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CPT code 15261: Skin graft, additional 20 sq cm2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in South Carolina

Reports each additional 20 sq cm, or fraction, of full-thickness skin grafting to the nose, ears, eyelids, or lips beyond the primary area.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality377 Medicare services in 2024

In South Carolina, Medicare pays $196.73 for 15261 in the office and $108.77 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$196.73Office (non-facility)
$108.77Hospital or facility
−5.3%vs the national office rate ($207.75)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 15261 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 15261 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in South Carolina
  2. What 15261 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 15261 covers

Code 15261 captures additional recipient-area coverage when a free full-thickness skin graft is used on the nose, ears, eyelids, or lips. The surgeon harvests full-thickness skin, transfers it to a defect—often a nasal defect after Mohs excision—and closes the donor site directly. Plastic surgeons, dermatologic surgeons, and other surgeons perform this reconstruction in procedure rooms or operating rooms. This site group is specific to full-thickness skin grafts, not split-thickness grafts or skin-substitute products.

Report 15261 with 15260 when the grafted area exceeds the initial 20 sq cm; each further 20 sq cm or fraction supports an additional unit. Document the recipient site, graft technique, and measured graft area. This is an add-on code, not a standalone service, and CMS pays it within the primary procedure’s global period. Direct closure of the donor site is included in the graft service.

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 15261

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 15261 runs from $185.23 in Arkansas to $266.44 in San Benito County, CA. South Carolina pays $196.73. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

15261 in South Carolina vs other payment areas
  1. South Carolina · this page$196.73
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$230.28+$33.55
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$235.09+$38.36
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$228.21+$31.48
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$221.86+$25.13
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$238.56+$41.83
  7. Alaska · Alaska$247.64+$50.91

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

Every other payment area

15261 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$187.75$104.45
ArkansasArkansas$185.23$103.46
ArizonaArizona$202.43$110.19
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$217.24$112.91
Chico, CACalifornia$216.36$112.03
El Centro, CACalifornia$216.41$112.08
Fresno, CACalifornia$216.36$112.03
Hanford, CACalifornia$216.36$112.03

15261 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.

$185.23

$247.64

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

View every state and territory as a table
15261 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$247.641
AL$187.751
AR$185.231
AZ$202.431
CA$216.36–$266.4429
CO$214.451
CT$220.951
DC$235.091
DE$205.601
FL$207.28–$228.213
GA$196.15–$211.992
GU$220.691
HI$220.691
IA$191.061
ID$192.451
IL$202.50–$221.864
IN$193.461
KS$190.761
KY$193.001
LA$192.93–$201.732
MA$213.52–$233.922
MD$209.16–$235.093
ME$193.95–$202.932
MI$198.15–$210.242
MN$204.331
MO$190.21–$201.763
MS$187.731
MT$207.731
NC$195.741
ND$201.801
NE$191.881
NH$211.641
NJ$223.15–$233.042
NM$199.371
NV$206.211
NY$198.51–$244.655
OH$196.941
OK$192.121
OR$204.28–$220.252
PA$196.93–$216.132
PR$208.981
RI$212.181
SC$196.731
SD$201.101
TN$191.721
TX$195.77–$214.028
UT$199.221
VA$202.68–$235.092
VI$208.981
VT$201.551
WA$212.94–$237.982
WI$195.561
WV$195.661
WY$205.151

See 15261 in every payment locality

How the 15261 rate is calculated

Each of 15261’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 · 15261

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work2.17

2.17 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense3.75

3.75 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.30

0.30 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

6.2200

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$207.75

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

1,511

Code
15261
Physician work
2.17
Practice expense
3.75
Malpractice
0.30

GPCI2026.csv

93

Locality
South Carolina
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.924
Malpractice
0.850
Office calculation for 15261 in South Carolina
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.17× 1.0002.1700
Practice expense3.75× 0.9243.4650
Malpractice0.30× 0.8500.2550
Total RVUs5.8900
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, South Carolina$196.73

Office: (2.17 × 1 + 3.75 × 0.924 + 0.3 × 0.85) × $33.4009 = $196.73

Facility: (2.17 × 1 + 0.9 × 0.924 + 0.3 × 0.85) × $33.4009 = $108.77

Open 15261 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 15261

The CMS indicators that decide how 15261 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 15261

Skin graft, additional 20 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)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

Codes related to 15261

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

Codes related to 15261
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, South Carolina
Add-on codes
15260Full-thickness graft, nose, ear, eyelid, or lipPrimary full-thickness graft code for the first 20 sq cm at the nose, ears, eyelids, or lips.$950.52
Used instead
15241Skin graft, each additional 20 cm²Parallel additional-area code for the full-thickness graft site group represented by 15240.$169.92
15240Skin graft, specified sites, 20 sq cm or lessPrimary full-thickness graft code for a different facial and other specified site group.$888.79
15276Skin substitute graft, additional area, selected sitesAdditional-area code for skin-substitute grafting at specified sites, rather than a full-thickness skin graft.$32.24

How 15261 has changed in South Carolina

15261 · Office / nonfacility

$196.73

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $11.04 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $185.69 to $196.73 (5.9%).

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

    $185.69changed to$196.73

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 2.23 changed to 2.17
    • Practice expense RVU 3.55 changed to 3.75
    • Malpractice RVU 0.33 changed to 0.30
    • 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

    $192.01changed to$185.69

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 3.58 changed to 3.55

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $188.87changed to$192.01

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $194.90changed to$188.87

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 3.62 changed to 3.58
    • Malpractice RVU 0.31 changed to 0.33
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.908 changed to 0.913
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.756 changed to 0.817

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $196.81changed to$194.90

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 3.59 changed to 3.62
    • 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

    $199.15changed to$196.81

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 3.62 changed to 3.59
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.31

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $200.49changed to$199.15

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 3.46 changed to 3.62
    • 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

    $201.52changed to$200.49

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 3.48 changed to 3.46
    • Malpractice RVU 0.34 changed to 0.30
    • 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

    $203.27changed to$201.52

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 3.54 changed to 3.48

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $203.96changed to$203.27

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 3.55 changed to 3.54
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.634 changed to 0.553

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $205.05changed to$203.96

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 3.56 changed to 3.55
    • Malpractice RVU 0.35 changed to 0.34
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.715 changed to 0.634

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $204.29changed to$205.05

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 3.53 changed to 3.56
    • Malpractice RVU 0.33 changed to 0.35

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $203.28changed to$204.29

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $202.18changed to$203.28

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 3.51 changed to 3.53
    • Malpractice RVU 0.35 changed to 0.33
    • 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

    $203.34changed to$202.18

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 3.91 changed to 3.51
    • Malpractice RVU 0.37 changed to 0.35
    • 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: $203.34

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$196.73$108.77RVU26D
2026-07-01$196.73$108.77RVU26C
2026-04-01$196.73$108.77RVU26B
2026-01-01$196.73$108.77RVU26A
2025-10-01$185.69$124.27RVU25D
2025-07-01$185.69$124.27RVU25C
2025-04-01$185.69$124.27RVU25B
2025-01-01$185.69$124.27RVU25A
2024-10-01$192.01$127.58RVU24D
2024-07-01$192.01$127.58RVU24C
2024-04-01$192.01$127.58RVU24B
2024-03-09$192.01$127.58RVU24AR
2024-01-01$188.87$125.50RVU24A
2023-10-01$194.90$129.05RVU23D
2023-07-01$194.90$129.05RVU23C
2023-04-01$194.90$129.05RVU23B
2023-01-01$194.90$129.05RVU23A
2022-10-01$196.81$129.94RVU22D
2022-07-01$196.81$129.94RVU22C
2022-04-01$196.81$129.94RVU22B
2022-01-01$196.81$129.94RVU22A
2021-10-01$199.15$131.09RVU21D
2021-07-01$199.15$131.09RVU21C
2021-04-01$199.15$131.09RVU21B
2021-01-01$199.15$131.09RVU21A
2020-10-01$200.49$134.04RVU20D
2020-07-01$200.49$134.04RVU20C
2020-04-01$200.49$134.04RVU20B
2020-01-01$200.49$134.04RVU20A
2019-10-01$201.52$134.47RVU19D
2019-07-01$201.52$134.47RVU19C
2019-04-01$201.52$134.47RVU19B
2019-01-01$201.52$134.47RVU19A
2018-10-01$203.27$134.65RVU18D
2018-07-01$203.27$134.65RVU18C
2018-04-01$203.27$134.65RVU18B
2018-01-01$203.27$134.65RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$203.96$136.21RVU17D
2017-07-01$203.96$136.21RVU17C
2017-04-01$203.96$136.21RVU17B
2017-01-01$203.96$136.21RVU17A
2016-10-01$205.05$136.80RVU16D
2016-07-01$205.05$136.80RVU16C
2016-04-01$205.05$136.80RVU16B
2016-01-01$205.05$136.80RVU16A
2015-10-01$204.29$136.78RVU15D
2015-07-01$204.29$136.78RVU15C
2015-04-01$203.28$136.10RVU15B
2015-01-01$203.28$136.10RVU15A
2014-10-01$202.18$135.28RVU14D
2014-07-01$202.18$135.28RVU14C
2014-04-01$202.18$135.28RVU14B
2014-01-01$202.18$135.28RVU14A
2013-10-01$203.34$131.90RVU13D
2013-07-01$203.34$131.90RVU13C
2013-04-01$203.34$131.90RVU13B
2013-01-01$203.34$131.90RVU13AR

Price 15261 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

15261 billing questions

Which primary code must accompany 15261?

Report 15261 with 15260, the primary full-thickness graft code for the nose, ears, eyelids, or lips. It is not reported by itself.

How are units of 15261 counted?

After the initial 20 sq cm represented by 15260, each additional 20 sq cm or fraction supports one unit of 15261. Document the grafted recipient area.

Can the donor-site closure be billed separately?

Direct closure of the donor site is included in the full-thickness graft service described by this code family.

Does 15261 describe a skin-substitute graft?

No. It applies to additional area treated with a free full-thickness skin graft, not a skin-substitute product.

What documentation supports reporting 15261?

Document the nose, ear, eyelid, or lip recipient site, the full-thickness graft technique, and the measured graft area supporting the additional units.

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 15261PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,511 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for South CarolinaGPCI2026.csv, line 93 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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