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CPT code 15260: Full-thickness graft, nose, ear, eyelid, or lip2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in North Carolina

Reports a full-thickness skin graft of 20 square centimeters or less for a defect of the nose, ear, eyelid, or lip.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality56.2K Medicare services in 2024

In North Carolina, Medicare pays $946.49 for 15260 in the office and $691.27 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$946.49Office (non-facility)
$691.27Hospital or facility
−5.4%vs the national office rate ($1,001.02)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 15260 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 15260 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in North Carolina
  2. What 15260 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 15260 covers

This code covers placing a full-thickness skin graft on a defect of the nose, ear, eyelid, or lip when the grafted area is 20 square centimeters or less. Plastic surgeons, dermatologic surgeons, otolaryngologists, and oculoplastic surgeons may use it to reconstruct a defect after skin cancer removal, including Mohs surgery, or after trauma. The graft is harvested from another site, and the donor site is closed.

Select the code by the recipient site and grafted area, not the donor site. Document the recipient location, measured area, graft harvest and placement, and any separately performed recipient-site preparation. Code 15261 is used for additional area beyond the base amount. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. In a same-session multiple-procedure claim, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are reduced to 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate; assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted, and co-surgeon and team-surgery payment 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 North Carolina compares for 15260

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 15260 runs from $898.28 in Arkansas to $1,277.97 in San Benito County, CA. North Carolina pays $946.49. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

15260 in North Carolina vs other payment areas
  1. North Carolina · this page$946.49
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$1,107.67+$161.18
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$1,129.35+$182.86
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$1,091.63+$145.14
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$1,063.23+$116.74
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$1,144.59+$198.10
  7. Alaska · Alaska$1,208.51+$262.02

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

Every other payment area

15260 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$909.76$670.40
ArkansasArkansas$898.28$663.30
ArizonaArizona$976.80$711.73
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$1,046.62$746.81
Chico, CACalifornia$1,042.67$742.86
El Centro, CACalifornia$1,042.89$743.08
Fresno, CACalifornia$1,042.67$742.86
Hanford, CACalifornia$1,042.67$742.86

15260 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.

$898.28

$1,208.51

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

View every state and territory as a table
15260 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$1,208.511
AL$909.761
AR$898.281
AZ$976.801
CA$1,042.67–$1,277.9729
CO$1,032.991
CT$1,062.311
DC$1,129.351
DE$991.561
FL$997.59–$1,091.633
GA$946.98–$1,020.212
GU$1,061.811
HI$1,061.811
IA$925.501
ID$931.711
IL$975.36–$1,063.234
IN$936.331
KS$923.821
KY$933.131
LA$932.70–$972.862
MA$1,028.85–$1,123.922
MD$1,008.17–$1,129.353
ME$938.23–$979.682
MI$956.37–$1,010.812
MN$986.991
MO$920.10–$973.363
MS$909.241
MT$1,000.941
NC$946.491
ND$975.031
NE$929.291
NH$1,019.261
NJ$1,073.62–$1,120.392
NM$961.831
NV$994.301
NY$959.12–$1,172.065
OH$951.071
OK$929.401
OR$985.72–$1,060.072
PA$951.21–$1,040.002
PR$1,006.731
RI$1,022.581
SC$950.521
SD$971.971
TN$928.151
TX$945.88–$1,030.338
UT$961.871
VA$978.33–$1,129.352
VI$1,006.731
VT$973.631
WA$1,026.14–$1,143.222
WI$946.461
WV$944.141
WY$989.651

See 15260 in every payment locality

How the 15260 rate is calculated

Each of 15260’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 · 15260

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work11.35

11.35 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense17.31

17.31 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice1.31

1.31 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

29.9700

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$1,001.02

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

The exact North Carolina inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,510

Code
15260
Physician work
11.35
Practice expense
17.31
Malpractice
1.31

GPCI2026.csv

83

Locality
North Carolina
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.933
Malpractice
0.639
Office calculation for 15260 in North Carolina
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work11.35× 1.00011.3500
Practice expense17.31× 0.93316.1502
Malpractice1.31× 0.6390.8371
Total RVUs28.3373
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, North Carolina$946.49

Office: (11.35 × 1 + 17.31 × 0.933 + 1.31 × 0.639) × $33.4009 = $946.49

Facility: (11.35 × 1 + 9.12 × 0.933 + 1.31 × 0.639) × $33.4009 = $691.27

Open 15260 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 15260

15260 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 15260

Full-thickness graft, nose, ear, eyelid, or lip

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 · 15260

Full-thickness graft, nose, ear, eyelid, or lip

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

15260 without 51 · national office

$1,001.02

Full-thickness graft, nose, ear, eyelid, or lip

15260-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$500.51

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 15260

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

Codes related to 15260
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, North Carolina
Add-on codes
15261Skin graft, additional 20 sq cmThis add-on code reports additional grafted area beyond the base area represented by 15260.$195.74
Same family
15240Skin graft, specified sites, 20 sq cm or lessFull-thickness graft code for a different recipient-site group, including the forehead, cheeks, chin, and hands.$884.40
15220Skin graft, scalp, arm, or leg, up to 20 sq cmFull-thickness graft code for the scalp, arms, or legs.$737.12
Often billed with
15004Wound preparation, face, hands, feet, and similar sitesMay describe separately performed recipient-site preparation for the face, eyelids, mouth, neck, or ears.$381.30
Used instead
15275Skin substitute, face and other specified sitesDescribes a skin substitute graft for the face, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia rather than an autologous full-thickness graft.$151.60

How 15260 has changed in North Carolina

15260 · Office / nonfacility

$946.49

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $24.80 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $921.69 to $946.49 (2.7%).

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

    $921.69changed to$946.49

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 11.64 changed to 11.35
    • Practice expense RVU 17.21 changed to 17.31
    • Malpractice RVU 1.38 changed to 1.31
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.926 changed to 0.933
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.665 changed to 0.639

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $944.41changed to$921.69

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 17.07 changed to 17.21
    • Malpractice RVU 1.39 changed to 1.38

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $928.99changed to$944.41

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $957.77changed to$928.99

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 16.86 changed to 17.07
    • Malpractice RVU 1.34 changed to 1.39
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.927 changed to 0.926
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.742 changed to 0.665

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $966.26changed to$957.77

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 16.38 changed to 16.86
    • Malpractice RVU 1.32 changed to 1.34
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.928 changed to 0.927
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.819 changed to 0.742

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $968.28changed to$966.26

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 16.23 changed to 16.38
    • Malpractice RVU 1.28 changed to 1.32

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $978.16changed to$968.28

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 15.61 changed to 16.23
    • Malpractice RVU 1.25 changed to 1.28
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.930 changed to 0.928
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.757 changed to 0.819

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $983.56changed to$978.16

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 15.55 changed to 15.61
    • Malpractice RVU 1.69 changed to 1.25
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.931 changed to 0.930
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.757

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $982.49changed to$983.56

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $981.30changed to$982.49

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 15.53 changed to 15.55
    • Malpractice RVU 1.70 changed to 1.69
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.732 changed to 0.695

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $978.24changed to$981.30

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 15.45 changed to 15.53
    • Malpractice RVU 1.71 changed to 1.70
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.930 changed to 0.931
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.768 changed to 0.732

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $978.51changed to$978.24

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 15.46 changed to 15.45
    • Malpractice RVU 1.58 changed to 1.71

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $973.64changed to$978.51

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $966.47changed to$973.64

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 15.18 changed to 15.46
    • Malpractice RVU 1.69 changed to 1.58
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.929 changed to 0.930
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.732 changed to 0.768

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $973.42changed to$966.47

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 16.98 changed to 15.18
    • Malpractice RVU 1.77 changed to 1.69
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.927 changed to 0.929
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.732

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $973.42

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$946.49$691.27RVU26D
2026-07-01$946.49$691.27RVU26C
2026-04-01$946.49$691.27RVU26B
2026-01-01$946.49$691.27RVU26A
2025-10-01$921.69$782.41RVU25D
2025-07-01$921.69$782.41RVU25C
2025-04-01$921.69$782.41RVU25B
2025-01-01$921.69$782.41RVU25A
2024-10-01$944.41$797.99RVU24D
2024-07-01$944.41$797.99RVU24C
2024-04-01$944.41$797.99RVU24B
2024-03-09$944.41$797.99RVU24AR
2024-01-01$928.99$784.97RVU24A
2023-10-01$957.77$809.19RVU23D
2023-07-01$957.77$809.19RVU23C
2023-04-01$957.77$809.19RVU23B
2023-01-01$957.77$809.19RVU23A
2022-10-01$966.26$815.65RVU22D
2022-07-01$966.26$815.65RVU22C
2022-04-01$966.26$815.65RVU22B
2022-01-01$966.26$815.65RVU22A
2021-10-01$968.28$816.41RVU21D
2021-07-01$968.28$816.41RVU21C
2021-04-01$968.28$816.41RVU21B
2021-01-01$968.28$816.41RVU21A
2020-10-01$978.16$833.16RVU20D
2020-07-01$978.16$833.16RVU20C
2020-04-01$978.16$833.16RVU20B
2020-01-01$978.16$833.16RVU20A
2019-10-01$983.56$841.64RVU19D
2019-07-01$983.56$841.64RVU19C
2019-04-01$983.56$841.64RVU19B
2019-01-01$983.56$841.64RVU19A
2018-10-01$982.49$843.40RVU18D
2018-07-01$982.49$843.40RVU18C
2018-04-01$982.49$843.40RVU18B
2018-01-01$982.49$843.40RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$981.30$844.64RVU17D
2017-07-01$981.30$844.64RVU17C
2017-04-01$981.30$844.64RVU17B
2017-01-01$981.30$844.64RVU17A
2016-10-01$978.24$842.05RVU16D
2016-07-01$978.24$842.05RVU16C
2016-04-01$978.24$842.05RVU16B
2016-01-01$978.24$842.05RVU16A
2015-10-01$978.51$840.83RVU15D
2015-07-01$978.51$840.83RVU15C
2015-04-01$973.64$836.65RVU15B
2015-01-01$973.64$836.65RVU15A
2014-10-01$966.47$833.69RVU14D
2014-07-01$966.47$833.69RVU14C
2014-04-01$966.47$833.69RVU14B
2014-01-01$966.47$833.69RVU14A
2013-10-01$973.42$830.23RVU13D
2013-07-01$973.42$830.23RVU13C
2013-04-01$973.42$830.23RVU13B
2013-01-01$973.42$830.23RVU13AR

Price 15260 for an earlier date of service

Where the North Carolina rate applies

North Carolina is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 785 cities and communities in North Carolina. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Aberdeen
  • Advance
  • Ahoskie
  • Alamance
  • Albemarle
  • Alexis
  • Alliance
  • Altamahaw

Browse all communities in North Carolina

15260 billing questions

When is 15260 appropriate instead of 15240?

Use 15260 for a full-thickness graft on the nose, ear, eyelid, or lip. Code 15240 covers a different site group, including the forehead, cheeks, chin, mouth, neck, axillae, genitalia, hands, and feet.

When should 15261 be reported with 15260?

Report 15261 for additional grafted area beyond the first 20 square centimeters, using the applicable additional-area units. Document the total grafted area and the portion represented by the add-on code.

Does 15260 include harvesting the graft and closing the donor site?

Yes. The full-thickness graft service includes harvesting the graft and direct closure of the donor site.

Can recipient-site preparation be billed separately?

Separately performed surgical preparation of the recipient site may be reported when supported by the operative record. For the nose, ear, eyelid, or lip site group, code 15004 describes that preparation.

Should modifier 50 be appended for grafts on both sides?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code. Report the service according to the grafted site and area rather than applying modifier 50.

How does the global period affect postoperative billing?

The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. CMS also restricts assistant-at-surgery payment and does not permit co-surgeon or team-surgery payment for this code.

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 15260PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,510 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for North CarolinaGPCI2026.csv, line 83 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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