Billing code 21044: Jaw tumor excisionMedicare rate & RVUs in Ohio
Removal of a malignant tumor of the mandible through an intraoral approach, typically performed by an oral and maxillofacial or head and neck surgeon.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 21044 in Ohio.
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 21044 covers
This service covers surgical removal of a malignant tumor arising in the mandible through an incision inside the mouth. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons and head and neck surgeons may perform it in an operating room. The operative report should identify the mandibular site, describe the tumor removal, and document the intraoral route; pathology findings can support the diagnosis. The code distinguishes this procedure from removal of a benign mandibular lesion and from malignant tumor surgery performed through an external approach.
Report the service for the malignant mandibular tumor excision itself, selecting the code based on the documented diagnosis, bone site, and surgical approach. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. 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 multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons require supporting documentation, and team surgery is 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.
21044 in Ohio
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | Unavailable | $740.47 |
How the 21044 rate is calculated
Each of 21044’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 · 21044
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 12.48Practice expense 8.57Malpractice 1.85
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 21044
21044 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 21044
Jaw tumor excision
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 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) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.69/0.21 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 21044
Jaw tumor excision
90-day global period ends
Dec 30, 2026
Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
21044 without 51 · national facility
$764.88
Jaw tumor excision
21044-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$382.44
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%).
21044 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
21044 vs 21045 vs 21040 vs 21034: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 21045Mandible tumor resection
- Both describe removal of a malignant mandibular tumor; choose 21044 for an intraoral route and 21045 for an extraoral route.
- 21040Mandibular lesion excision
- 21040 applies to a benign mandibular tumor or cyst. Code 21044 applies when the mandibular tumor is malignant.
- 21034Tumor excision
- 21034 addresses malignant tumor excision of the maxilla or zygoma. Code 21044 is for a malignant tumor of the mandible.
21044 billing questions
When should 21044 be chosen instead of 21045?
Use 21044 when the malignant mandibular tumor is removed through an intraoral approach. Code 21045 describes the corresponding procedure using an extraoral approach.
How does 21044 differ from 21040?
21044 is for removal of a malignant mandibular tumor. Code 21040 concerns a benign tumor or cyst of the mandible.
Is modifier 50 appropriate for bilateral mandibular tumors?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code. Report the performed service according to the applicable coding instructions rather than appending modifier 50.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?
An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeons are paid only when supporting documentation is provided; team surgery is 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 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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