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CPT code 15576: Pedicle flap, nose, ears, eyelids, or lips2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Reports formation of a direct or tubed pedicle flap for reconstruction involving the nose, ears, eyelids, or lips.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality5.4K Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $895.74 for 15576 in the office and $623.46 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$895.74Office (non-facility)
$623.46Hospital or facility
+12.7%vs the national office rate ($794.61)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 15576 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 15576 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 15576 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 15576 covers

This service forms a skin flap that remains attached to its blood supply, either as a direct pedicle or a tube, for reconstruction of the nose, ears, eyelids, or lips. The surgeon may transfer the flap during the same operative session or prepare it for staged transfer. Plastic surgeons and other surgeons performing facial reconstruction may use it for defects after tumor removal, trauma, or another operation, when the chosen reconstruction uses a pedicle flap rather than local tissue rearrangement or a free graft.

Select this code by the recipient site: the listed facial structures distinguish it from other pedicle-flap formation codes. Document the defect, recipient site, flap design, vascular attachment, and whether transfer occurred. Medicare includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care in the 90-day global period. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery; co-surgeons and team surgery 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 Washington, DC area compares for 15576

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 15576 runs from $712.63 in Arkansas to $1,010.27 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $895.74. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

15576 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$895.74
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$877.08−$18.66
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$870.83−$24.91
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$847.88−$47.86
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$909.42+$13.68
  6. Alaska · Alaska$959.66+$63.92
  7. Alabama · Alabama$721.78−$173.96

Other areas in District of Columbia first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

15576 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$712.63$514.08
ArizonaArizona$775.17$551.20
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$829.00$575.68
Chico, CACalifornia$825.64$572.31
El Centro, CACalifornia$825.82$572.50
Fresno, CACalifornia$825.64$572.31
Hanford, CACalifornia$825.64$572.31
Madera, CACalifornia$825.64$572.31

15576 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.

$712.63

$959.66

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

View every state and territory as a table
15576 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$959.661
AL$721.781
AR$712.631
AZ$775.171
CA$825.64–$1,010.2729
CO$818.911
CT$843.411
DC$895.741
DE$786.901
FL$793.72–$870.833
GA$753.08–$810.332
GU$840.581
HI$840.581
IA$733.461
ID$738.591
IL$776.57–$847.884
IN$742.241
KS$732.541
KY$741.271
LA$741.09–$773.102
MA$815.76–$890.582
MD$799.98–$895.743
ME$744.21–$776.622
MI$760.19–$804.692
MN$781.131
MO$731.31–$773.013
MS$721.991
MT$794.531
NC$750.731
ND$772.191
NE$736.361
NH$808.401
NJ$852.03–$888.662
NM$764.711
NV$788.761
NY$760.82–$931.845
OH$755.621
OK$737.871
OR$781.59–$839.962
PA$755.50–$825.902
PR$799.011
RI$811.231
SC$754.631
SD$769.551
TN$736.041
TX$751.29–$817.118
UT$763.661
VA$775.83–$895.742
VI$799.011
VT$771.451
WA$813.49–$905.472
WI$749.521
WV$751.721
WY$784.791

See 15576 in every payment locality

How the 15576 rate is calculated

Each of 15576’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 · 15576

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work9.14

9.14 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense13.52

13.52 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice1.13

1.13 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

23.7900

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$794.61

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

The exact Washington, DC area inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,523

Code
15576
Physician work
9.14
Practice expense
13.52
Malpractice
1.13

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 15576 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work9.14× 1.0549.6336
Practice expense13.52× 1.17815.9266
Malpractice1.13× 1.1131.2577
Total RVUs26.8178
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$895.74

Office: (9.14 × 1.054 + 13.52 × 1.178 + 1.13 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $895.74

Facility: (9.14 × 1.054 + 6.6 × 1.178 + 1.13 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $623.46

Open 15576 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 15576

15576 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 15576

Pedicle flap, nose, ears, eyelids, or lips

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 · 15576

Pedicle flap, nose, ears, eyelids, or lips

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

15576 without 51 · national office

$794.61

Pedicle flap, nose, ears, eyelids, or lips

15576-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$397.31

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 15576

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

Codes related to 15576
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Same family
15570Skin flap, trunk pediclePedicle-flap formation code for the trunk.$1,110.46
15572Skin flap, arm or legPedicle-flap formation code for the arms or legs.$1,056.21
15574Pedicle flap, face, neck, hands, feet, other sitesPedicle-flap formation code for other specified sites, including the cheeks, chin, and neck.$984.75
Used instead
14060Local flap repair, eyelid, nose, ear, or lip up to 10 cm²For adjacent tissue transfer or rearrangement at the eyelids, nose, ears, or lips rather than pedicle-flap formation.$869.69

How 15576 has changed in Washington, DC area

15576 · Office / nonfacility

$895.74

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $25.68 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $870.06 to $895.74 (3.0%).

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

    $870.06changed to$895.74

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 9.37 changed to 9.14
    • Practice expense RVU 13.13 changed to 13.52
    • Malpractice RVU 1.15 changed to 1.13
    • Work GPCI 1.057 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.192 changed to 1.178
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.168 changed to 1.113

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $889.03changed to$870.06

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 12.97 changed to 13.13

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $874.52changed to$889.03

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $912.31changed to$874.52

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 12.89 changed to 12.97
    • Malpractice RVU 1.12 changed to 1.15
    • Work GPCI 1.056 changed to 1.057
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.214 changed to 1.192
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.231 changed to 1.168

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $935.55changed to$912.31

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 12.72 changed to 12.89
    • Malpractice RVU 1.11 changed to 1.12
    • Work GPCI 1.054 changed to 1.056
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.236 changed to 1.214
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.294 changed to 1.231

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $945.94changed to$935.55

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 12.76 changed to 12.72
    • Malpractice RVU 1.13 changed to 1.11

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $946.65changed to$945.94

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 12.23 changed to 12.76
    • Malpractice RVU 1.15 changed to 1.13
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.221 changed to 1.236
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.277 changed to 1.294

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $944.46changed to$946.65

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 12.22 changed to 12.23
    • Malpractice RVU 1.34 changed to 1.15
    • Work GPCI 1.045 changed to 1.049
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.221
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.261 changed to 1.277

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $944.31changed to$944.46

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 12.23 changed to 12.22
    • Malpractice RVU 1.35 changed to 1.34

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $943.78changed to$944.31

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 12.24 changed to 12.23
    • Malpractice RVU 1.36 changed to 1.35
    • Work GPCI 1.048 changed to 1.045
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.271 changed to 1.261

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $941.80changed to$943.78

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 12.18 changed to 12.24
    • Malpractice RVU 1.39 changed to 1.36
    • Work GPCI 1.051 changed to 1.048
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.280 changed to 1.271

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $941.97changed to$941.80

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Malpractice RVU 1.32 changed to 1.39

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $937.29changed to$941.97

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $936.05changed to$937.29

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 12.08 changed to 12.18
    • Malpractice RVU 1.47 changed to 1.32
    • Work GPCI 1.050 changed to 1.051
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.202 changed to 1.205
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.280

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $941.02changed to$936.05

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 13.43 changed to 12.08
    • Malpractice RVU 1.54 changed to 1.47
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.050
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.198 changed to 1.202
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.130 changed to 1.205

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $941.02

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$895.74$623.46RVU26D
2026-07-01$895.74$623.46RVU26C
2026-04-01$895.74$623.46RVU26B
2026-01-01$895.74$623.46RVU26A
2025-10-01$870.06$715.06RVU25D
2025-07-01$870.06$715.06RVU25C
2025-04-01$870.06$715.06RVU25B
2025-01-01$870.06$715.06RVU25A
2024-10-01$889.03$727.53RVU24D
2024-07-01$889.03$727.53RVU24C
2024-04-01$889.03$727.53RVU24B
2024-03-09$889.03$727.53RVU24AR
2024-01-01$874.52$715.66RVU24A
2023-10-01$912.31$744.46RVU23D
2023-07-01$912.31$744.46RVU23C
2023-04-01$912.31$744.46RVU23B
2023-01-01$912.31$744.46RVU23A
2022-10-01$935.55$759.75RVU22D
2022-07-01$935.55$759.75RVU22C
2022-04-01$935.55$759.75RVU22B
2022-01-01$935.55$759.75RVU22A
2021-10-01$945.94$766.96RVU21D
2021-07-01$945.94$766.96RVU21C
2021-04-01$945.94$766.96RVU21B
2021-01-01$945.94$766.96RVU21A
2020-10-01$946.65$778.32RVU20D
2020-07-01$946.65$778.32RVU20C
2020-04-01$946.65$778.32RVU20B
2020-01-01$946.65$778.32RVU20A
2019-10-01$944.46$781.17RVU19D
2019-07-01$944.46$781.17RVU19C
2019-04-01$944.46$781.17RVU19B
2019-01-01$944.46$781.17RVU19A
2018-10-01$944.31$783.81RVU18D
2018-07-01$944.31$783.81RVU18C
2018-04-01$944.31$783.81RVU18B
2018-01-01$944.31$783.81RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$943.78$785.50RVU17D
2017-07-01$943.78$785.50RVU17C
2017-04-01$943.78$785.50RVU17B
2017-01-01$943.78$785.50RVU17A
2016-10-01$941.80$783.89RVU16D
2016-07-01$941.80$783.89RVU16C
2016-04-01$941.80$783.89RVU16B
2016-01-01$941.80$783.89RVU16A
2015-10-01$941.97$783.50RVU15D
2015-07-01$941.97$783.50RVU15C
2015-04-01$937.29$779.60RVU15B
2015-01-01$937.29$779.60RVU15A
2014-10-01$936.05$781.04RVU14D
2014-07-01$936.05$781.04RVU14C
2014-04-01$936.05$781.04RVU14B
2014-01-01$936.05$781.04RVU14A
2013-10-01$941.02$774.32RVU13D
2013-07-01$941.02$774.32RVU13C
2013-04-01$941.02$774.32RVU13B
2013-01-01$941.02$774.32RVU13AR

Price 15576 for an earlier date of service

Where the Washington, DC area rate applies

Washington, DC area is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1 cities and communities in District of Columbia. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Washington

Browse all communities in District of Columbia

15576 billing questions

How does 15576 differ from 15574?

15576 is for pedicle-flap formation involving the nose, ears, eyelids, or lips. Choose 15574 for its separately listed sites, such as the forehead, cheeks, chin, mouth, neck, axillae, genitalia, hands, or feet.

Does 15576 include later flap division and inset?

The code describes flap formation, with or without transfer. A later procedure to divide and inset a flap at these sites is represented by 15630.

What documentation supports reporting 15576?

Document the recipient site and defect, the direct or tubed pedicle-flap technique, and whether the flap was transferred during the operation. The record should make clear that the reconstruction used a pedicle flap.

Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral work?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code, and modifier 50 should not be used.

How does the 90-day global period affect postoperative visits?

The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period.

How are other procedures in the same session paid?

Under the standard multiple-procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50%. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery, and co-surgeons and team surgery 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 15576PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,523 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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