FeeBase
Log inGet started
Menu

CPT code 15003: Wound preparation, each additional area2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Reports additional surgical preparation of a trunk, arm, or leg wound bed when excision of damaged tissue extends beyond the initial area.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality42.8K Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $84.51 for 15003 in the office and $43.20 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$84.51Office (non-facility)
$43.20Hospital or facility
+13.0%vs the national office rate ($74.82)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 15003 nationwide

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

We’ll open 15003 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 15003 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 15003 covers

This add-on reports further surgical preparation of a wound recipient site on the trunk, an arm, or a leg after the initial area has been reported. The surgeon excises open-wound tissue, burn eschar, or scar, including subcutaneous tissue, to ready the wound bed for grafting or another reconstructive treatment. Plastic, burn, and other surgeons commonly perform this work in an operating room or procedure facility.

Report 15003 for each additional 100 square centimeters, or each additional 1% of body surface area in infants and children, beyond the initial area represented by 15002. The operative record should identify the treated body site, the excised tissue, and the total recipient-site area prepared. CMS classifies 15003 as an add-on: it must be billed with its primary procedure, 15002, and is paid within that procedure’s global period.

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.

How Washington, DC area compares for 15003

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 15003 runs from $65.87 in Arkansas to $93.79 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $84.51. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

15003 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$84.51
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$81.69−$2.82
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$85.76+$1.25
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$83.00−$1.51
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$86.93+$2.42
  6. Alaska · Alaska$87.92+$3.41
  7. Alabama · Alabama$66.86−$17.65

Other areas in District of Columbia first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

15003 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$65.87$35.75
ArizonaArizona$72.63$38.64
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$77.07$38.63
Chico, CACalifornia$76.58$38.14
El Centro, CACalifornia$76.61$38.17
Fresno, CACalifornia$76.58$38.14
Hanford, CACalifornia$76.58$38.14
Madera, CACalifornia$76.58$38.14

15003 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

$65.87

$87.92

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
15003 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$87.921
AL$66.861
AR$65.871
AZ$72.631
CA$76.58–$93.7929
CO$76.551
CT$79.891
DC$84.511
DE$73.831
FL$75.96–$85.763
GA$71.36–$76.792
GU$78.141
HI$78.141
IA$67.561
ID$68.231
IL$74.48–$83.004
IN$68.611
KS$67.731
KY$69.561
LA$69.65–$73.112
MA$76.28–$83.522
MD$75.10–$84.513
ME$69.13–$72.212
MI$71.87–$77.452
MN$71.831
MO$68.76–$72.783
MS$67.311
MT$74.811
NC$69.781
ND$71.251
NE$67.791
NH$75.821
NJ$80.38–$83.712
NM$72.481
NV$73.861
NY$70.89–$89.725
OH$71.151
OK$68.901
OR$72.86–$78.442
PA$70.98–$78.202
PR$75.201
RI$76.071
SC$70.671
SD$70.831
TN$68.141
TX$70.54–$76.998
UT$71.641
VA$72.32–$84.512
VI$75.201
VT$71.421
WA$75.99–$84.732
WI$68.861
WV$71.811
WY$73.251

See 15003 in every payment locality

How the 15003 rate is calculated

Each of 15003’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 · 15003

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.78

0.78 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense1.28

1.28 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.18

0.18 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

2.2400

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$74.82

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

The exact Washington, DC area inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,467

Code
15003
Physician work
0.78
Practice expense
1.28
Malpractice
0.18

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 15003 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.78× 1.0540.8221
Practice expense1.28× 1.1781.5078
Malpractice0.18× 1.1130.2003
Total RVUs2.5303
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$84.51

Office: (0.78 × 1.054 + 1.28 × 1.178 + 0.18 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $84.51

Facility: (0.78 × 1.054 + 0.23 × 1.178 + 0.18 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $43.20

Open 15003 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 15003

The CMS indicators that decide how 15003 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 15003

Wound preparation, each additional area

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodZZZAdd-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

Codes related to 15003

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 15003
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Add-on codes
15002Wound preparation, trunk, arms, or legsReports the initial qualifying trunk, arm, or leg recipient-site area and is required with 15003.$411.54
Same family
15005Wound preparation, additional area, face or handAdditional-area wound preparation for specified sites such as the face, scalp, hands, and feet.$139.56
Used instead
15004Wound preparation, face, hands, feet, and similar sitesReports the initial recipient-site area when preparation involves the specified face, head, hand, foot, or genital sites.$456.62
Often billed with
15100Skin graft, trunk, arms, or legsSplit-thickness skin graft placement may follow preparation of a trunk, arm, or leg recipient site.$1,042.63

How 15003 has changed in Washington, DC area

15003 · Office / nonfacility

$84.51

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $8.71 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $75.80 to $84.51 (11.5%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $75.80changed to$84.51

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.80 changed to 0.78
    • Practice expense RVU 1.09 changed to 1.28
    • Malpractice RVU 0.17 changed to 0.18
    • Work GPCI 1.057 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.192 changed to 1.178
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.168 changed to 1.113

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $78.79changed to$75.80

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 1.10 changed to 1.09
    • Malpractice RVU 0.18 changed to 0.17

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $77.51changed to$78.79

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $81.39changed to$77.51

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Work GPCI 1.056 changed to 1.057
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.214 changed to 1.192
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.231 changed to 1.168

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $84.72changed to$81.39

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 1.11 changed to 1.10
    • Work GPCI 1.054 changed to 1.056
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.236 changed to 1.214
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.294 changed to 1.231

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $86.67changed to$84.72

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 1.16 changed to 1.11
    • Malpractice RVU 0.16 changed to 0.18

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $87.01changed to$86.67

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 1.12 changed to 1.16
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.221 changed to 1.236
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.277 changed to 1.294

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $87.34changed to$87.01

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 1.15 changed to 1.12
    • Work GPCI 1.045 changed to 1.049
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.221
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.261 changed to 1.277

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $89.41changed to$87.34

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 1.20 changed to 1.15

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $88.83changed to$89.41

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Malpractice RVU 0.15 changed to 0.16
    • Work GPCI 1.048 changed to 1.045
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.271 changed to 1.261

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $88.75changed to$88.83

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Work GPCI 1.051 changed to 1.048
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.280 changed to 1.271

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $89.50changed to$88.75

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 1.21 changed to 1.20

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $89.06changed to$89.50

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $87.81changed to$89.06

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 1.19 changed to 1.21
    • Work GPCI 1.050 changed to 1.051
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.202 changed to 1.205
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.280

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $88.91changed to$87.81

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 1.33 changed to 1.19
    • Malpractice RVU 0.16 changed to 0.15
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.050
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.198 changed to 1.202
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.130 changed to 1.205

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $88.91

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$84.51$43.20RVU26D
2026-07-01$84.51$43.20RVU26C
2026-04-01$84.51$43.20RVU26B
2026-01-01$84.51$43.20RVU26A
2025-10-01$75.80$47.66RVU25D
2025-07-01$75.80$47.66RVU25C
2025-04-01$75.80$47.66RVU25B
2025-01-01$75.80$47.66RVU25A
2024-10-01$78.79$49.43RVU24D
2024-07-01$78.79$49.43RVU24C
2024-04-01$78.79$49.43RVU24B
2024-03-09$78.79$49.43RVU24AR
2024-01-01$77.51$48.62RVU24A
2023-10-01$81.39$50.95RVU23D
2023-07-01$81.39$50.95RVU23C
2023-04-01$81.39$50.95RVU23B
2023-01-01$81.39$50.95RVU23A
2022-10-01$84.72$52.64RVU22D
2022-07-01$84.72$52.64RVU22C
2022-04-01$84.72$52.64RVU22B
2022-01-01$84.72$52.64RVU22A
2021-10-01$86.67$52.60RVU21D
2021-07-01$86.67$52.60RVU21C
2021-04-01$86.67$52.60RVU21B
2021-01-01$86.67$52.60RVU21A
2020-10-01$87.01$53.52RVU20D
2020-07-01$87.01$53.52RVU20C
2020-04-01$87.01$53.52RVU20B
2020-01-01$87.01$53.52RVU20A
2019-10-01$87.34$53.03RVU19D
2019-07-01$87.34$53.03RVU19C
2019-04-01$87.34$53.03RVU19B
2019-01-01$87.34$53.03RVU19A
2018-10-01$89.41$53.41RVU18D
2018-07-01$89.41$53.41RVU18C
2018-04-01$89.41$53.41RVU18B
2018-01-01$89.41$53.41RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$88.83$52.93RVU17D
2017-07-01$88.83$52.93RVU17C
2017-04-01$88.83$52.93RVU17B
2017-01-01$88.83$52.93RVU17A
2016-10-01$88.75$52.94RVU16D
2016-07-01$88.75$52.94RVU16C
2016-04-01$88.75$52.94RVU16B
2016-01-01$88.75$52.94RVU16A
2015-10-01$89.50$53.13RVU15D
2015-07-01$89.50$53.13RVU15C
2015-04-01$89.06$52.87RVU15B
2015-01-01$89.06$52.87RVU15A
2014-10-01$87.81$52.07RVU14D
2014-07-01$87.81$52.07RVU14C
2014-04-01$87.81$52.07RVU14B
2014-01-01$87.81$52.07RVU14A
2013-10-01$88.91$50.60RVU13D
2013-07-01$88.91$50.60RVU13C
2013-04-01$88.91$50.60RVU13B
2013-01-01$88.91$50.60RVU13AR

Price 15003 for an earlier date of service

Where the Washington, DC area rate applies

Washington, DC area is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1 cities and communities in District of Columbia. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Washington

Browse all communities in District of Columbia

15003 billing questions

When is 15003 reported instead of 15002?

15002 represents the initial qualifying area on the trunk, arms, or legs. Report 15003 for each additional 100 square centimeters, or each additional 1% of body surface area in infants and children.

Can 15003 be billed by itself?

No. It is an add-on code and must be reported with 15002 for the initial area.

Does wound-bed preparation include the graft placement?

No. The preparation describes excision to ready the recipient site; graft or other reconstructive treatment is a separate service when performed and reportable.

What documentation supports additional units?

Document the anatomic site, the tissue excised, and the total recipient-site area prepared. The recorded area should support each additional 100-square-centimeter increment or, for an infant or child, each additional 1% body-surface-area increment.

How does the global-period rule affect 15003?

CMS treats 15003 as an add-on paid within the primary procedure’s global period. It is not reported as a standalone service.

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
RVUs for 15003PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,467 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

Did this answer your question about what 15003 pays in Washington, DC area?

Tell us what you were actually trying to work out. We’ll answer you directly, or build the page that does.

Fee sheets · Coming soon

Put 15003 and the rest of your codes on one sheet

Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.

Join the waitlist