CPT / HCPCS code · 2026 CMS data · Verified 2026-08-31
CPT 61571 RVU and Medicare Payment (2026)
Incise skull for brain wound — 27.71 work RVU, about $1,943.6 non-facility Medicare payment at the 2026 conversion factor.
- Work RVU
- 27.71
- PE RVU (non-facility)
- 18.76
- PE RVU (facility)
- 18.76
- MP RVU
- 11.72
- Office payment
- $1,943.6
- Facility payment
- $1,943.6
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 61571 in a non-facility setting with national GPCI: (27.71 + 18.76 + 11.72) × $33.4009 ≈ $1,943.6. The same code in a facility setting pays about $1,943.6 because facility PE RVU (18.76) replaces office PE RVU.
What changes by locality
GPCI moves 61571 non-facility payment from $1,646.39 to $2,567.83 across CMS localities — from Wisconsin to Miami. 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 61571?
27.71. 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 61571 in 2026?
About $1,943.6 non-facility ($1,943.6 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 (27.71) and malpractice RVU stay fixed; only practice expense changes (18.76 office vs 18.76 facility). That is the entire office-vs-facility payment gap.