CPT code 15876: Fat removal, head and neck2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
Reports suction-assisted removal of localized fat in the head or neck when the procedure meets Medicare’s restricted coverage conditions.
Medicare pays $0.00 for 15876 in the office in California (Bakersfield, CA). Which amount applies depends on the service address.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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What 15876 covers
This service removes localized subcutaneous fat from the head or neck using suction through a small cannula. It is typically performed by a plastic surgeon or another surgeon experienced in facial and neck contouring, in an ambulatory surgical setting or hospital. The target anatomy, suction technique, and reason for treatment distinguish it from excision of a discrete submental fat pad or a face and neck lift.
Medicare lists restricted coverage, so payment is limited to specific circumstances; routine cosmetic contouring should not be presumed covered. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this descriptor and anatomy. 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.
Where 15876 pays more and less in California
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
29 of 29 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Chico, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| El Centro, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Fresno, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Hanford, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Madera, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Marin County, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Merced, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Modesto, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Napa, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Oxnard, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Redding, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Rest of California | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Riverside, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Sacramento, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Salinas, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| San Benito County, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| San Diego, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| San Francisco, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Stockton, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Vallejo, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Visalia, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Yuba City, CA | $0.00 | $0.00 |
How the 15876 rate is calculated
Each of 15876’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 · 15876
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.00
0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.00
0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.00
0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
0.0000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$0.00
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 15876
The CMS indicators that decide how 15876 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 15876
Fat removal, head and neck
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
15876 without 51 · national office
$0.00
Fat removal, head and neck
15876-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$0.00
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%).
15876 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 15838Fat pad excisionUnder-chin adipose tissue
- Choose 15876 for suction-assisted fat removal in the head or neck; 15838 describes excision of a discrete submental fat pad.
- 15877LiposuctionTrunk
- 15877 describes suction-assisted fat removal of the trunk. The treated body region distinguishes it from head and neck service 15876.
- 15828FaceliftCheek, chin, and neck
- 15828 describes a face and neck lift, not suction-assisted removal of localized fat. Select based on the procedure actually performed.
15876 billing questions
How is this different from excision of a submental fat pad?
This code represents suction-assisted removal of fat in the head or neck. Use 15838 when a discrete submental fat pad is removed by excision rather than suction.
Is routine cosmetic contouring covered by Medicare?
CMS identifies this service as restricted coverage, payable only in specific circumstances.
Does the service include same-day preoperative and postoperative care?
Yes. Its 0-day global period includes preoperative and postoperative care on the procedure date.
Should modifier 50 be appended for treatment on both sides?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this descriptor and anatomy.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is allowed only when medical necessity is documented. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
What happens when another procedure is performed in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in this code’s service.
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
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