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CPT code 15156: Cultured skin graft, additional 100 sq cm2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Kentucky

Reports each additional 100 square centimeters of cultured autologous skin graft applied to wounds on specified special sites, with code 15155 as the primary procedure.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality

In Kentucky, Medicare pays $160.50 for 15156 in the office and $130.51 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$160.50Office (non-facility)
$130.51Hospital or facility
−4.8%vs the national office rate ($168.67)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 15156 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 15156 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Kentucky
  2. What 15156 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 15156 covers

This add-on covers application of additional cultured autologous skin graft to wounds on the face, scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia. Burn and reconstructive surgeons commonly use cultured skin grafting to cover extensive burns or other wounds after excision, when the patient’s own skin cells have been expanded for grafting. The code represents additional wound area beyond the initial area reported with the primary service.

Report 15156 with 15155 for each additional 100 sq cm of qualifying wound area. For infants and children when area is measured by body surface area, code 15157 represents each additional 1%; do not use 15156 for that increment. Documentation should identify the graft as cultured autologous tissue, the treated anatomic sites, and the total wound surface area supporting the additional units. CMS classifies 15156 as an add-on code and pays it within the primary 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 Kentucky compares for 15156

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 15156 runs from $149.36 in Arkansas to $207.21 in Miami, FL. Kentucky pays $160.50. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

15156 in Kentucky vs other payment areas
  1. Kentucky · this page$160.50
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$174.52+$14.02
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$186.06+$25.56
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$207.21+$46.71
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$200.29+$39.79
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$197.28+$36.78
  7. Alaska · Alaska$206.39+$45.89

Other areas in Kentucky first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

15156 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$151.45$121.93
ArkansasArkansas$149.36$120.38
ArizonaArizona$163.54$130.85
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$166.43$129.45
Chico, CACalifornia$164.52$127.54
El Centro, CACalifornia$164.63$127.66
Fresno, CACalifornia$164.52$127.54
Hanford, CACalifornia$164.52$127.54

15156 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.

$149.36

$206.39

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

View every state and territory as a table
15156 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$206.391
AL$151.451
AR$149.361
AZ$163.541
CA$164.52–$192.0229
CO$168.101
CT$179.711
DC$186.061
DE$166.061
FL$178.16–$207.213
GA$167.24–$174.602
GU$166.291
HI$166.291
IA$149.661
ID$151.741
IL$177.20–$200.294
IN$152.441
KS$151.591
KY$160.501
LA$161.30–$168.632
MA$168.23–$180.492
MD$168.29–$186.063
ME$155.27–$159.422
MI$166.91–$183.002
MN$153.591
MO$160.41–$166.063
MS$154.781
MT$168.631
NC$156.401
ND$154.591
NE$149.651
NH$167.981
NJ$179.66–$184.802
NM$168.841
NV$164.771
NY$158.86–$205.215
OH$164.041
OK$157.451
OR$161.41–$170.192
PA$162.82–$177.142
PR$168.931
RI$169.641
SC$160.901
SD$152.931
TN$152.651
TX$162.00–$177.928
UT$162.931
VA$160.76–$186.062
VI$168.931
VT$156.411
WA$167.11–$181.402
WI$149.941
WV$171.631
WY$162.511

See 15156 in every payment locality

How the 15156 rate is calculated

Each of 15156’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 · 15156

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work2.68

2.68 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense1.66

1.66 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.71

0.71 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

5.0500

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$168.67

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

The exact Kentucky inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,502

Code
15156
Physician work
2.68
Practice expense
1.66
Malpractice
0.71

GPCI2026.csv

55

Locality
Kentucky
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.889
Malpractice
0.915
Office calculation for 15156 in Kentucky
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.68× 1.0002.6800
Practice expense1.66× 0.8891.4757
Malpractice0.71× 0.9150.6496
Total RVUs4.8054
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Kentucky$160.50

Office: (2.68 × 1 + 1.66 × 0.889 + 0.71 × 0.915) × $33.4009 = $160.50

Facility: (2.68 × 1 + 0.65 × 0.889 + 0.71 × 0.915) × $33.4009 = $130.51

Open 15156 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 15156

The CMS indicators that decide how 15156 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 15156

Cultured skin graft, additional 100 sq cm

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)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

Codes related to 15156

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

Codes related to 15156
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Kentucky
Add-on codes
15155Cultured allograft, face and other special sitesPrimary cultured skin graft code for the initial area at these sites.$792.47
Same family
15157Skin substitute graft, additional 1% body areaAdditional cultured-graft area measured in 1% body-surface-area increments for infants and children.$179.61
Used instead
15150Cultured skin graft, trunk, arms, or legsCultured skin graft code for the trunk, arms, or legs.$714.89
15120Skin graft, special sites, initial areaSplit-thickness autograft code for the same general special-site group.$815.20
15135Dermal autograft, specified sites, initial areaDermal autograft code for the same general special-site group.$842.68

How 15156 has changed in Kentucky

15156 · Office / nonfacility

$160.50

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $12.57 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $147.93 to $160.50 (8.5%).

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

    $147.93changed to$160.50

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 2.75 changed to 2.68
    • Practice expense RVU 1.34 changed to 1.66
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.877 changed to 0.889
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.913 changed to 0.915

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $151.36changed to$147.93

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 1.31 changed to 1.34

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $148.89changed to$151.36

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $151.99changed to$148.89

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 1.30 changed to 1.31
    • Malpractice RVU 0.69 changed to 0.71
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.873 changed to 0.877
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.870 changed to 0.913

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $154.60changed to$151.99

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 1.31 changed to 1.30
    • Malpractice RVU 0.70 changed to 0.69
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.869 changed to 0.873
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.827 changed to 0.870

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $155.00changed to$154.60

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 1.30 changed to 1.31
    • Malpractice RVU 0.68 changed to 0.70

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $157.66changed to$155.00

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 1.24 changed to 1.30
    • Malpractice RVU 0.65 changed to 0.68
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.874 changed to 0.869
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.823 changed to 0.827

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $157.91changed to$157.66

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Malpractice RVU 0.66 changed to 0.65
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.880 changed to 0.874
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.819 changed to 0.823

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $157.74changed to$157.91

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $158.06changed to$157.74

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 1.40 changed to 1.24
    • Malpractice RVU 0.53 changed to 0.66
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.876 changed to 0.880
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.807 changed to 0.819

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $152.78changed to$158.06

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 1.22 changed to 1.40
    • Malpractice RVU 0.57 changed to 0.53
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.872 changed to 0.876
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.795 changed to 0.807

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $157.12changed to$152.78

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 1.25 changed to 1.22
    • Malpractice RVU 0.67 changed to 0.57

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $156.34changed to$157.12

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $153.40changed to$156.34

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 1.26 changed to 1.25
    • Malpractice RVU 0.56 changed to 0.67
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.774 changed to 0.795

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $149.55changed to$153.40

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 1.38 changed to 1.26
    • Malpractice RVU 0.59 changed to 0.56
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.871 changed to 0.872
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.752 changed to 0.774

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $149.55

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$160.50$130.51RVU26D
2026-07-01$160.50$130.51RVU26C
2026-04-01$160.50$130.51RVU26B
2026-01-01$160.50$130.51RVU26A
2025-10-01$147.93$139.42RVU25D
2025-07-01$147.93$139.42RVU25C
2025-04-01$147.93$139.42RVU25B
2025-01-01$147.93$139.42RVU25A
2024-10-01$151.36$142.60RVU24D
2024-07-01$151.36$142.60RVU24C
2024-04-01$151.36$142.60RVU24B
2024-03-09$151.36$142.60RVU24AR
2024-01-01$148.89$140.28RVU24A
2023-10-01$151.99$143.41RVU23D
2023-07-01$151.99$143.41RVU23C
2023-04-01$151.99$143.41RVU23B
2023-01-01$151.99$143.41RVU23A
2022-10-01$154.60$146.18RVU22D
2022-07-01$154.60$146.18RVU22C
2022-04-01$154.60$146.18RVU22B
2022-01-01$154.60$146.18RVU22A
2021-10-01$155.00$146.51RVU21D
2021-07-01$155.00$146.51RVU21C
2021-04-01$155.00$146.51RVU21B
2021-01-01$155.00$146.51RVU21A
2020-10-01$157.66$149.78RVU20D
2020-07-01$157.66$149.78RVU20C
2020-04-01$157.66$149.78RVU20B
2020-01-01$157.66$149.78RVU20A
2019-10-01$157.91$149.35RVU19D
2019-07-01$157.91$149.35RVU19C
2019-04-01$157.91$149.35RVU19B
2019-01-01$157.91$149.35RVU19A
2018-10-01$157.74$149.19RVU18D
2018-07-01$157.74$149.19RVU18C
2018-04-01$157.74$149.19RVU18B
2018-01-01$157.74$149.19RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$158.06$150.51RVU17D
2017-07-01$158.06$150.51RVU17C
2017-04-01$158.06$150.51RVU17B
2017-01-01$158.06$150.51RVU17A
2016-10-01$152.78$145.60RVU16D
2016-07-01$152.78$145.60RVU16C
2016-04-01$152.78$145.60RVU16B
2016-01-01$152.78$145.60RVU16A
2015-10-01$157.12$149.29RVU15D
2015-07-01$157.12$149.29RVU15C
2015-04-01$156.34$148.55RVU15B
2015-01-01$156.34$148.55RVU15A
2014-10-01$153.40$145.28RVU14D
2014-07-01$153.40$145.28RVU14C
2014-04-01$153.40$145.28RVU14B
2014-01-01$153.40$145.28RVU14A
2013-10-01$149.55$140.96RVU13D
2013-07-01$149.55$140.96RVU13C
2013-04-01$149.55$140.96RVU13B
2013-01-01$149.55$140.96RVU13AR

Price 15156 for an earlier date of service

Where the Kentucky rate applies

Kentucky is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 553 cities and communities in Kentucky. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Adairville
  • Ages
  • Albany
  • Alexandria
  • Allen
  • Allensville
  • Anchorage
  • Annville

Browse all communities in Kentucky

15156 billing questions

When should 15156 be reported instead of 15155?

Use 15155 for the initial area and 15156 for each additional 100 sq cm at the specified sites. The add-on requires 15155 as the primary procedure.

When is 15157 used instead of 15156?

For infants and children whose wound area is reported in body-surface-area increments, 15157 represents each additional 1%. Code 15156 represents each additional 100 sq cm.

Can 15156 be billed by itself?

No. It is an add-on code reported with 15155, and CMS pays it within the primary procedure’s global period.

What area documentation supports additional units?

Document the qualifying treated sites and the total wound surface area covered with cultured autologous graft. The additional units must be supported by area beyond the initial amount reported with 15155.

How does 15156 differ from split-thickness graft code 15120?

15156 is for additional area treated with cultured autologous skin graft. Code 15120 describes a split-thickness autograft for the specified sites, rather than cultured graft application.

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 15156PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,502 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for KentuckyGPCI2026.csv, line 55 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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