CPT / HCPCS code · 2026 CMS data · Verified 2026-08-31
CPT 21182 RVU and Medicare Payment (2026)
Reconstruct cranial bone — 31.77 work RVU, about $1,849.07 non-facility Medicare payment at the 2026 conversion factor.
- Work RVU
- 31.77
- PE RVU (non-facility)
- 17.69
- PE RVU (facility)
- 17.69
- MP RVU
- 5.9
- Office payment
- $1,849.07
- Facility payment
- $1,849.07
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 21182 in a non-facility setting with national GPCI: (31.77 + 17.69 + 5.9) × $33.4009 ≈ $1,849.07. The same code in a facility setting pays about $1,849.07 because facility PE RVU (17.69) replaces office PE RVU.
What changes by locality
GPCI moves 21182 non-facility payment from $1,670.19 to $2,329.57 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 21182?
31.77. 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 21182 in 2026?
About $1,849.07 non-facility ($1,849.07 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 (31.77) and malpractice RVU stay fixed; only practice expense changes (17.69 office vs 17.69 facility). That is the entire office-vs-facility payment gap.