CPT / HCPCS code · 2026 CMS data · Verified 2026-08-31
CPT 21015 RVU and Medicare Payment (2026)
Resect face/scalp tum < 2 cm — 9.64 work RVU, about $639.63 non-facility Medicare payment at the 2026 conversion factor.
- Work RVU
- 9.64
- PE RVU (non-facility)
- 7.82
- PE RVU (facility)
- 7.82
- MP RVU
- 1.69
- Office payment
- $639.63
- Facility payment
- $639.63
How the payment is calculated
Total RVU is work plus practice expense plus malpractice, each adjusted by its GPCI factor, then multiplied by the conversion factor. For 21015 in a non-facility setting with national GPCI: (9.64 + 7.82 + 1.69) × $33.4009 ≈ $639.63. The same code in a facility setting pays about $639.63 because facility PE RVU (7.82) replaces office PE RVU.
What changes by locality
GPCI moves 21015 non-facility payment from $575.42 to $792.25 across CMS localities — from Arkansas to Alaska. Check your exact locality in the GPCI calculator rather than using a state average.
Related codes
Checking a different code or locality? Open the full RVU calculator to run any of the 7,790 CPT/HCPCS codes with your own GPCI factors.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 2026 work RVU for CPT 21015?
9.64. Work RVU measures physician time, skill, and intensity — it does not change by setting or locality. Total payment adds practice expense and malpractice RVUs plus the conversion factor.
How much does Medicare pay for CPT 21015 in 2026?
About $639.63 non-facility ($639.63 facility) at national GPCI with the 2026 $33.4009 conversion factor. Your locality GPCI moves the number — see the range above.
Does the work RVU change between office and facility?
No. Work RVU (9.64) and malpractice RVU stay fixed; only practice expense changes (7.82 office vs 7.82 facility). That is the entire office-vs-facility payment gap.