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

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 Dakota, Medicare pays $975.03 for 15260 in the office and $701.48 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$975.03Office (non-facility)
$701.48Hospital or facility
−2.6%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 Dakota
  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 Dakota 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 Dakota pays $975.03. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

15260 in North Dakota vs other payment areas
  1. North Dakota · this page$975.03
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$1,107.67+$132.64
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$1,129.35+$154.32
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$1,091.63+$116.60
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$1,063.23+$88.20
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$1,144.59+$169.56
  7. Alaska · Alaska$1,208.51+$233.48

Other areas in North Dakota 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 Dakota 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

84

Locality
North Dakota
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
1.000
Malpractice
0.406
Office calculation for 15260 in North Dakota
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work11.35× 1.00011.3500
Practice expense17.31× 1.00017.3100
Malpractice1.31× 0.4060.5319
Total RVUs29.1919
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, North Dakota$975.03

Office: (11.35 × 1 + 17.31 × 1 + 1.31 × 0.406) × $33.4009 = $975.03

Facility: (11.35 × 1 + 9.12 × 1 + 1.31 × 0.406) × $33.4009 = $701.48

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 Dakota
Add-on codes
15261Skin graft, additional 20 sq cmThis add-on code reports additional grafted area beyond the base area represented by 15260.$201.80
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.$911.18
15220Skin graft, scalp, arm, or leg, up to 20 sq cmFull-thickness graft code for the scalp, arms, or legs.$760.70
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.$392.18
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.$156.36

How 15260 has changed in North Dakota

15260 · Office / nonfacility

$975.03

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $18.76 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $956.27 to $975.03 (2.0%).

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

    $956.27changed to$975.03

    • 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
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.517 changed to 0.406

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $979.61changed to$956.27

    • 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

    $963.62changed to$979.61

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $987.31changed to$963.62

    • 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
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.474 changed to 0.517

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $989.35changed to$987.31

    • 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
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.431 changed to 0.474

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $991.72changed to$989.35

    • 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

    $1005.32changed to$991.72

    • 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
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.485 changed to 0.431

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $1012.79changed to$1005.32

    • 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
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.540 changed to 0.485

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $1011.68changed to$1012.79

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $1008.47changed to$1011.68

    • 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 0.547 changed to 0.540

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $1003.86changed to$1008.47

    • 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
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.554 changed to 0.547

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $1005.25changed to$1003.86

    • 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

    $1000.25changed to$1005.25

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $993.22changed to$1000.25

    • 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
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.536 changed to 0.554

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $1004.87changed to$993.22

    • 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
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.517 changed to 0.536

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $1004.87

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$975.03$701.48RVU26D
2026-07-01$975.03$701.48RVU26C
2026-04-01$975.03$701.48RVU26B
2026-01-01$975.03$701.48RVU26A
2025-10-01$956.27$805.86RVU25D
2025-07-01$956.27$805.86RVU25C
2025-04-01$956.27$805.86RVU25B
2025-01-01$956.27$805.86RVU25A
2024-10-01$979.61$821.49RVU24D
2024-07-01$979.61$821.49RVU24C
2024-04-01$979.61$821.49RVU24B
2024-03-09$979.61$821.49RVU24AR
2024-01-01$963.62$808.08RVU24A
2023-10-01$987.31$827.02RVU23D
2023-07-01$987.31$827.02RVU23C
2023-04-01$987.31$827.02RVU23B
2023-01-01$987.31$827.02RVU23A
2022-10-01$989.35$827.05RVU22D
2022-07-01$989.35$827.05RVU22C
2022-04-01$989.35$827.05RVU22B
2022-01-01$989.35$827.05RVU22A
2021-10-01$991.72$828.07RVU21D
2021-07-01$991.72$828.07RVU21C
2021-04-01$991.72$828.07RVU21B
2021-01-01$991.72$828.07RVU21A
2020-10-01$1,005.32$849.41RVU20D
2020-07-01$1,005.32$849.41RVU20C
2020-04-01$1,005.32$849.41RVU20B
2020-01-01$1,005.32$849.41RVU20A
2019-10-01$1,012.79$860.35RVU19D
2019-07-01$1,012.79$860.35RVU19C
2019-04-01$1,012.79$860.35RVU19B
2019-01-01$1,012.79$860.35RVU19A
2018-10-01$1,011.68$862.28RVU18D
2018-07-01$1,011.68$862.28RVU18C
2018-04-01$1,011.68$862.28RVU18B
2018-01-01$1,011.68$862.28RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$1,008.47$861.68RVU17D
2017-07-01$1,008.47$861.68RVU17C
2017-04-01$1,008.47$861.68RVU17B
2017-01-01$1,008.47$861.68RVU17A
2016-10-01$1,003.86$857.42RVU16D
2016-07-01$1,003.86$857.42RVU16C
2016-04-01$1,003.86$857.42RVU16B
2016-01-01$1,003.86$857.42RVU16A
2015-10-01$1,005.25$857.21RVU15D
2015-07-01$1,005.25$857.21RVU15C
2015-04-01$1,000.25$852.94RVU15B
2015-01-01$1,000.25$852.94RVU15A
2014-10-01$993.22$850.28RVU14D
2014-07-01$993.22$850.28RVU14C
2014-04-01$993.22$850.28RVU14B
2014-01-01$993.22$850.28RVU14A
2013-10-01$1,004.87$850.41RVU13D
2013-07-01$1,004.87$850.41RVU13C
2013-04-01$1,004.87$850.41RVU13B
2013-01-01$1,004.87$850.41RVU13AR

Price 15260 for an earlier date of service

Where the North Dakota rate applies

North Dakota is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 406 cities and communities in North Dakota. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Abercrombie
  • Adams
  • Alamo
  • Alexander
  • Alice
  • Almont
  • Alsen
  • Ambrose

Browse all communities in North Dakota

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 DakotaGPCI2026.csv, line 84 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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