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CPT code 15150: Cultured skin graft, trunk, arms, or legs2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Reports placement of cultured autologous skin on the trunk or limbs for the initial grafted area, commonly in treatment of extensive burns or wounds.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $856.18 for 15150 in the office and $683.84 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$856.18Office (non-facility)
$683.84Hospital or facility
+12.1%vs the national office rate ($763.54)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 15150 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 15150 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 15150 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 15150 covers

This code represents placement of a patient’s cultured skin cells as a graft on the trunk, arms, or legs. It is used for the initial grafted area: up to 100 sq cm, or the corresponding body-surface-area measure for infants and children. Burn and reconstructive surgeons may use this approach for extensive burns or other large wounds when cultured autologous skin is selected. The service includes the graft application, not simply harvesting a skin sample to begin cell culture.

Select the code based on the recipient site and the area treated, and document the grafted area or the applicable pediatric body-surface-area measure. Additional area is reported with the corresponding add-on code, 15151 or 15152, according to the applicable measurement basis. This major surgery has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Modifier 50 is not appropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service; 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 15150

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 15150 runs from $670.76 in Arkansas to $925.01 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $856.18. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

15150 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$856.18
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$817.18−$39.00
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$904.57+$48.39
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$873.97+$17.79
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$892.09+$35.91
  6. Alaska · Alaska$904.03+$47.85
  7. Alabama · Alabama$680.96−$175.22

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

Every other payment area

15150 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$670.76$545.09
ArizonaArizona$740.07$598.31
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$773.27$612.93
Chico, CACalifornia$766.66$606.32
El Centro, CACalifornia$767.07$606.73
Fresno, CACalifornia$766.66$606.32
Hanford, CACalifornia$766.66$606.32
Madera, CACalifornia$766.66$606.32

15150 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.

$670.76

$904.03

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

View every state and territory as a table
15150 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$904.031
AL$680.961
AR$670.761
AZ$740.071
CA$766.66–$925.0129
CO$773.251
CT$815.831
DC$856.181
DE$752.271
FL$788.36–$904.573
GA$738.77–$786.982
GU$780.391
HI$780.391
IA$682.091
ID$690.211
IL$777.14–$873.974
IN$693.911
KS$686.751
KY$714.891
LA$716.92–$752.572
MA$771.66–$839.882
MD$764.37–$856.183
ME$702.45–$729.852
MI$741.48–$806.772
MN$716.591
MO$709.60–$745.693
MS$689.911
MT$763.381
NC$708.731
ND$714.741
NE$683.531
NH$768.671
NJ$818.29–$848.482
NM$748.901
NV$750.201
NY$720.37–$924.505
OH$731.541
OK$705.051
OR$737.64–$789.082
PA$728.24–$800.302
PR$766.441
RI$772.871
SC$722.691
SD$708.991
TN$691.341
TX$723.92–$794.268
UT$732.641
VA$733.01–$856.182
VI$766.441
VT$719.201
WA$767.78–$849.032
WI$690.921
WV$749.781
WY$742.181

See 15150 in every payment locality

How the 15150 rate is calculated

Each of 15150’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 · 15150

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work9.16

9.16 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense11.24

11.24 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice2.46

2.46 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

22.8600

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$763.54

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

1,498

Code
15150
Physician work
9.16
Practice expense
11.24
Malpractice
2.46

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 15150 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work9.16× 1.0549.6546
Practice expense11.24× 1.17813.2407
Malpractice2.46× 1.1132.7380
Total RVUs25.6333
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$856.18

Office: (9.16 × 1.054 + 11.24 × 1.178 + 2.46 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $856.18

Facility: (9.16 × 1.054 + 6.86 × 1.178 + 2.46 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $683.84

Open 15150 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 15150

15150 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 15150

Cultured skin graft, trunk, arms, or legs

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period090Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.10/0.71/0.19Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 15150

Cultured skin graft, trunk, arms, or legs

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.

  • 24Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78Unplanned return to the operating room for a related complication
SurgeryVisit
Sep 23, 2026Jan 10, 2027

Pre-op dayGlobal period

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

15150 without 51 · national office

$763.54

Cultured skin graft, trunk, arms, or legs

15150-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$381.77

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%).

When to use modifier 51

Codes related to 15150

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

Codes related to 15150
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Add-on codes
15151Cultured skin graft, additional 100 sq cmAdd-on for additional trunk or limb graft area measured in 100-sq-cm units.$138.39
15152Cultured skin graft, each additional 1% body areaAdd-on for additional area using the infant or child body-surface-area measure.$170.28
Same family
15155Cultured allograft, face and other special sitesInitial-area cultured skin graft code for specified head, hand, foot, and genital sites.$954.46
Used instead
15100Skin graft, trunk, arms, or legsReports a split-thickness autograft rather than cultured skin.$1,042.63
15110Epidermal graft, trunk, arms, or legsReports an epidermal autograft for the trunk or limbs.$1,010.92
15130Dermal autograft, trunk, arms, or legsReports a dermal autograft for the trunk or limbs.$875.17

How 15150 has changed in Washington, DC area

15150 · Office / nonfacility

$856.18

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $79.32 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $776.86 to $856.18 (10.2%).

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

    $776.86changed to$856.18

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 9.39 changed to 9.16
    • Practice expense RVU 9.48 changed to 11.24
    • Malpractice RVU 2.39 changed to 2.46
    • 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

    $798.26changed to$776.86

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 9.43 changed to 9.48
    • Malpractice RVU 2.41 changed to 2.39

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $785.23changed to$798.26

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $822.41changed to$785.23

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Malpractice RVU 2.36 changed to 2.41
    • 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

    $854.12changed to$822.41

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 9.48 changed to 9.43
    • Malpractice RVU 2.37 changed to 2.36
    • 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

    $851.98changed to$854.12

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 9.35 changed to 9.48
    • Malpractice RVU 2.29 changed to 2.37

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $840.85changed to$851.98

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 8.63 changed to 9.35
    • Malpractice RVU 2.28 changed to 2.29
    • 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

    $821.17changed to$840.85

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 8.38 changed to 8.63
    • 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

    $814.59changed to$821.17

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 8.27 changed to 8.38
    • Malpractice RVU 2.26 changed to 2.28

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $797.16changed to$814.59

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 8.02 changed to 8.27
    • Malpractice RVU 2.13 changed to 2.26
    • 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

    $814.94changed to$797.16

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 8.33 changed to 8.02
    • Malpractice RVU 2.23 changed to 2.13
    • 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

    $816.23changed to$814.94

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 8.26 changed to 8.33
    • Malpractice RVU 2.26 changed to 2.23

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $812.17changed to$816.23

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $790.45changed to$812.17

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 8.25 changed to 8.26
    • Malpractice RVU 1.90 changed to 2.26
    • 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

    $789.48changed to$790.45

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 9.27 changed to 8.25
    • Malpractice RVU 1.99 changed to 1.90
    • 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: $789.48

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$856.18$683.84RVU26D
2026-07-01$856.18$683.84RVU26C
2026-04-01$856.18$683.84RVU26B
2026-01-01$856.18$683.84RVU26A
2025-10-01$776.86$703.99RVU25D
2025-07-01$776.86$703.99RVU25C
2025-04-01$776.86$703.99RVU25B
2025-01-01$776.86$703.99RVU25A
2024-10-01$798.26$719.69RVU24D
2024-07-01$798.26$719.69RVU24C
2024-04-01$798.26$719.69RVU24B
2024-03-09$798.26$719.69RVU24AR
2024-01-01$785.23$707.95RVU24A
2023-10-01$822.41$738.07RVU23D
2023-07-01$822.41$738.07RVU23C
2023-04-01$822.41$738.07RVU23B
2023-01-01$822.41$738.07RVU23A
2022-10-01$854.12$762.58RVU22D
2022-07-01$854.12$762.58RVU22C
2022-04-01$854.12$762.58RVU22B
2022-01-01$854.12$762.58RVU22A
2021-10-01$851.98$759.26RVU21D
2021-07-01$851.98$759.26RVU21C
2021-04-01$851.98$759.26RVU21B
2021-01-01$851.98$759.26RVU21A
2020-10-01$840.85$758.89RVU20D
2020-07-01$840.85$758.89RVU20C
2020-04-01$840.85$758.89RVU20B
2020-01-01$840.85$758.89RVU20A
2019-10-01$821.17$746.04RVU19D
2019-07-01$821.17$746.04RVU19C
2019-04-01$821.17$746.04RVU19B
2019-01-01$821.17$746.04RVU19A
2018-10-01$814.59$742.15RVU18D
2018-07-01$814.59$742.15RVU18C
2018-04-01$814.59$742.15RVU18B
2018-01-01$814.59$742.15RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$797.16$728.40RVU17D
2017-07-01$797.16$728.40RVU17C
2017-04-01$797.16$728.40RVU17B
2017-01-01$797.16$728.40RVU17A
2016-10-01$814.94$743.32RVU16D
2016-07-01$814.94$743.32RVU16C
2016-04-01$814.94$743.32RVU16B
2016-01-01$814.94$743.32RVU16A
2015-10-01$816.23$743.92RVU15D
2015-07-01$816.23$743.92RVU15C
2015-04-01$812.17$740.22RVU15B
2015-01-01$812.17$740.22RVU15A
2014-10-01$790.45$719.40RVU14D
2014-07-01$790.45$719.40RVU14C
2014-04-01$790.45$719.40RVU14B
2014-01-01$790.45$719.40RVU14A
2013-10-01$789.48$712.85RVU13D
2013-07-01$789.48$712.85RVU13C
2013-04-01$789.48$712.85RVU13B
2013-01-01$789.48$712.85RVU13AR

Price 15150 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

15150 billing questions

How is 15150 different from 15155?

15150 is for the trunk, arms, or legs. 15155 is the corresponding initial-area cultured skin graft code for the face, scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia.

When should 15151 or 15152 be reported with 15150?

Use the applicable add-on code for grafted area beyond the initial area. The choice depends on whether the additional area is measured in 100-sq-cm units or by the pediatric body-surface-area measure.

Can a split-thickness graft code be reported instead?

No, not for the same cultured skin graft service. Code 15100 describes a different graft method; select the code that reflects the technique actually performed.

What documentation supports 15150?

Document the recipient site, cultured autologous graft application, and area treated. For an infant or child, document the body-surface-area measure used to select the code.

Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be billed?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for 15150, and co-surgeons are not permitted for this code.

Does the 90-day global period include postoperative care?

Yes. Related postoperative care for 90 days and the day-before preoperative visit are included in the global period.

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 15150PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,498 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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