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CPT code 41015: Mouth lesion drainage, extraoral floor-of-mouth approach2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

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 Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $466.10 for 41015 in the office and $312.26 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$466.10Office (non-facility)
$312.26Hospital or facility
+13.5%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 Washington, DC area
  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 Washington, DC area 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. Washington, DC area pays $466.10. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

41015 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$466.10
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$458.94−$7.16
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$444.24−$21.86
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$432.20−$33.90
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$470.34+$4.24
  6. Alaska · Alaska$487.28+$21.18
  7. Alabama · Alabama$371.16−$94.94

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

Every other payment area

41015 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$366.19$254.01
ArizonaArizona$400.19$273.65
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$432.35$289.21
Chico, CACalifornia$430.99$287.85
El Centro, CACalifornia$431.06$287.93
Fresno, CACalifornia$430.99$287.85
Hanford, CACalifornia$430.99$287.85
Madera, CACalifornia$430.99$287.85

41015 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.

$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 Washington, DC area 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

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 41015 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work3.98× 1.0544.1949
Practice expense7.86× 1.1789.2591
Malpractice0.45× 1.1130.5009
Total RVUs13.9548
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$466.10

Office: (3.98 × 1.054 + 7.86 × 1.178 + 0.45 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $466.10

Facility: (3.98 × 1.054 + 3.95 × 1.178 + 0.45 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $312.26

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

Codes related to 41015

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

Codes related to 41015
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Same family
41005Oral drainage, mouth vestibuleRelated drainage code for a tongue or floor-of-mouth collection reached through a lingual approach.$266.63
41006Mouth lesion drainage, floor of mouth, extraoralRelated drainage code for a tongue or floor-of-mouth collection reached through a sublingual approach.$396.84
41007Mouth lesion drainage, floor of mouth, intraoralRelated drainage code for a submandibular-space collection.$382.91
41017Lesion drainage, floor of mouth, intraoralExtraoral drainage code for a collection in the masticator space.$546.09

How 41015 has changed in Washington, DC area

41015 · Office / nonfacility

$466.10

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $17.29 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $448.81 to $466.10 (3.9%).

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

    $448.81changed to$466.10

    • 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 1.057 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

    $457.09changed to$448.81

    • 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

    $449.63changed to$457.09

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $469.57changed to$449.63

    • 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 1.056 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

    $483.15changed to$469.57

    • 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 1.054 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

    $488.43changed to$483.15

    • 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

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $486.54changed to$488.43

    • 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 1.049 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

    $501.60changed to$486.54

    • 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 1.045 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

    $511.89changed to$501.60

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 7.54 changed to 7.29

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $549.90changed to$511.89

    • 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 1.048 changed to 1.045
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.271 changed to 1.261

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $549.72changed to$549.90

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Malpractice RVU 0.69 changed to 0.68
    • 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

    $552.14changed to$549.72

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 8.46 changed to 8.45

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $549.39changed to$552.14

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $535.45changed to$549.39

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 8.37 changed to 8.46
    • Malpractice RVU 0.50 changed to 0.69
    • 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

    $536.93changed to$535.45

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 9.11 changed to 8.37
    • Malpractice RVU 0.52 changed to 0.50
    • 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: $536.93

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$466.10$312.26RVU26D
2026-07-01$466.10$312.26RVU26C
2026-04-01$466.10$312.26RVU26B
2026-01-01$466.10$312.26RVU26A
2025-10-01$448.81$334.68RVU25D
2025-07-01$448.81$334.68RVU25C
2025-04-01$448.81$334.68RVU25B
2025-01-01$448.81$334.68RVU25A
2024-10-01$457.09$337.66RVU24D
2024-07-01$457.09$337.66RVU24C
2024-04-01$457.09$337.66RVU24B
2024-03-09$457.09$337.66RVU24AR
2024-01-01$449.63$332.15RVU24A
2023-10-01$469.57$344.51RVU23D
2023-07-01$469.57$344.51RVU23C
2023-04-01$469.57$344.51RVU23B
2023-01-01$469.57$344.51RVU23A
2022-10-01$483.15$350.55RVU22D
2022-07-01$483.15$350.55RVU22C
2022-04-01$483.15$350.55RVU22B
2022-01-01$483.15$350.55RVU22A
2021-10-01$488.43$356.89RVU21D
2021-07-01$488.43$356.89RVU21C
2021-04-01$488.43$356.89RVU21B
2021-01-01$488.43$356.89RVU21A
2020-10-01$486.54$368.44RVU20D
2020-07-01$486.54$368.44RVU20C
2020-04-01$486.54$368.44RVU20B
2020-01-01$486.54$368.44RVU20A
2019-10-01$501.60$391.73RVU19D
2019-07-01$501.60$391.73RVU19C
2019-04-01$501.60$391.73RVU19B
2019-01-01$501.60$391.73RVU19A
2018-10-01$511.89$406.48RVU18D
2018-07-01$511.89$406.48RVU18C
2018-04-01$511.89$406.48RVU18B
2018-01-01$511.89$406.48RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$549.90$422.76RVU17D
2017-07-01$549.90$422.76RVU17C
2017-04-01$549.90$422.76RVU17B
2017-01-01$549.90$422.76RVU17A
2016-10-01$549.72$424.17RVU16D
2016-07-01$549.72$424.17RVU16C
2016-04-01$549.72$424.17RVU16B
2016-01-01$549.72$424.17RVU16A
2015-10-01$552.14$424.84RVU15D
2015-07-01$552.14$424.84RVU15C
2015-04-01$549.39$422.72RVU15B
2015-01-01$549.39$422.72RVU15A
2014-10-01$535.45$411.44RVU14D
2014-07-01$535.45$411.44RVU14C
2014-04-01$535.45$411.44RVU14B
2014-01-01$535.45$411.44RVU14A
2013-10-01$536.93$407.31RVU13D
2013-07-01$536.93$407.31RVU13C
2013-04-01$536.93$407.31RVU13B
2013-01-01$536.93$407.31RVU13AR

Price 41015 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.

Browse all communities in District of Columbia

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 Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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