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CPT code 15600: Flap delay, trunk site2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Chicago, IL

Reports staged delay or division and inset of a reconstructive flap on the trunk, rather than initial flap formation or transfer.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality66 Medicare services in 2024

In Chicago, IL, Medicare pays $391.36 for 15600 in the office and $229.90 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$391.36Office (non-facility)
$229.90Hospital or facility
+4.8%vs the national office rate ($373.42)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 15600 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 15600 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Chicago, IL
  2. What 15600 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 15600 covers

Surgeons use 15600 for a planned reconstructive flap procedure on the trunk when the flap is surgically delayed to encourage dependable blood supply before later use, or when a previously transferred flap is divided and inset. Trunk sites include the chest, abdomen, and back. Plastic and reconstructive surgeons typically perform the work in an operating room, often as one stage of reconstruction after tissue loss or excision.

Choose the code by the flap’s trunk location and the actual delay or division-and-inset work, not by flap size or diagnosis. Document the staged plan, site, and operative steps. The 90-day global includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. 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% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. An assistant at surgery is paid only when medical necessity is documented; 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 Chicago, IL compares for 15600

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 15600 runs from $325.75 in Arkansas to $505.54 in San Benito County, CA. Chicago, IL pays $391.36. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

15600 in Chicago, IL vs other payment areas
  1. Chicago, IL · this page$391.36
  2. East St. Louis, IL · Illinois$362.31−$29.05
  3. Rest of Illinois · Illinois$354.66−$36.70
  4. Suburban Chicago, IL · Illinois$391.40+$0.04
  5. Los Angeles, CA · California$426.05+$34.69
  6. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$430.97+$39.61
  7. Miami, FL · Florida$404.44+$13.08

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

Every other payment area

15600 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Manhattan, NYNew York$432.74$246.06
AlaskaAlaska$419.82$248.72
AlabamaAlabama$331.11$190.53
ArkansasArkansas$325.75$187.74
ArizonaArizona$362.48$206.80
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$398.21$222.13
Chico, CACalifornia$397.18$221.10
El Centro, CACalifornia$397.24$221.16

15600 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.

$325.75

$451.36

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

View every state and territory as a table
15600 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$419.821
AL$331.111
AR$325.751
AZ$362.481
CA$397.18–$505.5429
CO$390.421
CT$400.091
DC$430.971
DE$368.951
FL$366.63–$404.443
GA$343.87–$380.832
GU$408.721
HI$408.721
IA$340.841
ID$343.261
IL$354.66–$391.404
IN$345.491
KS$338.911
KY$339.561
LA$338.91–$357.662
MA$387.63–$432.092
MD$376.61–$430.973
ME$345.10–$366.202
MI$349.30–$371.552
MN$373.291
MO$332.31–$359.263
MS$329.111
MT$373.401
NC$349.161
ND$366.081
NE$342.971
NH$384.001
NJ$404.43–$425.682
NM$351.371
NV$371.651
NY$354.97–$444.075
OH$347.801
OK$339.041
OR$368.57–$404.122
PA$348.50–$389.112
PR$376.491
RI$383.091
SC$349.101
SD$365.221
TN$340.801
TX$345.94–$389.298
UT$354.431
VA$364.76–$430.972
VI$376.491
VT$364.361
WA$386.99–$441.532
WI$352.451
WV$340.031
WY$370.211

See 15600 in every payment locality

How the 15600 rate is calculated

Each of 15600’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 · 15600

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.96

1.96 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense8.85

8.85 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.37

0.37 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

11.1800

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$373.42

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

The exact Chicago, IL inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,524

Code
15600
Physician work
1.96
Practice expense
8.85
Malpractice
0.37

GPCI2026.csv

48

Locality
Chicago, IL
Physician work
1.007
Practice expense
1.005
Malpractice
2.295
Office calculation for 15600 in Chicago, IL
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.96× 1.0071.9737
Practice expense8.85× 1.0058.8942
Malpractice0.37× 2.2950.8491
Total RVUs11.7171
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Chicago, IL$391.36

Office: (1.96 × 1.007 + 8.85 × 1.005 + 0.37 × 2.295) × $33.4009 = $391.36

Facility: (1.96 × 1.007 + 4.04 × 1.005 + 0.37 × 2.295) × $33.4009 = $229.90

Open 15600 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 15600

15600 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 15600

Flap delay, trunk site

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)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
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 · 15600

Flap delay, trunk site

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

15600 without 51 · national office

$373.42

Flap delay, trunk site

15600-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$186.71

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 15600

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

Codes related to 15600
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Chicago, IL
Same family
15610Flap delay, arms or legsSame flap-delay or division-and-inset family for an arm or leg site.$411.68
15620Flap delay, face, neck, hand, foot, other sitesSame flap-delay or division-and-inset family for specified face, neck, axilla, genital, hand, or foot sites.$491.16
15630Flap staging, eyelid, nose, ear, or lipSame flap-delay or division-and-inset family for eyelid, nose, ear, or lip sites.$495.83
Used instead
15650Pedicle flap transfer, distant donor-to-recipient transferDescribes transfer of a skin pedicle flap, rather than trunk flap delay or division and inset.$630.27

How 15600 has changed in Chicago, IL

15600 · Office / nonfacility

$391.36

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $46.29 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $345.07 to $391.36 (13.4%).

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

    $345.07changed to$391.36

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 2.01 changed to 1.96
    • Practice expense RVU 7.70 changed to 8.85
    • Malpractice RVU 0.38 changed to 0.37
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.023 changed to 1.005
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.018 changed to 2.295

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $359.21changed to$345.07

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 7.84 changed to 7.70
    • Malpractice RVU 0.37 changed to 0.38

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $353.34changed to$359.21

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $365.85changed to$353.34

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 7.81 changed to 7.84
    • Malpractice RVU 0.36 changed to 0.37
    • Work GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.007
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.033 changed to 1.023
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.945 changed to 2.018

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $372.47changed to$365.85

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 7.70 changed to 7.81
    • Malpractice RVU 0.37 changed to 0.36
    • Work GPCI 1.011 changed to 1.009
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.044 changed to 1.033
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.871 changed to 1.945

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $373.09changed to$372.47

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 7.65 changed to 7.70
    • Malpractice RVU 0.36 changed to 0.37

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $363.77changed to$373.09

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 7.11 changed to 7.65
    • Malpractice RVU 0.35 changed to 0.36
    • Work GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.011
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.039 changed to 1.044
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.898 changed to 1.871

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $355.59changed to$363.77

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 6.95 changed to 7.11
    • Malpractice RVU 0.34 changed to 0.35
    • Work GPCI 1.008 changed to 1.009
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.034 changed to 1.039
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.925 changed to 1.898

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $352.23changed to$355.59

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 6.87 changed to 6.95

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $349.86changed to$352.23

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 6.78 changed to 6.87
    • Malpractice RVU 0.35 changed to 0.34
    • Work GPCI 1.012 changed to 1.008
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.036 changed to 1.034
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.972 changed to 1.925

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $349.43changed to$349.86

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Malpractice RVU 0.34 changed to 0.35
    • Work GPCI 1.016 changed to 1.012
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.037 changed to 1.036
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.019 changed to 1.972

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $351.83changed to$349.43

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 6.83 changed to 6.78
    • Malpractice RVU 0.33 changed to 0.34

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $350.08changed to$351.83

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $348.03changed to$350.08

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 6.63 changed to 6.83
    • Malpractice RVU 0.36 changed to 0.33
    • Work GPCI 1.023 changed to 1.016
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.044 changed to 1.037
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.048 changed to 2.019

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $364.76changed to$348.03

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 7.48 changed to 6.63
    • Malpractice RVU 0.38 changed to 0.36
    • Work GPCI 1.030 changed to 1.023
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.051 changed to 1.044
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.077 changed to 2.048

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. October 1, 2013

    RVU13D

    No ratechanged to$364.76

  17. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$391.36$229.90RVU26D
2026-07-01$391.36$229.90RVU26C
2026-04-01$391.36$229.90RVU26B
2026-01-01$391.36$229.90RVU26A
2025-10-01$345.07$224.29RVU25D
2025-07-01$345.07$224.29RVU25C
2025-04-01$345.07$224.29RVU25B
2025-01-01$345.07$224.29RVU25A
2024-10-01$359.21$230.15RVU24D
2024-07-01$359.21$230.15RVU24C
2024-04-01$359.21$230.15RVU24B
2024-03-09$359.21$230.15RVU24AR
2024-01-01$353.34$226.39RVU24A
2023-10-01$365.85$231.43RVU23D
2023-07-01$365.85$231.43RVU23C
2023-04-01$365.85$231.43RVU23B
2023-01-01$365.85$231.43RVU23A
2022-10-01$372.47$233.02RVU22D
2022-07-01$372.47$233.02RVU22C
2022-04-01$372.47$233.02RVU22B
2022-01-01$372.47$233.02RVU22A
2021-10-01$373.09$232.11RVU21D
2021-07-01$373.09$232.11RVU21C
2021-04-01$373.09$232.11RVU21B
2021-01-01$373.09$232.11RVU21A
2020-10-01$363.77$232.16RVU20D
2020-07-01$363.77$232.16RVU20C
2020-04-01$363.77$232.16RVU20B
2020-01-01$363.77$232.16RVU20A
2019-10-01$355.59$229.27RVU19D
2019-07-01$355.59$229.27RVU19C
2019-04-01$355.59$229.27RVU19B
2019-01-01$355.59$229.27RVU19A
2018-10-01$352.23$229.76RVU18D
2018-07-01$352.23$229.76RVU18C
2018-04-01$352.23$229.76RVU18B
2018-01-01$352.23$229.76RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$349.86$230.14RVU17D
2017-07-01$349.86$230.14RVU17C
2017-04-01$349.86$230.14RVU17B
2017-01-01$349.86$230.14RVU17A
2016-10-01$349.43$230.25RVU16D
2016-07-01$349.43$230.25RVU16C
2016-04-01$349.43$230.25RVU16B
2016-01-01$349.43$230.25RVU16A
2015-10-01$351.83$230.73RVU15D
2015-07-01$351.83$230.73RVU15C
2015-04-01$350.08$229.58RVU15B
2015-01-01$350.08$229.58RVU15A
2014-10-01$348.03$230.97RVU14D
2014-07-01$348.03$230.97RVU14C
2014-04-01$348.03$230.97RVU14B
2014-01-01$348.03$230.97RVU14A
2013-10-01$364.76$236.75RVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 15600 for an earlier date of service

Where the Chicago, IL rate applies

Chicago, IL is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 137 cities and communities in Illinois. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

Browse all communities in Illinois

15600 billing questions

When should I choose 15600 instead of a flap-transfer code?

Use 15600 for delay of a trunk flap or its division and inset. A transfer code describes flap transfer work rather than these stages.

Does 15600 include the later flap transfer?

No. The code describes delay or division and inset on the trunk; the later transfer is a distinct operative stage.

Can I append modifier 50 for flaps on both sides of the trunk?

No. CMS identifies the bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this descriptor and anatomy.

What documentation supports reporting 15600?

Record the trunk site, whether the surgeon performed a delay or division and inset, and the operative steps supporting that stage of reconstruction.

How does the global period affect postoperative visits?

The 90-day global includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.

Can an assistant or another surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity. 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 15600PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,524 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Chicago, ILGPCI2026.csv, line 48 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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