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CPT code 51715: Urethral bulking, bladder neck or urethra2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in North Carolina

Endoscopic injection of bulking material into urethral or bladder-neck tissue to improve closure in patients with stress urinary incontinence.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality16.9K Medicare services in 2024

In North Carolina, Medicare pays $326.10 for 51715 in the office and $167.48 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$326.10Office (non-facility)
$167.48Hospital or facility
−5.9%vs the national office rate ($346.37)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 51715 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 51715 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in North Carolina
  2. What 51715 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 51715 covers

A urologist or urogynecologist uses a cystoscope to place bulking material beneath the lining of the urethra and/or bladder neck. The added volume helps the outlet close more effectively. The procedure is used for stress urinary incontinence associated with inadequate urethral sphincter closure, including cases in which a patient and clinician select an injection approach rather than a sling operation. It is commonly performed in an ambulatory or office-based setting, depending on the technique and clinical circumstances.

Report one unit for the endoscopic injection service, not a separate unit for each deposit of material. The record should identify the incontinence indication, injection site, material, and endoscopic procedure performed. Cystoscopic access and visualization are part of the injection service; do not separately report routine diagnostic cystoscopy for that same work. The code has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others are reduced to 50%. Bilateral adjustment is inappropriate. 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 51715

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 51715 runs from $308.58 in Arkansas to $443.06 in San Benito County, CA. North Carolina pays $326.10. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

51715 in North Carolina vs other payment areas
  1. North Carolina · this page$326.10
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$383.30+$57.20
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$391.79+$65.69
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$381.92+$55.82
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$371.18+$45.08
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$398.07+$71.97
  7. Alaska · Alaska$412.67+$86.57

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

Every other payment area

51715 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$312.80$164.04
ArkansasArkansas$308.58$162.54
ArizonaArizona$337.40$172.66
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$361.64$175.30
Chico, CACalifornia$360.10$173.77
El Centro, CACalifornia$360.19$173.86
Fresno, CACalifornia$360.10$173.77
Hanford, CACalifornia$360.10$173.77

51715 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.

$308.58

$412.67

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

View every state and territory as a table
51715 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$412.671
AL$312.801
AR$308.581
AZ$337.401
CA$360.10–$443.0629
CO$357.201
CT$368.461
DC$391.791
DE$342.701
FL$346.16–$381.923
GA$327.40–$353.602
GU$367.291
HI$367.291
IA$318.091
ID$320.471
IL$338.32–$371.184
IN$322.151
KS$317.711
KY$321.881
LA$321.81–$336.562
MA$355.69–$389.582
MD$348.62–$391.793
ME$323.11–$337.972
MI$330.63–$351.262
MN$339.911
MO$317.33–$336.463
MS$312.961
MT$346.331
NC$326.101
ND$335.851
NE$319.411
NH$352.651
NJ$372.00–$388.362
NM$332.741
NV$343.621
NY$330.76–$408.465
OH$328.491
OK$320.261
OR$340.28–$366.772
PA$328.41–$360.462
PR$348.381
RI$353.601
SC$327.971
SD$334.611
TN$319.331
TX$326.47–$356.608
UT$332.141
VA$337.64–$391.792
VI$348.381
VT$335.551
WA$354.69–$396.222
WI$325.421
WV$326.871
WY$341.761

See 51715 in every payment locality

How the 51715 rate is calculated

Each of 51715’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 · 51715

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work3.64

3.64 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense6.20

6.20 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.53

0.53 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

10.3700

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$346.37

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

6,051

Code
51715
Physician work
3.64
Practice expense
6.20
Malpractice
0.53

GPCI2026.csv

83

Locality
North Carolina
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.933
Malpractice
0.639
Office calculation for 51715 in North Carolina
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work3.64× 1.0003.6400
Practice expense6.20× 0.9335.7846
Malpractice0.53× 0.6390.3387
Total RVUs9.7633
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, North Carolina$326.10

Office: (3.64 × 1 + 6.2 × 0.933 + 0.53 × 0.639) × $33.4009 = $326.10

Facility: (3.64 × 1 + 1.11 × 0.933 + 0.53 × 0.639) × $33.4009 = $167.48

Open 51715 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 51715

The CMS indicators that decide how 51715 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 51715

Urethral bulking, bladder neck or urethra

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is 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.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

51715 without 51 · national office

$346.37

Urethral bulking, bladder neck or urethra

51715-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$173.19

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 51715

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

Codes related to 51715
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, North Carolina
Used instead
57288Sling procedure, stress-incontinence slingSling operation used as a different procedural approach to stress urinary incontinence.No office rate
51840Bladder suspension, abdominal approachUrethrovesical suspension is another surgical approach to stress urinary incontinence.No office rate
53440Male sling, male stress incontinenceMale sling procedure is a surgical option for male urinary incontinence.No office rate

How 51715 has changed in North Carolina

51715 · Office / nonfacility

$326.10

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $6.37 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $319.73 to $326.10 (2.0%).

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

    $319.73changed to$326.10

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 3.73 changed to 3.64
    • Practice expense RVU 6.28 changed to 6.20
    • Malpractice RVU 0.51 changed to 0.53
    • 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

    $346.91changed to$319.73

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 6.86 changed to 6.28

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $341.24changed to$346.91

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $355.98changed to$341.24

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 6.90 changed to 6.86
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.927 changed to 0.926
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.742 changed to 0.665

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $367.73changed to$355.98

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 6.99 changed to 6.90
    • Malpractice RVU 0.50 changed to 0.51
    • 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

    $356.93changed to$367.73

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 6.58 changed to 6.99
    • Malpractice RVU 0.48 changed to 0.50

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $334.68changed to$356.93

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 5.57 changed to 6.58
    • 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

    $310.02changed to$334.68

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 4.92 changed to 5.57
    • Malpractice RVU 0.42 changed to 0.48
    • 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

    $286.47changed to$310.02

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 4.22 changed to 4.92
    • Malpractice RVU 0.43 changed to 0.42

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $283.89changed to$286.47

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 4.16 changed to 4.22
    • Malpractice RVU 0.42 changed to 0.43
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.732 changed to 0.695

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $282.29changed to$283.89

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 4.12 changed to 4.16
    • 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

    $283.19changed to$282.29

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 4.10 changed to 4.12
    • Malpractice RVU 0.44 changed to 0.42

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $281.78changed to$283.19

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $277.10changed to$281.78

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 4.02 changed to 4.10
    • Malpractice RVU 0.37 changed to 0.44
    • 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

    $273.32changed to$277.10

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 4.35 changed to 4.02
    • Malpractice RVU 0.39 changed to 0.37
    • 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: $273.32

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$326.10$167.48RVU26D
2026-07-01$326.10$167.48RVU26C
2026-04-01$326.10$167.48RVU26B
2026-01-01$326.10$167.48RVU26A
2025-10-01$319.73$182.84RVU25D
2025-07-01$319.73$182.84RVU25C
2025-04-01$319.73$182.84RVU25B
2025-01-01$319.73$182.84RVU25A
2024-10-01$346.91$187.24RVU24D
2024-07-01$346.91$187.24RVU24C
2024-04-01$346.91$187.24RVU24B
2024-03-09$346.91$187.24RVU24AR
2024-01-01$341.24$184.18RVU24A
2023-10-01$355.98$190.74RVU23D
2023-07-01$355.98$190.74RVU23C
2023-04-01$355.98$190.74RVU23B
2023-01-01$355.98$190.74RVU23A
2022-10-01$367.73$194.31RVU22D
2022-07-01$367.73$194.31RVU22C
2022-04-01$367.73$194.31RVU22B
2022-01-01$367.73$194.31RVU22A
2021-10-01$356.93$196.00RVU21D
2021-07-01$356.93$196.00RVU21C
2021-04-01$356.93$196.00RVU21B
2021-01-01$356.93$196.00RVU21A
2020-10-01$334.68$200.76RVU20D
2020-07-01$334.68$200.76RVU20C
2020-04-01$334.68$200.76RVU20B
2020-01-01$334.68$200.76RVU20A
2019-10-01$310.02$198.97RVU19D
2019-07-01$310.02$198.97RVU19C
2019-04-01$310.02$198.97RVU19B
2019-01-01$310.02$198.97RVU19A
2018-10-01$286.47$200.00RVU18D
2018-07-01$286.47$200.00RVU18C
2018-04-01$286.47$200.00RVU18B
2018-01-01$286.47$200.00RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$283.89$199.03RVU17D
2017-07-01$283.89$199.03RVU17C
2017-04-01$283.89$199.03RVU17B
2017-01-01$283.89$199.03RVU17A
2016-10-01$282.29$198.38RVU16D
2016-07-01$282.29$198.38RVU16C
2016-04-01$282.29$198.38RVU16B
2016-01-01$282.29$198.38RVU16A
2015-10-01$283.19$199.64RVU15D
2015-07-01$283.19$199.64RVU15C
2015-04-01$281.78$198.65RVU15B
2015-01-01$281.78$198.65RVU15A
2014-10-01$277.10$196.57RVU14D
2014-07-01$277.10$196.57RVU14C
2014-04-01$277.10$196.57RVU14B
2014-01-01$277.10$196.57RVU14A
2013-10-01$273.32$189.11RVU13D
2013-07-01$273.32$189.11RVU13C
2013-04-01$273.32$189.11RVU13B
2013-01-01$273.32$189.11RVU13AR

Price 51715 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

51715 billing questions

How is 51715 different from a bladder Botox injection?

51715 places bulking material in urethral or bladder-neck tissue to improve outlet closure. CPT 52287 describes bladder chemodenervation, commonly used for overactive bladder.

Can diagnostic cystoscopy be billed separately on the same date?

Routine cystoscopic access and visualization are integral to the endoscopic injection. Do not separately report diagnostic cystoscopy for that same work.

Should the code be billed once for each injection deposit?

No. Report one unit for the procedure, rather than counting individual deposits of bulking material as separate units.

Is modifier 50 appropriate when treatment involves both sides?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code. Report the endoscopic injection service without a bilateral modifier.

What documentation supports reporting 51715?

Document the stress-incontinence indication, the urethral or bladder-neck injection site, the bulking material used, and the endoscopic service performed.

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 51715PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,051 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for North CarolinaGPCI2026.csv, line 83 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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