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CPT code 15271: Skin substitute graft, first 25 cm², trunk/limbs2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Connecticut

Reports skin substitute graft application to trunk, arms, or legs for a treated wound area up to 100 cm², beginning with the first 25 cm².

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality292K Medicare services in 2024

In Connecticut, Medicare pays $168.30 for 15271 in the office and $79.09 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$168.30Office (non-facility)
$79.09Hospital or facility
+6.5%vs the national office rate ($157.99)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 15271 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 15271 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Connecticut
  2. What 15271 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 15271 covers

This service covers preparing the wound bed when performed and applying a skin substitute graft to wounds on the trunk, arms, or legs. It is commonly performed by surgeons and wound care clinicians in office, clinic, or facility settings for wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers on the leg or chronic ulcers on the trunk. The code represents the application service, not the skin substitute product itself; the product may be reported separately under an applicable product code when billing rules allow.

Choose 15271 when the combined treated wound area is up to 100 cm², for the first 25 cm² or less. Report 15272 for each additional 25 cm² or part of that amount within the 100 cm² range; use the larger-area code family when the total exceeds 100 cm². Document wound locations, measured treated area, wound-bed preparation, and graft application. The code has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. In a same-session multiple-procedure claim, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Do not append modifier 50. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted, and co-surgeon and team-surgery billing 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 Connecticut compares for 15271

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 15271 runs from $140.17 in Arkansas to $205.27 in San Benito County, CA. Connecticut pays $168.30. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

15271 in Connecticut vs other payment areas
  1. Connecticut · this page$168.30
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$176.33+$8.03
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$179.60+$11.30
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$172.90+$4.60
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$167.92−$0.38
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$181.78+$13.48
  7. Alaska · Alaska$185.86+$17.56

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

Every other payment area

15271 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$142.17$69.69
ArkansasArkansas$140.17$69.02
ArizonaArizona$153.81$73.54
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$165.98$75.20
Chico, CACalifornia$165.37$74.59
El Centro, CACalifornia$165.41$74.62
Fresno, CACalifornia$165.37$74.59
Hanford, CACalifornia$165.37$74.59

15271 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.

$140.17

$185.86

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

View every state and territory as a table
15271 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$185.861
AL$142.171
AR$140.171
AZ$153.811
CA$165.37–$205.2729
CO$163.581
CT$168.301
DC$179.601
DE$156.301
FL$157.02–$172.903
GA$148.29–$161.182
GU$169.041
HI$169.041
IA$145.071
ID$146.111
IL$153.04–$167.924
IN$146.921
KS$144.701
KY$146.051
LA$145.94–$152.912
MA$162.76–$179.042
MD$159.13–$179.603
ME$147.16–$154.482
MI$150.00–$159.222
MN$156.011
MO$143.70–$153.093
MS$141.951
MT$157.971
NC$148.611
ND$153.821
NE$145.751
NH$161.301
NJ$170.02–$177.892
NM$150.911
NV$156.921
NY$150.79–$186.445
OH$149.151
OK$145.491
OR$155.49–$168.322
PA$149.22–$164.412
PR$159.011
RI$161.531
SC$149.171
SD$153.331
TN$145.441
TX$148.29–$163.218
UT$151.141
VA$154.19–$179.602
VI$159.011
VT$153.501
WA$162.36–$182.342
WI$148.841
WV$147.621
WY$156.161

See 15271 in every payment locality

How the 15271 rate is calculated

Each of 15271’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 · 15271

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.46

1.46 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense3.06

3.06 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.21

0.21 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

4.7300

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$157.99

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

The exact Connecticut inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,512

Code
15271
Physician work
1.46
Practice expense
3.06
Malpractice
0.21

GPCI2026.csv

38

Locality
Connecticut
Physician work
1.020
Practice expense
1.077
Malpractice
1.210
Office calculation for 15271 in Connecticut
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.46× 1.0201.4892
Practice expense3.06× 1.0773.2956
Malpractice0.21× 1.2100.2541
Total RVUs5.0389
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Connecticut$168.30

Office: (1.46 × 1.02 + 3.06 × 1.077 + 0.21 × 1.21) × $33.4009 = $168.30

Facility: (1.46 × 1.02 + 0.58 × 1.077 + 0.21 × 1.21) × $33.4009 = $79.09

Open 15271 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 15271

The CMS indicators that decide how 15271 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 15271

Skin substitute graft, first 25 cm², trunk/limbs

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is 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.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

15271 without 51 · national office

$157.99

Skin substitute graft, first 25 cm², trunk/limbs

15271-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$79.00

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 15271

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

Codes related to 15271
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Connecticut
Add-on codes
15272Skin substitute graft, additional trunk, arm, or leg areaAdd-on code for each additional 25 cm² or part thereof within the up-to-100 cm² range.$27.31
Same family
15273Skin substitute graft, large trunk or limb wound areaSkin substitute application to trunk, arms, or legs when total treated area exceeds 100 cm².$343.04
15274Skin substitute, each additional 100 sq cmAdd-on area code in the larger-area trunk, arm, and leg family.$92.80
15275Skin substitute, face and other specified sitesSkin substitute application family for wounds on specified head, neck, hand, foot, or genital sites.$170.17
Used instead
15200Skin graft, trunk, 20 sq cm or lessFull-thickness skin graft method for a trunk wound rather than a skin substitute graft.$932.89

How 15271 has changed in Connecticut

15271 · Office / nonfacility

$168.30

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $8.88 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $159.42 to $168.30 (5.6%).

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

    $159.42changed to$168.30

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.50 changed to 1.46
    • Practice expense RVU 2.88 changed to 3.06
    • Work GPCI 1.022 changed to 1.020
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.091 changed to 1.077
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.207 changed to 1.210

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $165.55changed to$159.42

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 2.91 changed to 2.88
    • Malpractice RVU 0.22 changed to 0.21

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $162.85changed to$165.55

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $167.88changed to$162.85

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 2.88 changed to 2.91
    • Work GPCI 1.030 changed to 1.022
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.102 changed to 1.091
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.070 changed to 1.207

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $172.74changed to$167.88

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 2.90 changed to 2.88
    • Work GPCI 1.037 changed to 1.030
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.114 changed to 1.102
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.934 changed to 1.070

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $171.45changed to$172.74

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 2.83 changed to 2.90

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $167.61changed to$171.45

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 2.56 changed to 2.83
    • Malpractice RVU 0.23 changed to 0.22
    • Work GPCI 1.029 changed to 1.037
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.113 changed to 1.114
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.094 changed to 0.934

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $162.08changed to$167.61

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 2.43 changed to 2.56
    • Malpractice RVU 0.21 changed to 0.23
    • Work GPCI 1.021 changed to 1.029
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.112 changed to 1.113
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.255 changed to 1.094

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $157.49changed to$162.08

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 2.32 changed to 2.43

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $155.45changed to$157.49

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 2.27 changed to 2.32
    • Work GPCI 1.023 changed to 1.021
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.117 changed to 1.112
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.244 changed to 1.255

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $155.77changed to$155.45

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 2.28 changed to 2.27
    • Work GPCI 1.024 changed to 1.023
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.121 changed to 1.117
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.232 changed to 1.244

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $156.77changed to$155.77

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Malpractice RVU 0.22 changed to 0.21

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $155.99changed to$156.77

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $155.98changed to$155.99

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 2.26 changed to 2.28
    • Malpractice RVU 0.24 changed to 0.22
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.116 changed to 1.121
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.234 changed to 1.232

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $148.87changed to$155.98

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 2.28 changed to 2.26
    • Malpractice RVU 0.25 changed to 0.24
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.110 changed to 1.116
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.235 changed to 1.234

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $148.87

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$168.30$79.09RVU26D
2026-07-01$168.30$79.09RVU26C
2026-04-01$168.30$79.09RVU26B
2026-01-01$168.30$79.09RVU26A
2025-10-01$159.42$86.37RVU25D
2025-07-01$159.42$86.37RVU25C
2025-04-01$159.42$86.37RVU25B
2025-01-01$159.42$86.37RVU25A
2024-10-01$165.55$88.20RVU24D
2024-07-01$165.55$88.20RVU24C
2024-04-01$165.55$88.20RVU24B
2024-03-09$165.55$88.20RVU24AR
2024-01-01$162.85$86.76RVU24A
2023-10-01$167.88$88.34RVU23D
2023-07-01$167.88$88.34RVU23C
2023-04-01$167.88$88.34RVU23B
2023-01-01$167.88$88.34RVU23A
2022-10-01$172.74$89.47RVU22D
2022-07-01$172.74$89.47RVU22C
2022-04-01$172.74$89.47RVU22B
2022-01-01$172.74$89.47RVU22A
2021-10-01$171.45$89.82RVU21D
2021-07-01$171.45$89.82RVU21C
2021-04-01$171.45$89.82RVU21B
2021-01-01$171.45$89.82RVU21A
2020-10-01$167.61$93.71RVU20D
2020-07-01$167.61$93.71RVU20C
2020-04-01$167.61$93.71RVU20B
2020-01-01$167.61$93.71RVU20A
2019-10-01$162.08$93.15RVU19D
2019-07-01$162.08$93.15RVU19C
2019-04-01$162.08$93.15RVU19B
2019-01-01$162.08$93.15RVU19A
2018-10-01$157.49$93.44RVU18D
2018-07-01$157.49$93.44RVU18C
2018-04-01$157.49$93.44RVU18B
2018-01-01$157.49$93.44RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$155.45$93.71RVU17D
2017-07-01$155.45$93.71RVU17C
2017-04-01$155.45$93.71RVU17B
2017-01-01$155.45$93.71RVU17A
2016-10-01$155.77$93.56RVU16D
2016-07-01$155.77$93.56RVU16C
2016-04-01$155.77$93.56RVU16B
2016-01-01$155.77$93.56RVU16A
2015-10-01$156.77$93.94RVU15D
2015-07-01$156.77$93.94RVU15C
2015-04-01$155.99$93.47RVU15B
2015-01-01$155.99$93.47RVU15A
2014-10-01$155.98$94.82RVU14D
2014-07-01$155.98$94.82RVU14C
2014-04-01$155.98$94.82RVU14B
2014-01-01$155.98$94.82RVU14A
2013-10-01$148.87$92.98RVU13D
2013-07-01$148.87$92.98RVU13C
2013-04-01$148.87$92.98RVU13B
2013-01-01$148.87$92.98RVU13AR

Price 15271 for an earlier date of service

Where the Connecticut rate applies

Connecticut is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 215 cities and communities in Connecticut. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Ansonia
  • Ball Pond
  • Baltic
  • Bantam
  • Bethel
  • Bethlehem Village
  • Bigelow Corners
  • Blue Hills

Browse all communities in Connecticut

15271 billing questions

When should 15271 be selected instead of 15273?

Use 15271 when the combined treated wound area on the trunk, arms, or legs is up to 100 cm². For a total area greater than 100 cm², use the larger-area code family beginning with 15273.

How are additional wound-area units reported?

15271 covers the first 25 cm² or less. Report add-on code 15272 for each additional 25 cm² or part thereof, within the up-to-100 cm² range.

Can the skin substitute product be billed separately?

The application service is distinct from the product. The product may be reported with its applicable product code when billing rules allow.

Should modifier 50 be used when both sides are treated?

No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code, even when treatment involves both sides of the body.

What documentation supports 15271?

Record the treated wound locations, total treated surface area, wound-bed preparation when performed, and the graft application. The measurements support selection of the initial and any add-on area codes.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Medicare payment for an assistant at surgery is statutorily restricted for this code. Co-surgeon and team-surgery billing are not permitted.

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 15271PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,512 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for ConnecticutGPCI2026.csv, line 38 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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