CPT code 15120: Skin graft, special sites, initial area2026 Medicare rate & RVUs
Reports the initial split-thickness skin autograft area for reconstruction of the face, hands, feet, genitalia, or other designated sites.
Medicare pays $874.10 for 15120 nationally in the office and $614.91 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $778.75–$1,101.35.
Medicare rate · 15120
Skin graft, special sites, initial area
- Work RVUs
- 9.9
- Total RVUs
- 26.17
- Global days
- 090
National rate · 2026
$874.10
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 15120 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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On this page 10 sections
What 15120 covers
A split-thickness autograft transfers the patient’s own epidermis and part of the dermis from a donor site to a recipient wound. This code covers the initial area when the recipient site is the face, scalp, eyelids, mouth, neck, ears, orbits, genitalia, hands, feet, or multiple digits. Plastic and reconstructive surgeons, burn surgeons, and other surgeons may use it for burn wounds, traumatic defects, or defects after excision in hospital or outpatient settings.
Report 15120 for the first 100 square centimeters, or the corresponding 1% body-area increment for infants and children. Document the recipient site, graft type, total area treated, and the patient’s age when using the pediatric body-area basis. Code additional area with 15121. The service has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate; assistant-at-surgery payment is statutorily restricted, and 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.
Where 15120 pays more and less
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
109 payment localities
$778.75 to $1101.35
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $789.35 | $562.56 |
| Alaska | $1,046.78 | $770.74 |
| Arizona | $851.10 | $599.95 |
| Arkansas | $778.75 | $556.10 |
| Atlanta, GA | $893.86 | $630.52 |
| Austin, TX | $896.92 | $622.69 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $906.04 | $621.97 |
| Baltimore area, MD | $927.99 | $649.88 |
| Beaumont, TX | $826.23 | $590.36 |
| Brazoria, TX | $860.37 | $603.51 |
| Chicago, IL | $949.37 | $688.88 |
| Chico, CA | $901.40 | $617.33 |
| Colorado | $897.44 | $621.66 |
| Connecticut | $929.80 | $650.65 |
| Dallas, TX | $867.39 | $609.24 |
| Delaware | $864.39 | $608.31 |
| Detroit, MI | $894.34 | $644.22 |
| East St. Louis, IL | $890.19 | $651.73 |
| El Centro, CA | $901.68 | $617.60 |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | $924.45 | $661.89 |
| Fort Worth, TX | $863.21 | $607.65 |
| Fresno, CA | $901.40 | $617.33 |
| Galveston, TX | $863.96 | $606.58 |
| Hanford, CA | $901.40 | $617.33 |
| Hawaii, Guam, HI | $918.17 | $623.47 |
| Houston, TX | $893.79 | $636.42 |
| Idaho | $806.29 | $567.84 |
| Indiana | $810.42 | $570.15 |
| Iowa | $799.71 | $562.55 |
| Kansas | $800.15 | $565.85 |
| Kentucky | $815.20 | $584.78 |
| King County, WA | $991.67 | $673.65 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $958.85 | $652.23 |
| Madera, CA | $901.40 | $617.33 |
| Manhattan, NY | $1,006.38 | $705.20 |
| Marin County, CA | $1,076.55 | $711.09 |
| Merced, CA | $901.40 | $617.33 |
| Metropolitan Boston, MA | $976.53 | $667.06 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MO | $843.02 | $599.64 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia, PA | $910.61 | $640.79 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MO | $850.74 | $603.99 |
| Miami, FL | $977.39 | $707.58 |
| Minnesota | $849.95 | $583.25 |
| Mississippi | $791.92 | $568.76 |
| Modesto, CA | $901.40 | $617.33 |
| Montana | $873.99 | $614.80 |
| Napa, CA | $1,023.65 | $682.03 |
| Nebraska | $802.59 | $563.35 |
| Nevada | $865.50 | $606.05 |
| New Hampshire | $887.34 | $617.53 |
| New Mexico | $844.46 | $606.78 |
| New Orleans, LA | $852.66 | $608.76 |
| North Carolina | $821.69 | $579.86 |
| North Dakota | $841.76 | $582.57 |
| Northern New Jersey | $976.87 | $676.21 |
| NYC suburbs and Long Island, NY | $1,034.34 | $726.16 |
| Ohio | $832.00 | $595.35 |
| Oklahoma | $809.64 | $578.18 |
| Oxnard, CA | $951.83 | $645.47 |
| Portland, OR | $919.73 | $631.77 |
| Poughkeepsie and northern NYC suburbs, NY | $946.87 | $663.05 |
| Puerto Rico | $878.66 | $616.62 |
| Queens, NY | $1,008.32 | $701.96 |
| Redding, CA | $901.40 | $617.33 |
| Rest of California | $901.40 | $617.33 |
| Rest of Florida | $879.97 | $632.18 |
| Rest of Georgia | $831.74 | $600.55 |
| Rest of Illinois | $862.21 | $625.57 |
| Rest of Louisiana | $815.58 | $586.20 |
| Rest of Maine | $814.40 | $575.95 |
| Rest of Maryland | $878.81 | $616.51 |
| Rest of Massachusetts | $894.26 | $621.33 |
| Rest of Michigan | $838.58 | $601.94 |
| Rest of Missouri | $805.21 | $581.78 |
| Rest of New Jersey | $937.60 | $654.56 |
| Rest of New York | $833.48 | $587.25 |
| Rest of Oregon | $855.98 | $597.82 |
| Rest of Pennsylvania | $831.01 | $593.07 |
| Rest of Texas | $843.88 | $597.91 |
| Rest of Washington | $891.30 | $618.38 |
| Rhode Island | $890.64 | $622.90 |
| Riverside, CA | $918.99 | $634.92 |
| Sacramento, CA | $940.45 | $639.01 |
| Salinas, CA | $936.84 | $636.44 |
| San Benito County, CA | $1,101.35 | $727.59 |
| San Diego, CA | $954.93 | $644.94 |
| San Francisco, CA | $1,074.70 | $709.24 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $922.43 | $627.21 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | $1,093.78 | $720.03 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $960.92 | $646.00 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $939.27 | $637.05 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $970.25 | $651.96 |
| South Carolina | $828.77 | $589.28 |
| South Dakota | $837.95 | $578.76 |
| Southern Maine, ME | $849.61 | $592.75 |
| Stockton, CA | $901.40 | $617.33 |
| Suburban Chicago, IL | $931.65 | $665.46 |
| Tennessee | $804.40 | $568.79 |
| Utah | $839.21 | $595.57 |
| Vallejo, CA | $1,020.98 | $679.36 |
| Vermont | $842.32 | $585.72 |
| Virgin Islands, VI | $878.66 | $616.62 |
| Virginia | $849.78 | $595.00 |
| Visalia, CA | $901.40 | $617.33 |
| Washington, DC area | $985.15 | $679.82 |
| West Virginia | $833.51 | $608.27 |
| Wisconsin | $815.89 | $567.58 |
| Wyoming | $859.95 | $600.76 |
| Yuba City, CA | $901.40 | $617.33 |
15120 rates by state
Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.
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.
$778.75
$1,046.78
Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.
View every state and territory as a table
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $1,046.78 | 1 |
| AL | $789.35 | 1 |
| AR | $778.75 | 1 |
| AZ | $851.10 | 1 |
| CA | $901.40–$1,101.35 | 29 |
| CO | $897.44 | 1 |
| CT | $929.80 | 1 |
| DC | $985.15 | 1 |
| DE | $864.39 | 1 |
| FL | $879.97–$977.39 | 3 |
| GA | $831.74–$893.86 | 2 |
| GU | $918.17 | 1 |
| HI | $918.17 | 1 |
| IA | $799.71 | 1 |
| ID | $806.29 | 1 |
| IL | $862.21–$949.37 | 4 |
| IN | $810.42 | 1 |
| KS | $800.15 | 1 |
| KY | $815.20 | 1 |
| LA | $815.58–$852.66 | 2 |
| MA | $894.26–$976.53 | 2 |
| MD | $878.81–$985.15 | 3 |
| ME | $814.40–$849.61 | 2 |
| MI | $838.58–$894.34 | 2 |
| MN | $849.95 | 1 |
| MO | $805.21–$850.74 | 3 |
| MS | $791.92 | 1 |
| MT | $873.99 | 1 |
| NC | $821.69 | 1 |
| ND | $841.76 | 1 |
| NE | $802.59 | 1 |
| NH | $887.34 | 1 |
| NJ | $937.60–$976.87 | 2 |
| NM | $844.46 | 1 |
| NV | $865.50 | 1 |
| NY | $833.48–$1,034.34 | 5 |
| OH | $832.00 | 1 |
| OK | $809.64 | 1 |
| OR | $855.98–$919.73 | 2 |
| PA | $831.01–$910.61 | 2 |
| PR | $878.66 | 1 |
| RI | $890.64 | 1 |
| SC | $828.77 | 1 |
| SD | $837.95 | 1 |
| TN | $804.40 | 1 |
| TX | $826.23–$896.92 | 8 |
| UT | $839.21 | 1 |
| VA | $849.78–$985.15 | 2 |
| VI | $878.66 | 1 |
| VT | $842.32 | 1 |
| WA | $891.30–$991.67 | 2 |
| WI | $815.89 | 1 |
| WV | $833.51 | 1 |
| WY | $859.95 | 1 |
How the 15120 rate is calculated
Each of 15120’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 · 15120
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work9.90
9.90 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense14.64
14.64 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.63
1.63 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
26.1700
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$874.10
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 15120
15120 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 15120
Skin graft, special sites, initial area
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.71/0.19 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 15120
Skin graft, special sites, initial area
90-day global period ends
Dec 30, 2026
Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
15120 without 51 · national office
$874.10
Skin graft, special sites, initial area
15120-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$437.05
When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).
15120 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 15100Skin graftTrunk, arms, or legs
- Choose 15100 for split-thickness autografting of the trunk, arms, or legs. Choose 15120 for the designated special sites, including the face, hands, feet, and genitalia.
- 15121Skin graftAdditional area, selected sites
- 15120 reports the initial area; 15121 reports each additional area increment for the same special-site grafting service.
- 15115Epidermal graftSpecial sites, first 100 sq cm
- 15115 covers an epidermal graft to the special-site group. 15120 is for a split-thickness autograft, which includes part of the dermis.
- 15135Dermal autograftSpecified sites, initial area
- 15135 is for a dermal autograft to the special-site group. Select 15120 when the graft is split-thickness rather than dermal.
15120 billing questions
How does 15120 differ from 15100?
15120 is for the designated special sites, such as the face, hands, feet, and genitalia. 15100 is for trunk, arms, and legs.
When should 15121 be added?
Use 15121 for grafted area beyond the initial area reported with 15120. The record should support the additional area treated.
Can recipient-site preparation be reported separately?
When separately performed, recipient-site preparation may be reported with the applicable preparation code, such as 15004 for these sites. Document the preparation as a distinct service.
Should modifier 50 be used for grafts on both sides?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply to 15120, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care for the graft.
Is assistant-at-surgery payment available?
No. CMS lists a statutory restriction on assistant-at-surgery payment for 15120.
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
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