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CPT code 15004: Wound preparation, face, hands, feet, and similar sites2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Reports surgical preparation of a wound recipient site on specified complex body areas before grafting or reconstruction, measured by the prepared area.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality42K Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $456.62 for 15004 in the office and $249.66 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$456.62Office (non-facility)
$249.66Hospital or facility
+12.9%vs the national office rate ($404.48)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 15004 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 15004 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 15004 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 15004 covers

This service prepares a wound bed on the face, scalp, eyelids, mouth, neck, ears, around the eyes, genitalia, hands, feet, or multiple digits. The surgeon excises nonviable wound tissue, burn eschar, or scar, including involved subcutaneous tissue, to create a suitable recipient site for reconstruction. Plastic surgeons, burn surgeons, and other surgeons performing reconstruction may provide it in an operating room or another appropriate procedural setting. The code represents site preparation, not placement of a graft or other reconstructive material.

Report 15004 for the first 100 sq cm, or the applicable 1% body-surface-area unit for infants and children; use 15005 for each additional unit. Document the anatomic site, prepared area, tissue removed, and the operative work that created the recipient bed. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

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 15004

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 15004 runs from $361.38 in Arkansas to $514.94 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $456.62. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

15004 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$456.62
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$446.56−$10.06
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$445.76−$10.86
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$433.52−$23.10
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$464.16+$7.54
  6. Alaska · Alaska$485.08+$28.46
  7. Alabama · Alabama$366.19−$90.43

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

Every other payment area

15004 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$361.38$210.46
ArizonaArizona$394.23$223.99
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$421.73$229.18
Chico, CACalifornia$419.92$227.37
El Centro, CACalifornia$420.03$227.47
Fresno, CACalifornia$419.92$227.37
Hanford, CACalifornia$419.92$227.37
Madera, CACalifornia$419.92$227.37

15004 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.

$361.38

$485.08

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

View every state and territory as a table
15004 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$485.081
AL$366.191
AR$361.381
AZ$394.231
CA$419.92–$514.9429
CO$416.751
CT$429.871
DC$456.621
DE$400.331
FL$404.58–$445.763
GA$383.14–$412.852
GU$427.891
HI$427.891
IA$372.071
ID$374.811
IL$395.74–$433.524
IN$376.721
KS$371.701
KY$376.701
LA$376.65–$393.472
MA$415.10–$453.822
MD$407.09–$456.623
ME$377.90–$394.732
MI$386.76–$410.482
MN$396.711
MO$371.59–$393.273
MS$366.491
MT$404.441
NC$381.301
ND$392.181
NE$373.551
NH$411.511
NJ$434.04–$452.812
NM$389.191
NV$401.261
NY$386.61–$476.105
OH$384.251
OK$374.781
OR$397.40–$427.602
PA$384.12–$420.782
PR$406.751
RI$412.821
SC$383.561
SD$390.731
TN$373.561
TX$381.91–$416.028
UT$388.301
VA$394.41–$456.622
VI$406.751
VT$391.911
WA$413.90–$461.392
WI$380.311
WV$382.691
WY$399.101

See 15004 in every payment locality

How the 15004 rate is calculated

Each of 15004’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 · 15004

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work4.47

4.47 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense7.02

7.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.62

0.62 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

12.1100

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$404.48

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

1,468

Code
15004
Physician work
4.47
Practice expense
7.02
Malpractice
0.62

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 15004 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work4.47× 1.0544.7114
Practice expense7.02× 1.1788.2696
Malpractice0.62× 1.1130.6901
Total RVUs13.6710
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$456.62

Office: (4.47 × 1.054 + 7.02 × 1.178 + 0.62 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $456.62

Facility: (4.47 × 1.054 + 1.76 × 1.178 + 0.62 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $249.66

Open 15004 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 15004

The CMS indicators that decide how 15004 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 15004

Wound preparation, face, hands, feet, and similar sites

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included.
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 15004

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

Codes related to 15004
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Used instead
15002Wound preparation, trunk, arms, or legsRecipient-site preparation for the trunk, arms, or legs rather than the anatomic areas covered by 15004.$411.54
15003Wound preparation, each additional areaAdditional-area preparation code for the trunk, arms, or legs.$84.51
Add-on codes
15005Wound preparation, additional area, face or handAdd-on code for each additional prepared area unit at the sites covered by 15004.$139.56
Often billed with
15120Skin graft, special sites, initial areaMay represent split-thickness skin graft placement at a prepared site in the same anatomic areas.$985.15

How 15004 has changed in Washington, DC area

15004 · Office / nonfacility

$456.62

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $24.06 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $432.56 to $456.62 (5.6%).

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

    $432.56changed to$456.62

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 4.58 changed to 4.47
    • Practice expense RVU 6.54 changed to 7.02
    • Malpractice RVU 0.63 changed to 0.62
    • 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

    $445.54changed to$432.56

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 6.56 changed to 6.54
    • Malpractice RVU 0.62 changed to 0.63

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $438.27changed to$445.54

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $461.29changed to$438.27

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 6.58 changed to 6.56
    • Malpractice RVU 0.64 changed to 0.62
    • 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

    $477.61changed to$461.29

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Malpractice RVU 0.65 changed to 0.64
    • 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

    $482.41changed to$477.61

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 6.61 changed to 6.58
    • Malpractice RVU 0.64 changed to 0.65

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $476.93changed to$482.41

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 6.24 changed to 6.61
    • Malpractice RVU 0.62 changed to 0.64
    • 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

    $469.04changed to$476.93

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 6.18 changed to 6.24
    • 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

    $468.53changed to$469.04

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $468.26changed to$468.53

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Malpractice RVU 0.63 changed to 0.62
    • 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

    $468.28changed to$468.26

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 6.19 changed to 6.18
    • 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

    $470.84changed to$468.28

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 6.21 changed to 6.19

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $468.49changed to$470.84

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $464.28changed to$468.49

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 6.14 changed to 6.21
    • Malpractice RVU 0.64 changed to 0.63
    • 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

    $465.57changed to$464.28

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 6.78 changed to 6.14
    • Malpractice RVU 0.67 changed to 0.64
    • 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: $465.57

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$456.62$249.66RVU26D
2026-07-01$456.62$249.66RVU26C
2026-04-01$456.62$249.66RVU26B
2026-01-01$456.62$249.66RVU26A
2025-10-01$432.56$280.64RVU25D
2025-07-01$432.56$280.64RVU25C
2025-04-01$432.56$280.64RVU25B
2025-01-01$432.56$280.64RVU25A
2024-10-01$445.54$284.85RVU24D
2024-07-01$445.54$284.85RVU24C
2024-04-01$445.54$284.85RVU24B
2024-03-09$445.54$284.85RVU24AR
2024-01-01$438.27$280.20RVU24A
2023-10-01$461.29$293.03RVU23D
2023-07-01$461.29$293.03RVU23C
2023-04-01$461.29$293.03RVU23B
2023-01-01$461.29$293.03RVU23A
2022-10-01$477.61$300.53RVU22D
2022-07-01$477.61$300.53RVU22C
2022-04-01$477.61$300.53RVU22B
2022-01-01$477.61$300.53RVU22A
2021-10-01$482.41$302.57RVU21D
2021-07-01$482.41$302.57RVU21C
2021-04-01$482.41$302.57RVU21B
2021-01-01$482.41$302.57RVU21A
2020-10-01$476.93$309.92RVU20D
2020-07-01$476.93$309.92RVU20C
2020-04-01$476.93$309.92RVU20B
2020-01-01$476.93$309.92RVU20A
2019-10-01$469.04$308.36RVU19D
2019-07-01$469.04$308.36RVU19C
2019-04-01$469.04$308.36RVU19B
2019-01-01$469.04$308.36RVU19A
2018-10-01$468.53$310.19RVU18D
2018-07-01$468.53$310.19RVU18C
2018-04-01$468.53$310.19RVU18B
2018-01-01$468.53$310.19RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$468.26$312.14RVU17D
2017-07-01$468.26$312.14RVU17C
2017-04-01$468.26$312.14RVU17B
2017-01-01$468.26$312.14RVU17A
2016-10-01$468.28$312.53RVU16D
2016-07-01$468.28$312.53RVU16C
2016-04-01$468.28$312.53RVU16B
2016-01-01$468.28$312.53RVU16A
2015-10-01$470.84$314.53RVU15D
2015-07-01$470.84$314.53RVU15C
2015-04-01$468.49$312.96RVU15B
2015-01-01$468.49$312.96RVU15A
2014-10-01$464.28$311.42RVU14D
2014-07-01$464.28$311.42RVU14C
2014-04-01$464.28$311.42RVU14B
2014-01-01$464.28$311.42RVU14A
2013-10-01$465.57$303.75RVU13D
2013-07-01$465.57$303.75RVU13C
2013-04-01$465.57$303.75RVU13B
2013-01-01$465.57$303.75RVU13AR

Price 15004 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

15004 billing questions

When should 15004 be chosen instead of 15002?

Use 15004 for recipient-site preparation on the face, scalp, eyelids, mouth, neck, ears, around the eyes, genitalia, hands, feet, or multiple digits. Code 15002 is for the corresponding preparation on the trunk, arms, or legs.

How is additional prepared area reported?

Report 15004 for the initial area unit and 15005 for each additional 100 sq cm, or applicable additional 1% body-surface-area unit for infants and children. The operative report should support the measured area.

Does 15004 include placement of a skin graft?

No. It represents preparation of the recipient bed, not graft placement. When a graft is also placed, the graft service is represented by its applicable graft code.

Can modifier 50 be used for preparation on both sides?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for 15004. Report the service according to the prepared area and applicable code-family instructions.

What same-day care is included in the payment?

The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

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 15004PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,468 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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