Billing code 10120: Foreign body removalMedicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Report 10120 when a clinician makes a straightforward incision to remove a retained foreign object from subcutaneous tissue, such as a splinter.
Medicare pays $150.13–$164.25 for 10120 in the office in Illinois, from Rest Of Illinois to Suburban Chicago. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
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 9 sections
What 10120 covers
Code 10120 describes a straightforward incision and extraction of a retained object in the tissue just beneath the skin, such as a splinter that cannot be removed from the surface. Physicians and other qualified practitioners commonly perform the procedure in an office or outpatient setting, after locating the object and preparing the site. The code is for subcutaneous tissue; a foreign body in a deeper structure or a more complex removal may call for another code.
Select 10120 when the documented service supports a simple extraction, rather than the more complicated service represented by 10121. The record should identify the object and site, show its subcutaneous location, and describe the incision and removal. CMS assigns a 10-day global period, so related postoperative visits during that period are included. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted, and 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 10120 pays more and less in Illinois
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
4 payment localities
$150.13 to $164.25
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $164.22 | $108.83 |
| East St. Louis | $153.03 | $102.33 |
| Rest Of Illinois | $150.13 | $99.81 |
| Suburban Chicago | $164.25 | $107.66 |
How the 10120 rate is calculated
Each of 10120’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 · 10120
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 1.19Practice expense 3.38Malpractice 0.14
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 10120
10120 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 10120
Foreign body removal
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 010 | Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.80/0.10 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 10120
Foreign body removal
10-day global period ends
Oct 11, 2026
Covers Oct 1, 2026 through Oct 11, 2026 (11 days).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
After the global period ends: visits and procedures are billed normally.
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
10120 without 51 · national office
$157.32
Foreign body removal
10120-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$78.66
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%).
10120 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
10120 vs 10121 vs 20520 vs 28190: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 10121Foreign body removal
- Both codes address subcutaneous foreign-body removal; 10120 is for a straightforward extraction, while 10121 represents a complicated removal.
- 20520Foreign body removal
- Use 20520 when the foreign body is in muscle or a tendon sheath, rather than in subcutaneous tissue.
- 28190Foot foreign body removal
- Use 28190 for subcutaneous foreign-body removal in the foot; 10120 is the general code for a simple subcutaneous extraction.
10120 billing questions
How do I choose between 10120 and 10121?
Use 10120 for a straightforward subcutaneous extraction. Use 10121 when the documented removal is complicated.
Does 10120 include related follow-up visits?
Yes. CMS assigns a 10-day global period that includes related postoperative visits during those 10 days.
Can I report modifier 50 for foreign bodies on both sides?
No. The descriptor and anatomy make a bilateral adjustment with modifier 50 inappropriate.
How does CMS reduce payment when other procedures are performed in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and the other procedures are paid at 50%.
Can an assistant, co-surgeon, or surgical team be reported for 10120?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
What documentation supports reporting 10120?
Document the foreign body's site and subcutaneous location, along with the incision and straightforward extraction performed.
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
Fee sheets
Put 10120 and the rest of your codes on one sheet
Build a fee sheet from your own code list at your locality, put your payer contracts beside Medicare, and see what changed each quarter.
Build my fee sheetOr price your code list free →