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CPT code 15221: Skin graft, scalp, arm, or leg; each additional area2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Rhode Island

Reports each additional 20 square centimeters or part of full-thickness skin grafting on the scalp, arms, or legs beyond the initial area.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality2.2K Medicare services in 2024

In Rhode Island, Medicare pays $136.87 for 15221 in the office and $58.21 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$136.87Office (non-facility)
$58.21Hospital or facility
+2.2%vs the national office rate ($133.94)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 15221 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 15221 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Rhode Island
  2. What 15221 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 15221 covers

This add-on represents additional recipient-site area treated with a full-thickness skin autograft on the scalp, an arm, or a leg. The graft contains the full skin thickness and is transferred to cover a defect, such as one remaining after lesion removal or injury. Plastic surgeons and other surgeons commonly perform these reconstructions in operating rooms or procedure settings. The primary graft service includes direct closure of the donor site.

Report this code with the primary graft code 15220 when the total grafted area exceeds the initial 20 square centimeters. Each additional 20 square centimeters, or any portion of that increment, supports one unit. Documentation should identify the recipient site, the full-thickness graft technique, and the total area treated so the additional area can be determined. CMS classifies this as an add-on code: it is billed only with a primary procedure and paid within that 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 Rhode Island compares for 15221

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 15221 runs from $118.22 in Arkansas to $174.22 in San Benito County, CA. Rhode Island pays $136.87. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

15221 in Rhode Island vs other payment areas
  1. Rhode Island · this page$136.87
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$149.48+$12.61
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$152.54+$15.67
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$147.78+$10.91
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$143.30+$6.43
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$154.67+$17.80
  7. Alaska · Alaska$156.06+$19.19

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

Every other payment area

15221 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$119.97$53.34
ArkansasArkansas$118.22$52.80
ArizonaArizona$130.23$56.44
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$140.56$57.09
Chico, CACalifornia$139.99$56.53
El Centro, CACalifornia$140.03$56.56
Fresno, CACalifornia$139.99$56.53
Hanford, CACalifornia$139.99$56.53

15221 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.

$118.22

$157.11

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

View every state and territory as a table
15221 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$156.061
AL$119.971
AR$118.221
AZ$130.231
CA$139.99–$174.2229
CO$138.601
CT$142.931
DC$152.541
DE$132.391
FL$133.40–$147.783
GA$125.66–$136.812
GU$143.251
HI$143.251
IA$122.391
ID$123.341
IL$130.00–$143.304
IN$124.041
KS$122.131
KY$123.541
LA$123.48–$129.622
MA$137.89–$151.962
MD$134.84–$152.543
ME$124.33–$130.682
MI$127.10–$135.422
MN$131.801
MO$121.55–$129.703
MS$119.891
MT$133.921
NC$125.601
ND$129.971
NE$122.971
NH$136.731
NJ$144.28–$150.992
NM$127.931
NV$132.911
NY$127.53–$158.875
OH$126.291
OK$122.981
OR$131.60–$142.672
PA$126.31–$139.552
PR$134.811
RI$136.871
SC$126.211
SD$129.501
TN$122.791
TX$125.50–$138.398
UT$127.951
VA$130.47–$152.542
VI$134.811
VT$129.751
WA$137.54–$154.742
WI$125.601
WV$125.221
WY$132.201

See 15221 in every payment locality

How the 15221 rate is calculated

Each of 15221’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 · 15221

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.16

1.16 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense2.65

2.65 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.20

0.20 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

4.0100

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$133.94

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

The exact Rhode Island inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,507

Code
15221
Physician work
1.16
Practice expense
2.65
Malpractice
0.20

GPCI2026.csv

92

Locality
Rhode Island
Physician work
1.019
Practice expense
1.033
Malpractice
0.892
Office calculation for 15221 in Rhode Island
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.16× 1.0191.1820
Practice expense2.65× 1.0332.7374
Malpractice0.20× 0.8920.1784
Total RVUs4.0979
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Rhode Island$136.87

Office: (1.16 × 1.019 + 2.65 × 1.033 + 0.2 × 0.892) × $33.4009 = $136.87

Facility: (1.16 × 1.019 + 0.37 × 1.033 + 0.2 × 0.892) × $33.4009 = $58.21

Open 15221 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 15221

The CMS indicators that decide how 15221 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 15221

Skin graft, scalp, arm, or leg; each additional area

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)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

Codes related to 15221

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

Codes related to 15221
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Rhode Island
Add-on codes
15220Skin graft, scalp, arm, or leg, up to 20 sq cmPrimary code for the initial full-thickness graft area on the scalp, arms, or legs.$799.79
Used instead
15200Skin graft, trunk, 20 sq cm or lessPrimary full-thickness graft code for the trunk rather than the scalp, arms, or legs.$893.44
15201Skin graft, additional trunk areaAdditional-area code for full-thickness grafting on the trunk.$151.51
15240Skin graft, specified sites, 20 sq cm or lessPrimary full-thickness graft code for specified facial and other specialized sites.$957.49
15260Full-thickness graft, nose, ear, eyelid, or lipPrimary full-thickness graft code for the nose, ears, eyelids, or lips.$1,022.58
15272Skin substitute graft, additional trunk, arm, or leg areaAdditional-area code for skin substitute grafting on the trunk, arms, or legs.$26.18

How 15221 has changed in Rhode Island

15221 · Office / nonfacility

$136.87

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $10.65 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $126.22 to $136.87 (8.4%).

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

    $126.22changed to$136.87

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.19 changed to 1.16
    • Practice expense RVU 2.41 changed to 2.65
    • Malpractice RVU 0.21 changed to 0.20
    • Work GPCI 1.025 changed to 1.019
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.039 changed to 1.033
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.849 changed to 0.892

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $131.96changed to$126.22

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 2.47 changed to 2.41

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $129.81changed to$131.96

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $136.25changed to$129.81

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 2.51 changed to 2.47
    • Malpractice RVU 0.20 changed to 0.21
    • Work GPCI 1.023 changed to 1.025
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.044 changed to 1.039
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.915 changed to 0.849

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $140.59changed to$136.25

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 2.53 changed to 2.51
    • Work GPCI 1.021 changed to 1.023
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.048 changed to 1.044
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.981 changed to 0.915

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $144.66changed to$140.59

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 2.60 changed to 2.53
    • Malpractice RVU 0.21 changed to 0.20

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $144.65changed to$144.66

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 2.48 changed to 2.60
    • Malpractice RVU 0.19 changed to 0.21
    • Work GPCI 1.024 changed to 1.021
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.048
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.990 changed to 0.981

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $145.07changed to$144.65

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 2.47 changed to 2.48
    • Malpractice RVU 0.21 changed to 0.19
    • Work GPCI 1.027 changed to 1.024
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.050 changed to 1.049
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.999 changed to 0.990

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $145.29changed to$145.07

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 2.48 changed to 2.47

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $144.03changed to$145.29

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Work GPCI 1.025 changed to 1.027
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.052 changed to 1.050
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.879 changed to 0.999

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $142.75changed to$144.03

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Work GPCI 1.022 changed to 1.025
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.053 changed to 1.052
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.759 changed to 0.879

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $143.65changed to$142.75

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 2.49 changed to 2.48

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $142.93changed to$143.65

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $143.57changed to$142.93

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 2.45 changed to 2.49
    • Malpractice RVU 0.22 changed to 0.21
    • Work GPCI 1.020 changed to 1.022
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.973 changed to 0.759

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    No ratechanged to$143.57

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$136.87$58.21RVU26D
2026-07-01$136.87$58.21RVU26C
2026-04-01$136.87$58.21RVU26B
2026-01-01$136.87$58.21RVU26A
2025-10-01$126.22$67.40RVU25D
2025-07-01$126.22$67.40RVU25C
2025-04-01$126.22$67.40RVU25B
2025-01-01$126.22$67.40RVU25A
2024-10-01$131.96$69.02RVU24D
2024-07-01$131.96$69.02RVU24C
2024-04-01$131.96$69.02RVU24B
2024-03-09$131.96$69.02RVU24AR
2024-01-01$129.81$67.89RVU24A
2023-10-01$136.25$70.45RVU23D
2023-07-01$136.25$70.45RVU23C
2023-04-01$136.25$70.45RVU23B
2023-01-01$136.25$70.45RVU23A
2022-10-01$140.59$72.05RVU22D
2022-07-01$140.59$72.05RVU22C
2022-04-01$140.59$72.05RVU22B
2022-01-01$140.59$72.05RVU22A
2021-10-01$144.66$72.99RVU21D
2021-07-01$144.66$72.99RVU21C
2021-04-01$144.66$72.99RVU21B
2021-01-01$144.66$72.99RVU21A
2020-10-01$144.65$75.37RVU20D
2020-07-01$144.65$75.37RVU20C
2020-04-01$144.65$75.37RVU20B
2020-01-01$144.65$75.37RVU20A
2019-10-01$145.07$76.20RVU19D
2019-07-01$145.07$76.20RVU19C
2019-04-01$145.07$76.20RVU19B
2019-01-01$145.07$76.20RVU19A
2018-10-01$145.29$76.50RVU18D
2018-07-01$145.29$76.50RVU18C
2018-04-01$145.29$76.50RVU18B
2018-01-01$145.29$76.50RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$144.03$75.70RVU17D
2017-07-01$144.03$75.70RVU17C
2017-04-01$144.03$75.70RVU17B
2017-01-01$144.03$75.70RVU17A
2016-10-01$142.75$74.13RVU16D
2016-07-01$142.75$74.13RVU16C
2016-04-01$142.75$74.13RVU16B
2016-01-01$142.75$74.13RVU16A
2015-10-01$143.65$74.40RVU15D
2015-07-01$143.65$74.40RVU15C
2015-04-01$142.93$74.03RVU15B
2015-01-01$142.93$74.03RVU15A
2014-10-01$143.57$76.05RVU14D
2014-07-01$143.57$76.05RVU14C
2014-04-01$143.57$76.05RVU14B
2014-01-01$143.57$76.05RVU14A
2013-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 15221 for an earlier date of service

Where the Rhode Island rate applies

Rhode Island is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 36 cities and communities in Rhode Island. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Ashaway
  • Bradford
  • Carolina
  • Central Falls
  • Charlestown
  • Chepachet
  • Clayville
  • Cranston

Browse all communities in Rhode Island

15221 billing questions

When is 15221 reported instead of 15220?

Use 15220 for the initial grafted area up to 20 square centimeters. Report 15221 for each additional 20 square centimeters or part of that increment.

Can 15221 be billed by itself?

No. It is an add-on code and must be billed with primary code 15220 for the qualifying full-thickness graft.

How are units determined?

Base units on the grafted area beyond the first 20 square centimeters. Each additional 20 square centimeters or fraction supports one unit.

What documentation supports the additional area?

Document the recipient-site location, that a full-thickness skin graft was performed, and the total grafted area. The recorded area should support the units billed beyond the initial area.

How does this differ from a skin substitute graft add-on?

15221 applies to additional area treated with a full-thickness skin autograft on the scalp, arms, or legs. Codes such as 15272 describe an additional area treated with a skin substitute graft.

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 15221PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,507 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Rhode IslandGPCI2026.csv, line 92 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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