CPT code 21015: Tumor resection2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Oklahoma
Reports resection of a soft-tissue tumor beneath the fascia of the face or scalp when the tumor measures less than 2 cm.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 21015 in Oklahoma.
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 21015 covers
This code describes resection of a soft-tissue tumor in the face or scalp that lies beneath the fascia, including a submuscular location, and measures less than 2 cm. Head and neck, plastic, or other surgeons may perform the operation in a hospital or ambulatory surgical setting. The operative report should identify the facial or scalp site, the tumor’s subfascial depth, its size, and the resection performed.
Select this code when the documented depth, size, and resection approach match; a superficial lesion or a larger tumor belongs to a different code in the family. The service has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When multiple procedures occur in the same 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. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service, and co-surgeon and team-surgery reporting 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.
21015 in Oklahoma
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | Unavailable | $599.09 |
How the 21015 rate is calculated
Each of 21015’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 · 21015
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work9.64
9.64 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense7.82
7.82 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.69
1.69 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
19.1500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$639.63
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 21015
21015 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 21015
Tumor resection
| 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) | 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) | 0.10/0.69/0.21 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 21015
Tumor resection
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
21015 without 51 · national facility
$639.63
Tumor resection
21015-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$319.82
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%).
21015 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 21013Tumor excision
- Both address subfascial face or scalp tumors under 2 cm, but 21013 is for excision. Report 21015 when the operative documentation supports resection.
- 21016Tumor resection
- This code is for a subfascial tumor under 2 cm; 21016 is for one measuring 2 cm or greater.
- 21011Facial tumor excision
- 21011 concerns a subcutaneous face or scalp tumor under 2 cm. This code requires a subfascial location and a resection.
21015 billing questions
How is this different from 21013?
Both concern a subfascial face or scalp tumor under 2 cm. This code is for resection; 21013 describes excision, so the operative report must support the procedure performed.
When should 21016 be used instead?
Use 21016 when the subfascial face or scalp tumor is 2 cm or greater. This code is for a tumor measuring less than 2 cm.
Does a subcutaneous tumor qualify?
No. This code is for a tumor beneath the fascia, including a submuscular location; subcutaneous face or scalp tumors are represented by other codes.
Can modifier 50 be reported for tumors on both sides?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code. Do not use modifier 50.
Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during the 90 days after surgery.
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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