CPT code 15738: Lower-extremity flap, muscle, myocutaneous, or fasciocutaneous2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in North Dakota

Reports reconstruction of a lower-extremity defect with a transferred flap containing muscle, skin, or fascia that retains its blood supply.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality6.1K Medicare services in 2024

In North Dakota, Medicare pays $1,076.50 for 15738 in a facility. There’s no office rate.

Not available in this settingOffice (non-facility)
$1,076.50Hospital or facility

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 15738 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 15738 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in North Dakota
  2. What 15738 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 15738 covers

This code covers reconstruction of a lower-extremity defect using a flap that includes muscle, skin, or fascia and remains connected to its blood supply during transfer. Plastic surgeons and other surgeons performing reconstructive procedures may use this approach to provide durable tissue coverage when a defect cannot be adequately managed with a simpler closure. The operative report should identify the flap tissue, its lower-extremity donor and recipient sites, and how the tissue was mobilized and positioned.

Select this code for a pedicled flap reconstruction of the leg, not a free flap moved with microvascular vessel connections. The 90-day global period 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. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons require supporting documentation, and team surgery is 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 North Dakota compares for 15738

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the facility rate for 15738 runs from $1,032.22 in Arkansas to $1,430.48 in Alaska. North Dakota pays $1,076.50. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

15738 in North Dakota vs other payment areas
  1. North Dakota · this page$1,076.50
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$1,207.68+$131.18
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$1,268.00+$191.50
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$1,349.90+$273.40
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$1,311.28+$234.78
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$1,324.87+$248.37
  7. Alaska · Alaska$1,430.48+$353.98

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

Every other payment area

15738 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama—$1,044.91
ArkansasArkansas—$1,032.22
ArizonaArizona—$1,118.28
Bakersfield, CACalifornia—$1,151.94
Chico, CACalifornia—$1,141.88
El Centro, CACalifornia—$1,142.48
Fresno, CACalifornia—$1,141.88
Hanford, CACalifornia—$1,141.88

15738 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

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Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

View every state and territory as a table
15738 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

See 15738 in every payment locality

How the 15738 rate is calculated

Each of 15738’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 · 15738

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work18.56

18.56 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense12.20

12.20 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice3.62

3.62 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

34.3800

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$1,148.32

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

The exact North Dakota inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,534

Code
15738
Physician work
18.56
Practice expense
12.20
Malpractice
3.62

GPCI2026.csv

84

Locality
North Dakota
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
1.000
Malpractice
0.406
Facility calculation for 15738 in North Dakota
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work18.56× 1.00018.5600
Practice expense12.20× 1.00012.2000
Malpractice3.62× 0.4061.4697
Total RVUs32.2297
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Facility rate, North Dakota$1076.50

Facility: (18.56 × 1 + 12.2 × 1 + 3.62 × 0.406) × $33.4009 = $1076.50

Open 15738 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 15738

15738 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 15738

Lower-extremity flap, muscle, myocutaneous, or fasciocutaneous

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)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
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 · 15738

Lower-extremity flap, muscle, myocutaneous, or fasciocutaneous

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

15738 without 51 · national facility

$1,148.32

Lower-extremity flap, muscle, myocutaneous, or fasciocutaneous

15738-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$574.16

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

How 15738 has changed in North Dakota

15738 · Office / nonfacility

Rate unavailable

Effective 2026-10-01

A rate is unavailable in one of these releases, so a change cannot be calculated.

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, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $1379.13changed toNo rate

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D, RVU19A, RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D, RVU20A, RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D, RVU21A, RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D, RVU22A, RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D, RVU23A, RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D, RVU24A, RVU24AR, RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D, RVU25A, RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D, RVU26A, RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $1379.15changed to$1379.13

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 17.54 changed to 17.49
    • Malpractice RVU 3.50 changed to 3.47
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.554 changed to 0.547

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  3. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $1380.45changed to$1379.15

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 17.46 changed to 17.54
    • Malpractice RVU 3.46 changed to 3.50

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  4. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $1373.58changed to$1380.45

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  5. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $1376.35changed to$1373.58

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 17.43 changed to 17.46
    • Malpractice RVU 3.64 changed to 3.46
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.536 changed to 0.554

    Held through RVU15B.

  6. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $1368.40changed to$1376.35

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 19.21 changed to 17.43
    • Malpractice RVU 3.81 changed to 3.64
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.517 changed to 0.536

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  7. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $1368.40

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01Not available in this setting$1,076.50RVU26D
2026-07-01Not available in this setting$1,076.50RVU26C
2026-04-01Not available in this setting$1,076.50RVU26B
2026-01-01Not available in this setting$1,076.50RVU26A
2025-10-01Not available in this setting$1,176.02RVU25D
2025-07-01Not available in this setting$1,176.02RVU25C
2025-04-01Not available in this setting$1,176.02RVU25B
2025-01-01Not available in this setting$1,176.02RVU25A
2024-10-01Not available in this setting$1,205.43RVU24D
2024-07-01Not available in this setting$1,205.43RVU24C
2024-04-01Not available in this setting$1,205.43RVU24B
2024-03-09Not available in this setting$1,205.43RVU24AR
2024-01-01Not available in this setting$1,185.75RVU24A
2023-10-01Not available in this setting$1,219.50RVU23D
2023-07-01Not available in this setting$1,219.50RVU23C
2023-04-01Not available in this setting$1,219.50RVU23B
2023-01-01Not available in this setting$1,219.50RVU23A
2022-10-01Not available in this setting$1,233.22RVU22D
2022-07-01Not available in this setting$1,233.22RVU22C
2022-04-01Not available in this setting$1,233.22RVU22B
2022-01-01Not available in this setting$1,233.22RVU22A
2021-10-01Not available in this setting$1,244.89RVU21D
2021-07-01Not available in this setting$1,244.89RVU21C
2021-04-01Not available in this setting$1,244.89RVU21B
2021-01-01Not available in this setting$1,244.89RVU21A
2020-10-01Not available in this setting$1,285.41RVU20D
2020-07-01Not available in this setting$1,285.41RVU20C
2020-04-01Not available in this setting$1,285.41RVU20B
2020-01-01Not available in this setting$1,285.41RVU20A
2019-10-01Not available in this setting$1,299.51RVU19D
2019-07-01Not available in this setting$1,299.51RVU19C
2019-04-01Not available in this setting$1,299.51RVU19B
2019-01-01Not available in this setting$1,299.51RVU19A
2018-10-01Not available in this setting$1,313.90RVU18D
2018-07-01Not available in this setting$1,313.90RVU18C
2018-04-01Not available in this setting$1,313.90RVU18B
2018-01-01Not available in this setting$1,313.90RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$1,379.13$1,213.33RVU17D
2017-07-01$1,379.13$1,213.33RVU17C
2017-04-01$1,379.13$1,213.33RVU17B
2017-01-01$1,379.13$1,213.33RVU17A
2016-10-01$1,379.15$1,213.37RVU16D
2016-07-01$1,379.15$1,213.37RVU16C
2016-04-01$1,379.15$1,213.37RVU16B
2016-01-01$1,379.15$1,213.37RVU16A
2015-10-01$1,380.45$1,216.59RVU15D
2015-07-01$1,380.45$1,216.59RVU15C
2015-04-01$1,373.58$1,210.54RVU15B
2015-01-01$1,373.58$1,210.54RVU15A
2014-10-01$1,376.35$1,217.65RVU14D
2014-07-01$1,376.35$1,217.65RVU14C
2014-04-01$1,376.35$1,217.65RVU14B
2014-01-01$1,376.35$1,217.65RVU14A
2013-10-01$1,368.40$1,198.28RVU13D
2013-07-01$1,368.40$1,198.28RVU13C
2013-04-01$1,368.40$1,198.28RVU13B
2013-01-01$1,368.40$1,198.28RVU13AR

Price 15738 for an earlier date of service

Where the North Dakota rate applies

North Dakota is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 406 cities and communities in North Dakota. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Abercrombie
  • Adams
  • Alamo
  • Alexander
  • Alice
  • Almont
  • Alsen
  • Ambrose

Browse all communities in North Dakota

15738 billing questions

How does this differ from a free muscle flap?

This code describes a lower-extremity flap that remains connected to its blood supply during transfer. A free flap, such as the service represented by 15756, is detached and reconnected using microvascular techniques.

Is modifier 50 appropriate when both legs are treated?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inapplicable to this code, so modifier 50 is inappropriate.

What documentation supports reporting this flap?

Document the defect and recipient site, the lower-extremity donor site, the tissue included in the flap, and the method of mobilization and transfer.

Can an assistant surgeon be reported?

CMS permits payment for an assistant at surgery. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.

What postoperative care is included?

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

How is this code affected when other 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.

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 15738PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,534 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for North DakotaGPCI2026.csv, line 84 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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