CPT / HCPCS code · 2026 CMS data · Verified 2026-08-31
CPT 21184 RVU and Medicare Payment (2026)
Reconstruct cranial bone — 37.65 work RVU, about $2,154.36 non-facility Medicare payment at the 2026 conversion factor.
- Work RVU
- 37.65
- PE RVU (non-facility)
- 19.84
- PE RVU (facility)
- 19.84
- MP RVU
- 7.01
- Office payment
- $2,154.36
- Facility payment
- $2,154.36
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 21184 in a non-facility setting with national GPCI: (37.65 + 19.84 + 7.01) × $33.4009 ≈ $2,154.36. The same code in a facility setting pays about $2,154.36 because facility PE RVU (19.84) replaces office PE RVU.
What changes by locality
GPCI moves 21184 non-facility payment from $1,947.36 to $2,721.07 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 21184?
37.65. 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 21184 in 2026?
About $2,154.36 non-facility ($2,154.36 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 (37.65) and malpractice RVU stay fixed; only practice expense changes (19.84 office vs 19.84 facility). That is the entire office-vs-facility payment gap.