Billing code 12052: Wound repairMedicare rate & RVUs in Nevada
Report this code for an intermediate repair of facial or related wounds when the total repaired length falls within the 2.6-to-5-centimeter range.
Medicare pays $310.27 for 12052 in the office in Nevada (Nevada**). 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 12052 covers
This code covers intermediate repair of wounds involving the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membranes. A typical case is a facial laceration closed in layers, with repair of deeper tissue as well as the skin. A single-layer closure can also qualify when a heavily contaminated wound requires extensive cleaning or removal of particulate matter. Physicians and other qualified practitioners commonly perform these repairs in emergency departments, offices, and operating rooms.
Select the code by the repair’s complexity, anatomic group, and total length. Add together the lengths of wounds in the same anatomic and repair classification, and document the sites, measured lengths, and closure technique or qualifying wound cleaning. Medicare assigns a 10-day global period, which includes related postoperative visits during that period. 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. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service, and co-surgeon and team-surgery billing 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.
12052 in Nevada**
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada** | $310.27 | $170.85 |
How the 12052 rate is calculated
Each of 12052’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 · 12052
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 2.80Practice expense 6.20Malpractice 0.34
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 12052
12052 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 12052
Wound repair
| 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 · 12052
Wound repair
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
12052 without 51 · national office
$311.96
Wound repair
12052-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$155.98
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%).
12052 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
12052 vs 12051 vs 12053 vs 12013: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 12051Facial repair
- This code covers intermediate repair of facial and related-site wounds measuring 2.6–5.0 cm; 12051 is the shorter-length tier, at 2.5 cm or less.
- 12053Wound repair
- Use 12053 when the intermediate repair’s total length is 5.1–7.5 cm. This code is for 2.6–5.0 cm.
- 12013Wound repair
- Both codes cover facial wounds in the 2.6–5.0 cm length range, but 12013 is for simple repair; this code requires intermediate repair.
12052 billing questions
How is this code distinguished from 12051 or 12053?
Choose by total repaired length within the same facial and intermediate-repair category: 12051 is for 2.5 cm or less, this code is for 2.6–5.0 cm, and 12053 is for 5.1–7.5 cm.
When does a facial wound qualify as an intermediate repair?
The repair generally involves layered closure, including deeper tissue and skin. A single-layer closure may qualify when extensive cleaning is required for a heavily contaminated wound.
Can separate closure codes be reported for the layers?
No separate code is reported for the skin closure that is part of this intermediate repair. Document the repair method and the wound’s length and location.
Should modifier 50 be used for wounds on both sides of the face?
No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code; report the applicable repair code based on the documented wounds and their combined length within the classification.
How does the 10-day global period affect follow-up visits?
Related postoperative visits during the 10 days after the repair are included in the global period.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction are paid at 50%.
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
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