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

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 South Carolina, Medicare pays $160.90 for 15156 in the office and $129.73 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$160.90Office (non-facility)
$129.73Hospital or facility
−4.6%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 South Carolina
  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 South Carolina 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. South Carolina pays $160.90. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

15156 in South Carolina vs other payment areas
  1. South Carolina · this page$160.90
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$174.52+$13.62
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$186.06+$25.16
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$207.21+$46.31
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$200.29+$39.39
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$197.28+$36.38
  7. Alaska · Alaska$206.39+$45.49

Other areas in South Carolina 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 South Carolina 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

93

Locality
South Carolina
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.924
Malpractice
0.850
Office calculation for 15156 in South Carolina
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.68× 1.0002.6800
Practice expense1.66× 0.9241.5338
Malpractice0.71× 0.8500.6035
Total RVUs4.8173
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, South Carolina$160.90

Office: (2.68 × 1 + 1.66 × 0.924 + 0.71 × 0.85) × $33.4009 = $160.90

Facility: (2.68 × 1 + 0.65 × 0.924 + 0.71 × 0.85) × $33.4009 = $129.73

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, South Carolina
Add-on codes
15155Cultured allograft, face and other special sitesPrimary cultured skin graft code for the initial area at these sites.$804.49
Same family
15157Skin substitute graft, additional 1% body areaAdditional cultured-graft area measured in 1% body-surface-area increments for infants and children.$180.17
Used instead
15150Cultured skin graft, trunk, arms, or legsCultured skin graft code for the trunk, arms, or legs.$722.69
15120Skin graft, special sites, initial areaSplit-thickness autograft code for the same general special-site group.$828.77
15135Dermal autograft, specified sites, initial areaDermal autograft code for the same general special-site group.$856.29

How 15156 has changed in South Carolina

15156 · Office / nonfacility

$160.90

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $13.61 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $147.29 to $160.90 (9.2%).

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

    $147.29changed to$160.90

    • 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 0.913 changed to 0.924
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.817 changed to 0.850

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $150.66changed to$147.29

    • 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

    $148.20changed to$150.66

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $150.87changed to$148.20

    • 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 0.908 changed to 0.913
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.756 changed to 0.817

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $152.94changed to$150.87

    • 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 0.903 changed to 0.908
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.756

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $153.41changed to$152.94

    • 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

    $154.47changed to$153.41

    • 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 0.907 changed to 0.903
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.624 changed to 0.695

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $153.02changed to$154.47

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Malpractice RVU 0.66 changed to 0.65
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.912 changed to 0.907
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.553 changed to 0.624

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $152.85changed to$153.02

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $156.58changed to$152.85

    • 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
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.634 changed to 0.553

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $152.89changed to$156.58

    • 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
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.715 changed to 0.634

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $157.00changed to$152.89

    • 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

    $156.21changed to$157.00

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $152.03changed to$156.21

    • 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
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.911 changed to 0.912
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.618 changed to 0.715

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $146.68changed to$152.03

    • 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 0.909 changed to 0.911
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.520 changed to 0.618

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $146.68

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$160.90$129.73RVU26D
2026-07-01$160.90$129.73RVU26C
2026-04-01$160.90$129.73RVU26B
2026-01-01$160.90$129.73RVU26A
2025-10-01$147.29$138.43RVU25D
2025-07-01$147.29$138.43RVU25C
2025-04-01$147.29$138.43RVU25B
2025-01-01$147.29$138.43RVU25A
2024-10-01$150.66$141.55RVU24D
2024-07-01$150.66$141.55RVU24C
2024-04-01$150.66$141.55RVU24B
2024-03-09$150.66$141.55RVU24AR
2024-01-01$148.20$139.23RVU24A
2023-10-01$150.87$141.94RVU23D
2023-07-01$150.87$141.94RVU23C
2023-04-01$150.87$141.94RVU23B
2023-01-01$150.87$141.94RVU23A
2022-10-01$152.94$144.19RVU22D
2022-07-01$152.94$144.19RVU22C
2022-04-01$152.94$144.19RVU22B
2022-01-01$152.94$144.19RVU22A
2021-10-01$153.41$144.59RVU21D
2021-07-01$153.41$144.59RVU21C
2021-04-01$153.41$144.59RVU21B
2021-01-01$153.41$144.59RVU21A
2020-10-01$154.47$146.29RVU20D
2020-07-01$154.47$146.29RVU20C
2020-04-01$154.47$146.29RVU20B
2020-01-01$154.47$146.29RVU20A
2019-10-01$153.02$144.14RVU19D
2019-07-01$153.02$144.14RVU19C
2019-04-01$153.02$144.14RVU19B
2019-01-01$153.02$144.14RVU19A
2018-10-01$152.85$143.98RVU18D
2018-07-01$152.85$143.98RVU18C
2018-04-01$152.85$143.98RVU18B
2018-01-01$152.85$143.98RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$156.58$148.72RVU17D
2017-07-01$156.58$148.72RVU17C
2017-04-01$156.58$148.72RVU17B
2017-01-01$156.58$148.72RVU17A
2016-10-01$152.89$145.38RVU16D
2016-07-01$152.89$145.38RVU16C
2016-04-01$152.89$145.38RVU16B
2016-01-01$152.89$145.38RVU16A
2015-10-01$157.00$148.80RVU15D
2015-07-01$157.00$148.80RVU15C
2015-04-01$156.21$148.06RVU15B
2015-01-01$156.21$148.06RVU15A
2014-10-01$152.03$143.54RVU14D
2014-07-01$152.03$143.54RVU14C
2014-04-01$152.03$143.54RVU14B
2014-01-01$152.03$143.54RVU14A
2013-10-01$146.68$137.71RVU13D
2013-07-01$146.68$137.71RVU13C
2013-04-01$146.68$137.71RVU13B
2013-01-01$146.68$137.71RVU13AR

Price 15156 for an earlier date of service

Where the South Carolina rate applies

South Carolina is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 475 cities and communities in South Carolina. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Abbeville
  • Abney Crossroads
  • Adams Run
  • Aiken
  • Alcolu
  • Allendale
  • Anderson
  • Andrews

Browse all communities in South Carolina

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 South CarolinaGPCI2026.csv, line 93 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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