CPT code 41015: Mouth lesion drainage, extraoral floor-of-mouth approach2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in San Diego, CA

Reports surgical drainage of an abscess, cyst, or hematoma in the floor of the mouth when the surgeon reaches the collection through an external incision.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality87 Medicare services in 2024

In San Diego, CA, Medicare pays $459.06 for 41015 in the office and $302.86 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$459.06Office (non-facility)
$302.86Hospital or facility
+11.8%vs the national office rate ($410.50)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 41015 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 41015 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in San Diego, CA
  2. What 41015 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 41015 covers

This service drains a collection in the floor of the mouth through an incision made outside the mouth. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons and other surgeons treating deep oral infections may perform it, commonly in a facility when the collection requires external access. The operative report should identify the floor-of-mouth site and document the external approach and drainage performed; the code is distinguished from procedures that reach a collection through the oral cavity or target another space.

Report the service for the documented site and approach, not simply because a patient has an oral abscess. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including 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 the others are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this anatomy. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of 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 San Diego, CA compares for 41015

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 41015 runs from $366.19 in Arkansas to $534.18 in San Benito County, CA. San Diego, CA pays $459.06. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

41015 in San Diego, CA vs other payment areas
  1. San Diego, CA · this page$459.06
  2. Bakersfield, CA · California$432.35−$26.71
  3. Chico, CA · California$430.99−$28.07
  4. El Centro, CA · California$431.06−$28.00
  5. Fresno, CA · California$430.99−$28.07
  6. Hanford, CA · California$430.99−$28.07
  7. Los Angeles, CA · California$458.94−$0.12

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

Every other payment area

41015 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Madera, CACalifornia$430.99$287.85
Merced, CACalifornia$430.99$287.85
Modesto, CACalifornia$430.99$287.85
Napa, CACalifornia$494.96$322.83
Oxnard, CACalifornia$456.33$301.97
Redding, CACalifornia$430.99$287.85
Rest of CaliforniaCalifornia$430.99$287.85
Riverside, CACalifornia$435.88$292.75

41015 rates by state

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

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.

$366.19

$487.28

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

View every state and territory as a table
41015 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$487.281
AL$371.161
AR$366.191
AZ$400.191
CA$430.99–$534.1829
CO$425.601
CT$436.531
DC$466.101
DE$406.491
FL$406.51–$444.243
GA$385.03–$418.122
GU$440.141
HI$440.141
IA$379.121
ID$381.571
IL$396.12–$432.204
IN$383.611
KS$377.841
KY$380.081
LA$379.67–$397.052
MA$423.49–$465.232
MD$413.74–$466.103
ME$383.81–$402.592
MI$389.60–$411.622
MN$407.531
MO$373.88–$397.933
MS$370.081
MT$410.471
NC$387.481
ND$401.571
NE$380.931
NH$419.381
NJ$441.43–$461.902
NM$391.731
NV$408.251
NY$392.91–$481.505
OH$387.781
OK$379.051
OR$404.98–$437.922
PA$388.14–$426.552
PR$413.161
RI$420.061
SC$388.291
SD$400.521
TN$379.651
TX$385.80–$424.288
UT$393.211
VA$401.62–$466.102
VI$413.161
VT$400.451
WA$422.55–$473.992
WI$389.071
WV$382.581
WY$406.591

See 41015 in every payment locality

How the 41015 rate is calculated

Each of 41015’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 · 41015

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work3.98

3.98 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense7.86

7.86 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.45

0.45 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

12.2900

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$410.50

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

The exact San Diego, CA inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

4,890

Code
41015
Physician work
3.98
Practice expense
7.86
Malpractice
0.45

GPCI2026.csv

23

Locality
San Diego, CA
Physician work
1.030
Practice expense
1.196
Malpractice
0.542
Office calculation for 41015 in San Diego, CA
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work3.98× 1.0304.0994
Practice expense7.86× 1.1969.4006
Malpractice0.45× 0.5420.2439
Total RVUs13.7439
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, San Diego, CA$459.06

Office: (3.98 × 1.03 + 7.86 × 1.196 + 0.45 × 0.542) × $33.4009 = $459.06

Facility: (3.98 × 1.03 + 3.95 × 1.196 + 0.45 × 0.542) × $33.4009 = $302.86

Open 41015 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 41015

41015 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 41015

Mouth lesion drainage, extraoral floor-of-mouth approach

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)0.09/0.81/0.10Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 41015

Mouth lesion drainage, extraoral floor-of-mouth approach

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

41015 without 51 · national office

$410.50

Mouth lesion drainage, extraoral floor-of-mouth approach

41015-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$205.25

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 41015 has changed in San Diego, CA

41015 · Office / nonfacility

$459.06

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $21.85 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $437.21 to $459.06 (5.0%).

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

    $437.21changed to$459.06

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 4.08 changed to 3.98
    • Practice expense RVU 7.64 changed to 7.86
    • Malpractice RVU 0.39 changed to 0.45
    • Work GPCI 1.028 changed to 1.030
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.191 changed to 1.196
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.572 changed to 0.542

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $444.97changed to$437.21

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 7.51 changed to 7.64
    • Malpractice RVU 0.40 changed to 0.39

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $437.71changed to$444.97

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $448.64changed to$437.71

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 7.49 changed to 7.51
    • Malpractice RVU 0.37 changed to 0.40
    • Work GPCI 1.032 changed to 1.028
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.176 changed to 1.191
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.596 changed to 0.572
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $452.99changed to$448.64

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 7.45 changed to 7.49
    • Malpractice RVU 0.35 changed to 0.37
    • Work GPCI 1.037 changed to 1.032
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.160 changed to 1.176
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.620 changed to 0.596

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $453.90changed to$452.99

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 7.49 changed to 7.45
    • Malpractice RVU 0.34 changed to 0.35
    • Work GPCI 1.035 changed to 1.037
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.145 changed to 1.160
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.616 changed to 0.620

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $452.03changed to$453.90

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 7.17 changed to 7.49
    • Malpractice RVU 0.35 changed to 0.34
    • Work GPCI 1.032 changed to 1.035
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.130 changed to 1.145
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.607 changed to 0.616

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $457.80changed to$452.03

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 7.29 changed to 7.17
    • Malpractice RVU 0.69 changed to 0.35
    • Work GPCI 1.023 changed to 1.032
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.116 changed to 1.130
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.570 changed to 0.607

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $463.32changed to$457.80

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 7.54 changed to 7.29
    • Work GPCI 1.022 changed to 1.023
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.102 changed to 1.116
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.567 changed to 0.570

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $494.77changed to$463.32

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 8.45 changed to 7.54
    • Malpractice RVU 0.68 changed to 0.69
    • Work GPCI 1.024 changed to 1.022
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.088 changed to 1.102
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.610 changed to 0.567

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    No ratechanged to$494.77

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D, RVU14A, RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D, RVU15A, RVU15B, RVU15C, RVU15D, RVU16A, RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$459.06$302.86RVU26D
2026-07-01$459.06$302.86RVU26C
2026-04-01$459.06$302.86RVU26B
2026-01-01$459.06$302.86RVU26A
2025-10-01$437.21$323.18RVU25D
2025-07-01$437.21$323.18RVU25C
2025-04-01$437.21$323.18RVU25B
2025-01-01$437.21$323.18RVU25A
2024-10-01$444.97$325.64RVU24D
2024-07-01$444.97$325.64RVU24C
2024-04-01$444.97$325.64RVU24B
2024-03-09$444.97$325.64RVU24AR
2024-01-01$437.71$320.32RVU24A
2023-10-01$448.64$327.50RVU23D
2023-07-01$448.64$327.50RVU23C
2023-04-01$448.64$327.50RVU23B
2023-01-01$448.64$327.50RVU23A
2022-10-01$452.99$328.55RVU22D
2022-07-01$452.99$328.55RVU22C
2022-04-01$452.99$328.55RVU22B
2022-01-01$452.99$328.55RVU22A
2021-10-01$453.90$332.04RVU21D
2021-07-01$453.90$332.04RVU21C
2021-04-01$453.90$332.04RVU21B
2021-01-01$453.90$332.04RVU21A
2020-10-01$452.03$342.73RVU20D
2020-07-01$452.03$342.73RVU20C
2020-04-01$452.03$342.73RVU20B
2020-01-01$452.03$342.73RVU20A
2019-10-01$457.80$356.04RVU19D
2019-07-01$457.80$356.04RVU19C
2019-04-01$457.80$356.04RVU19B
2019-01-01$457.80$356.04RVU19A
2018-10-01$463.32$366.92RVU18D
2018-07-01$463.32$366.92RVU18C
2018-04-01$463.32$366.92RVU18B
2018-01-01$463.32$366.92RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$494.77$379.98RVU17D
2017-07-01$494.77$379.98RVU17C
2017-04-01$494.77$379.98RVU17B
2017-01-01$494.77$379.98RVU17A
2016-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16D
2016-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16C
2016-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16B
2016-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16A
2015-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15D
2015-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15C
2015-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15B
2015-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15A
2014-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14D
2014-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14C
2014-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14B
2014-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14A
2013-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 41015 for an earlier date of service

Where the San Diego, CA rate applies

San Diego, CA is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 57 cities and communities in California. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Carlsbad
  • Chula Vista
  • San Diego
  • Vista
  • Alpine
  • Bonita
  • Bonsall
  • Borrego Springs

Browse all communities in California

41015 billing questions

When is this code chosen over an intraoral drainage code?

Use it when the operative documentation identifies a floor-of-mouth collection and the surgeon drains it through an external incision. Drainage reached through the mouth is coded to the applicable intraoral service.

How is this distinguished from 41007?

The distinction is the documented target and approach: 41015 describes external access to a floor-of-mouth collection, while 41007 is for drainage of a submandibular-space collection.

What should the operative report document?

Document the collection's anatomic site, the external route of access, and the drainage performed. A general diagnosis of mouth abscess without the site and approach is not enough to establish this specific service.

Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral drainage?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code's descriptor and anatomy.

How does the multiple-procedure rule affect payment?

For procedures performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires medical-necessity documentation.

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 41015PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 4,890 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for San Diego, CAGPCI2026.csv, line 23 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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