0170.6000
Practice expense4.43× 1.0964.8553
Malpractice0.13× 0.5360.0697
Total RVUs5.5250
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Merced$184.54

Open 21480 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work0.591.017
Practice expense4.431.096
Malpractice0.130.536

(0.59 × 1.017 + 4.43 × 1.096 + 0.13 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $184.54

Facility

Facility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work0.591.017
Practice expense0.191.096
Malpractice0.130.536

(0.59 × 1.017 + 0.19 × 1.096 + 0.13 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $29.32

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

21480 · Office / nonfacility

$184.54

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $40.56 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $143.98 to $184.54 (28.2%).

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

    $143.98changed to$184.54

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.61 changed to 0.59
    • Practice expense RVU 3.44 changed to 4.43
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.017
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.093 changed to 1.096
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.560 changed to 0.536

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    Earliest loaded release: $143.98

    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$184.54$29.32RVU26D
2026-07-01$184.54$29.32RVU26C
2026-04-01$184.54$29.32RVU26B
2026-01-01$184.54$29.32RVU26A
2025-10-01$143.98$29.79RVU25D
2025-07-01$143.98$29.79RVU25C
2025-04-01$143.98$29.79RVU25B
2025-01-01$143.98$29.79RVU25A

21480 billing questions

When should 21480 be used instead of 21485?

Use 21480 for closed treatment of a temporomandibular dislocation that is not classified as complicated. Use 21485 when the treatment meets the complicated-dislocation distinction.

Does 21480 cover initial and follow-up closed treatment?

Yes. The code covers closed treatment whether it is initial or subsequent; document the encounter and the reduction or other closed treatment performed.

Can modifier 50 be reported for bilateral dislocations?

When both temporomandibular joints are treated bilaterally, modifier 50 identifies the bilateral procedure. CMS pays it at 150%.

Is same-day evaluation and postoperative care separately included?

The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. The code does not include care on later dates solely by virtue of that global period.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for 21480. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

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 21480PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,993 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for MercedGPCI2026.csv, line 15 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet