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CPT code 15610: Flap delay, arms or legs2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Reports staged surgical preparation of a flap on an arm or leg to improve its blood supply before a later reconstructive transfer.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality121 Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $450.04 for 15610 in the office and $266.29 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$450.04Office (non-facility)
$266.29Hospital or facility
+15.0%vs the national office rate ($391.46)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 15610 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 15610 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 15610 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 15610 covers

This code covers a preparatory operation on a flap intended for later reconstruction of an arm or leg. The surgeon surgically alters or partially sections the planned flap so it can develop a more reliable blood supply before transfer. Plastic and reconstructive surgeons commonly perform this staged work in an operating room when a flap is planned for coverage of a traumatic or surgical defect. The later flap transfer is a distinct reconstructive step, not the delay procedure itself.

Report 15610 when the operative record supports flap preparation on an upper or lower extremity, rather than on another anatomic site. Document the flap location, the preparatory surgical work, and its role in the planned reconstruction. The code has a 90-day global period that includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed 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 for this code. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; 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 15610

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 15610 runs from $343.02 in Arkansas to $524.49 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $450.04. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

15610 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$450.04
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$444.15−$5.89
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$425.01−$25.03
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$411.68−$38.36
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$452.77+$2.73
  6. Alaska · Alaska$445.44−$4.60
  7. Alabama · Alabama$348.46−$101.58

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

Every other payment area

15610 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$343.02$209.03
ArizonaArizona$380.29$229.14
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$415.88$244.92
Chico, CACalifornia$414.69$243.74
El Centro, CACalifornia$414.76$243.81
Fresno, CACalifornia$414.69$243.74
Hanford, CACalifornia$414.69$243.74
Madera, CACalifornia$414.69$243.74

15610 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.

$343.02

$469.59

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

View every state and territory as a table
15610 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$445.441
AL$348.461
AR$343.021
AZ$380.291
CA$414.69–$524.4929
CO$408.271
CT$418.781
DC$450.041
DE$386.911
FL$385.52–$425.013
GA$362.26–$399.252
GU$426.001
HI$426.001
IA$357.901
ID$360.441
IL$373.67–$411.684
IN$362.691
KS$356.161
KY$357.491
LA$356.91–$375.952
MA$405.57–$450.572
MD$394.67–$450.043
ME$362.53–$383.622
MI$367.58–$390.752
MN$390.151
MO$350.35–$377.313
MS$346.761
MT$391.431
NC$366.611
ND$383.131
NE$360.001
NH$401.811
NJ$423.27–$444.832
NM$369.771
NV$389.411
NY$372.53–$464.545
OH$365.881
OK$356.741
OR$386.11–$421.962
PA$366.48–$407.752
PR$394.501
RI$401.251
SC$366.911
SD$382.141
TN$358.091
TX$363.89–$407.158
UT$372.311
VA$382.31–$450.042
VI$394.501
VT$381.581
WA$404.82–$460.022
WI$369.351
WV$358.831
WY$387.811

See 15610 in every payment locality

How the 15610 rate is calculated

Each of 15610’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 · 15610

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work2.46

2.46 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense8.84

8.84 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.42

0.42 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

11.7200

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$391.46

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

1,525

Code
15610
Physician work
2.46
Practice expense
8.84
Malpractice
0.42

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 15610 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.46× 1.0542.5928
Practice expense8.84× 1.17810.4135
Malpractice0.42× 1.1130.4675
Total RVUs13.4738
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$450.04

Office: (2.46 × 1.054 + 8.84 × 1.178 + 0.42 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $450.04

Facility: (2.46 × 1.054 + 4.17 × 1.178 + 0.42 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $266.29

Open 15610 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 15610

15610 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 15610

Flap delay, arms or legs

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 · 15610

Flap delay, arms or legs

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

15610 without 51 · national office

$391.46

Flap delay, arms or legs

15610-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$195.73

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 15610

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

Codes related to 15610
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Same family
15600Flap delay, trunk siteDelay procedure for a flap on the trunk.$430.97
15620Flap delay, face, neck, hand, foot, other sitesDelay procedure for specified face, scalp, neck, axilla, genital, hand, or foot sites.$529.71
15630Flap staging, eyelid, nose, ear, or lipDelay procedure for the eye, nose, ear, or lip.$535.95

How 15610 has changed in Washington, DC area

15610 · Office / nonfacility

$450.04

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $32.27 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $417.77 to $450.04 (7.7%).

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

    $417.77changed to$450.04

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 2.52 changed to 2.46
    • Practice expense RVU 8.14 changed to 8.84
    • Malpractice RVU 0.47 changed to 0.42
    • 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

    $429.54changed to$417.77

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 8.15 changed to 8.14
    • Malpractice RVU 0.45 changed to 0.47

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $422.53changed to$429.54

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $442.58changed to$422.53

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 8.13 changed to 8.15
    • Malpractice RVU 0.43 changed to 0.45
    • 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

    $452.06changed to$442.58

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 7.98 changed to 8.13
    • Malpractice RVU 0.42 changed to 0.43
    • 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

    $453.67changed to$452.06

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 7.92 changed to 7.98
    • Malpractice RVU 0.43 changed to 0.42

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $438.68changed to$453.67

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 7.33 changed to 7.92
    • Malpractice RVU 0.44 changed to 0.43
    • 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

    $427.54changed to$438.68

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 7.22 changed to 7.33
    • Malpractice RVU 0.42 changed to 0.44
    • 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

    $426.18changed to$427.54

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 7.21 changed to 7.22
    • Malpractice RVU 0.41 changed to 0.42

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $424.44changed to$426.18

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 7.18 changed to 7.21
    • Malpractice RVU 0.42 changed to 0.41
    • 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

    $421.29changed to$424.44

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 7.11 changed to 7.18
    • Malpractice RVU 0.43 changed to 0.42
    • 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

    $424.54changed to$421.29

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 7.15 changed to 7.11

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $422.43changed to$424.54

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $414.76changed to$422.43

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 7.00 changed to 7.15
    • 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

    $425.16changed to$414.76

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 7.80 changed to 7.00
    • Malpractice RVU 0.45 changed to 0.43
    • 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: $425.16

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$450.04$266.29RVU26D
2026-07-01$450.04$266.29RVU26C
2026-04-01$450.04$266.29RVU26B
2026-01-01$450.04$266.29RVU26A
2025-10-01$417.77$277.42RVU25D
2025-07-01$417.77$277.42RVU25C
2025-04-01$417.77$277.42RVU25B
2025-01-01$417.77$277.42RVU25A
2024-10-01$429.54$281.94RVU24D
2024-07-01$429.54$281.94RVU24C
2024-04-01$429.54$281.94RVU24B
2024-03-09$429.54$281.94RVU24AR
2024-01-01$422.53$277.34RVU24A
2023-10-01$442.58$287.89RVU23D
2023-07-01$442.58$287.89RVU23C
2023-04-01$442.58$287.89RVU23B
2023-01-01$442.58$287.89RVU23A
2022-10-01$452.06$290.37RVU22D
2022-07-01$452.06$290.37RVU22C
2022-04-01$452.06$290.37RVU22B
2022-01-01$452.06$290.37RVU22A
2021-10-01$453.67$290.64RVU21D
2021-07-01$453.67$290.64RVU21C
2021-04-01$453.67$290.64RVU21B
2021-01-01$453.67$290.64RVU21A
2020-10-01$438.68$288.86RVU20D
2020-07-01$438.68$288.86RVU20C
2020-04-01$438.68$288.86RVU20B
2020-01-01$438.68$288.86RVU20A
2019-10-01$427.54$284.23RVU19D
2019-07-01$427.54$284.23RVU19C
2019-04-01$427.54$284.23RVU19B
2019-01-01$427.54$284.23RVU19A
2018-10-01$426.18$286.50RVU18D
2018-07-01$426.18$286.50RVU18C
2018-04-01$426.18$286.50RVU18B
2018-01-01$426.18$286.50RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$424.44$287.35RVU17D
2017-07-01$424.44$287.35RVU17C
2017-04-01$424.44$287.35RVU17B
2017-01-01$424.44$287.35RVU17A
2016-10-01$421.29$284.95RVU16D
2016-07-01$421.29$284.95RVU16C
2016-04-01$421.29$284.95RVU16B
2016-01-01$421.29$284.95RVU16A
2015-10-01$424.54$286.85RVU15D
2015-07-01$424.54$286.85RVU15C
2015-04-01$422.43$285.42RVU15B
2015-01-01$422.43$285.42RVU15A
2014-10-01$414.76$280.85RVU14D
2014-07-01$414.76$280.85RVU14C
2014-04-01$414.76$280.85RVU14B
2014-01-01$414.76$280.85RVU14A
2013-10-01$425.16$283.32RVU13D
2013-07-01$425.16$283.32RVU13C
2013-04-01$425.16$283.32RVU13B
2013-01-01$425.16$283.32RVU13AR

Price 15610 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

15610 billing questions

When is 15610 selected instead of another flap-delay code?

Use 15610 for flap preparation on an arm or leg. The related delay codes distinguish other anatomic regions, including the trunk, face or neck, and eye, nose, ear, or lip.

Does 15610 report the later flap transfer?

No. It reports the preparatory delay procedure on an extremity flap; the later transfer is a separate reconstructive step.

Can modifier 50 be used when both arms or legs are treated?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code. Report the service according to the applicable coding instructions for the documented procedures.

What documentation supports reporting 15610?

The operative note should identify the extremity site, describe the surgical preparation or sectioning of the flap, and connect that work to the planned reconstruction.

How does the global period affect postoperative visits?

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

When can an assistant-at-surgery be paid?

Assistant-at-surgery payment is allowed only when medical necessity is documented. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted 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 15610PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,525 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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