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CPT code 15820: Lower eyelid surgery, lower eyelid2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in North Carolina

Reports surgical reshaping of a lower eyelid, generally for redundant skin or age-related fullness, when the documented findings support this level rather than extensive fat-pad treatment.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality181 Medicare services in 2024

In North Carolina, Medicare pays $557.74 for 15820 in the office and $429.35 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$557.74Office (non-facility)
$429.35Hospital or facility
−5.2%vs the national office rate ($588.19)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 15820 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 15820 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in North Carolina
  2. What 15820 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 15820 covers

This procedure surgically reshapes the lower eyelid, commonly to address loose or redundant skin and age-related fullness. It is typically performed by an ophthalmic plastic surgeon, plastic surgeon, or other qualified physician in an outpatient operating facility. The operative note should identify the lower eyelid treated and describe the findings and work performed.

Select this code for lower-lid surgery without the extensive herniated fat-pad feature that distinguishes 15821. Document laterality, the clinical indication, relevant skin or contour findings, and the procedure’s extent. For bilateral surgery, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. 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 North Carolina compares for 15820

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 15820 runs from $528.52 in Arkansas to $765.89 in San Benito County, CA. North Carolina pays $557.74. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

15820 in North Carolina vs other payment areas
  1. North Carolina · this page$557.74
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$658.53+$100.79
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$666.54+$108.80
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$627.79+$70.05
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$612.22+$54.48
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$670.27+$112.53
  7. Alaska · Alaska$706.96+$149.22

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

Every other payment area

15820 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$535.22$414.81
ArkansasArkansas$528.52$410.31
ArizonaArizona$574.47$441.13
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$621.13$470.31
Chico, CACalifornia$619.56$468.73
El Centro, CACalifornia$619.64$468.81
Fresno, CACalifornia$619.56$468.73
Hanford, CACalifornia$619.56$468.73

15820 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.

$528.52

$706.96

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

View every state and territory as a table
15820 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$706.961
AL$535.221
AR$528.521
AZ$574.471
CA$619.56–$765.8929
CO$610.681
CT$623.981
DC$666.541
DE$583.171
FL$580.06–$627.793
GA$551.52–$597.912
GU$631.871
HI$631.871
IA$547.241
ID$550.291
IL$565.19–$612.224
IN$553.081
KS$544.901
KY$545.971
LA$545.19–$568.652
MA$607.71–$666.202
MD$593.33–$666.543
ME$552.68–$578.962
MI$558.24–$586.312
MN$587.581
MO$536.98–$570.553
MS$532.841
MT$588.161
NC$557.741
ND$578.671
NE$549.881
NH$601.281
NJ$631.77–$661.032
NM$560.861
NV$585.881
NY$565.02–$684.565
OH$556.301
OK$545.231
OR$581.96–$628.212
PA$557.13–$610.052
PR$592.001
RI$602.481
SC$557.811
SD$577.541
TN$547.271
TX$553.92–$608.128
UT$564.471
VA$577.22–$666.542
VI$592.001
VT$576.591
WA$606.52–$679.012
WI$561.641
WV$546.881
WY$584.021

See 15820 in every payment locality

How the 15820 rate is calculated

Each of 15820’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 · 15820

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work6.11

6.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense11.02

11.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.48

0.48 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

17.6100

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$588.19

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

The exact North Carolina inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,561

Code
15820
Physician work
6.11
Practice expense
11.02
Malpractice
0.48

GPCI2026.csv

83

Locality
North Carolina
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.933
Malpractice
0.639
Office calculation for 15820 in North Carolina
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work6.11× 1.0006.1100
Practice expense11.02× 0.93310.2817
Malpractice0.48× 0.6390.3067
Total RVUs16.6984
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, North Carolina$557.74

Office: (6.11 × 1 + 11.02 × 0.933 + 0.48 × 0.639) × $33.4009 = $557.74

Facility: (6.11 × 1 + 6.9 × 0.933 + 0.48 × 0.639) × $33.4009 = $429.35

Open 15820 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 15820

15820 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 15820

Lower eyelid surgery, lower eyelid

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)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
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 · 15820

Lower eyelid surgery, lower eyelid

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 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

15820 without 50 · national office

$588.19

Lower eyelid surgery, lower eyelid

15820-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$882.29

Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).

When to use modifier 50

Codes related to 15820

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

Codes related to 15820
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, North Carolina
Same family
15821Lower eyelid surgery, prominent fat-pad prolapseLower-lid sibling for surgery involving an extensive herniated fat pad.$600.33
15822Upper eyelid surgery, without lid-weighting excess skinBlepharoplasty of the upper eyelid rather than the lower eyelid.$445.28
15823Upper eyelid surgery, excess skin affects lid functionUpper-lid sibling for excessive skin affecting the upper eyelid.$599.70

How 15820 has changed in North Carolina

15820 · Office / nonfacility

$557.74

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $27.87 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $529.87 to $557.74 (5.3%).

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

    $529.87changed to$557.74

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 6.27 changed to 6.11
    • Practice expense RVU 10.56 changed to 11.02
    • Malpractice RVU 0.50 changed to 0.48
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.926 changed to 0.933
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.665 changed to 0.639

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $548.76changed to$529.87

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 10.68 changed to 10.56
    • Malpractice RVU 0.49 changed to 0.50

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $539.81changed to$548.76

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $554.13changed to$539.81

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 10.50 changed to 10.68
    • Malpractice RVU 0.47 changed to 0.49
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.927 changed to 0.926
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.742 changed to 0.665

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $559.48changed to$554.13

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 10.25 changed to 10.50
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.928 changed to 0.927
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.819 changed to 0.742

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $559.30changed to$559.48

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 10.11 changed to 10.25
    • Malpractice RVU 0.46 changed to 0.47

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $557.64changed to$559.30

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 9.49 changed to 10.11
    • Malpractice RVU 0.47 changed to 0.46
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.930 changed to 0.928
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.757 changed to 0.819

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $553.52changed to$557.64

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 9.24 changed to 9.49
    • Malpractice RVU 0.70 changed to 0.47
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.931 changed to 0.930
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.757

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $545.57changed to$553.52

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 9.20 changed to 9.24
    • Malpractice RVU 0.46 changed to 0.70

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $563.01changed to$545.57

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 9.29 changed to 9.20
    • Malpractice RVU 1.05 changed to 0.46
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.732 changed to 0.695

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $543.80changed to$563.01

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 9.16 changed to 9.29
    • Malpractice RVU 0.52 changed to 1.05
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.930 changed to 0.931
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.768 changed to 0.732

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $554.13changed to$543.80

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 9.46 changed to 9.16
    • Malpractice RVU 0.46 changed to 0.52

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $551.38changed to$554.13

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $562.65changed to$551.38

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 9.22 changed to 9.46
    • Malpractice RVU 1.19 changed to 0.46
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.929 changed to 0.930
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.732 changed to 0.768

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $560.88changed to$562.65

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 10.09 changed to 9.22
    • Malpractice RVU 1.24 changed to 1.19
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.927 changed to 0.929
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.732

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $560.88

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$557.74$429.35RVU26D
2026-07-01$557.74$429.35RVU26C
2026-04-01$557.74$429.35RVU26B
2026-01-01$557.74$429.35RVU26A
2025-10-01$529.87$473.26RVU25D
2025-07-01$529.87$473.26RVU25C
2025-04-01$529.87$473.26RVU25B
2025-01-01$529.87$473.26RVU25A
2024-10-01$548.76$488.35RVU24D
2024-07-01$548.76$488.35RVU24C
2024-04-01$548.76$488.35RVU24B
2024-03-09$548.76$488.35RVU24AR
2024-01-01$539.81$480.38RVU24A
2023-10-01$554.13$492.88RVU23D
2023-07-01$554.13$492.88RVU23C
2023-04-01$554.13$492.88RVU23B
2023-01-01$554.13$492.88RVU23A
2022-10-01$559.48$497.17RVU22D
2022-07-01$559.48$497.17RVU22C
2022-04-01$559.48$497.17RVU22B
2022-01-01$559.48$497.17RVU22A
2021-10-01$559.30$497.77RVU21D
2021-07-01$559.30$497.77RVU21C
2021-04-01$559.30$497.77RVU21B
2021-01-01$559.30$497.77RVU21A
2020-10-01$557.64$499.91RVU20D
2020-07-01$557.64$499.91RVU20C
2020-04-01$557.64$499.91RVU20B
2020-01-01$557.64$499.91RVU20A
2019-10-01$553.52$497.83RVU19D
2019-07-01$553.52$497.83RVU19C
2019-04-01$553.52$497.83RVU19B
2019-01-01$553.52$497.83RVU19A
2018-10-01$545.57$491.28RVU18D
2018-07-01$545.57$491.28RVU18C
2018-04-01$545.57$491.28RVU18B
2018-01-01$545.57$491.28RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$563.01$507.88RVU17D
2017-07-01$563.01$507.88RVU17C
2017-04-01$563.01$507.88RVU17B
2017-01-01$563.01$507.88RVU17A
2016-10-01$543.80$492.52RVU16D
2016-07-01$543.80$492.52RVU16C
2016-04-01$543.80$492.52RVU16B
2016-01-01$543.80$492.52RVU16A
2015-10-01$554.13$497.99RVU15D
2015-07-01$554.13$497.99RVU15C
2015-04-01$551.38$495.51RVU15B
2015-01-01$551.38$495.51RVU15A
2014-10-01$562.65$512.06RVU14D
2014-07-01$562.65$512.06RVU14C
2014-04-01$562.65$512.06RVU14B
2014-01-01$562.65$512.06RVU14A
2013-10-01$560.88$506.94RVU13D
2013-07-01$560.88$506.94RVU13C
2013-04-01$560.88$506.94RVU13B
2013-01-01$560.88$506.94RVU13AR

Price 15820 for an earlier date of service

Where the North Carolina rate applies

North Carolina is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 785 cities and communities in North Carolina. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Aberdeen
  • Advance
  • Ahoskie
  • Alamance
  • Albemarle
  • Alexis
  • Alliance
  • Altamahaw

Browse all communities in North Carolina

15820 billing questions

How does 15820 differ from 15821?

Use 15820 for lower-lid surgery without an extensive herniated fat pad. The extensive fat-pad feature points to 15821.

Can 15820 be reported for both lower eyelids?

Yes, when both sides are treated. Report modifier 50; CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.

What postoperative care is included?

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

Can an assistant surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment is available only when medical necessity is documented. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted for this code.

What should the operative note support?

Document the lower-lid site and laterality, relevant skin or contour findings, clinical indication, and the extent of the work. For selection against 15821, describe whether an extensive herniated fat pad was treated.

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 15820PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,561 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for North CarolinaGPCI2026.csv, line 83 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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