FeeBase
Log inGet started
Menu

CPT code 51715: Urethral bulking, bladder neck or urethra2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in South 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 South Carolina, Medicare pays $327.97 for 51715 in the office and $170.88 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$327.97Office (non-facility)
$170.88Hospital or facility
−5.3%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 South 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 South 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. South Carolina pays $327.97. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

51715 in South Carolina vs other payment areas
  1. South Carolina · this page$327.97
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$383.30+$55.33
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$391.79+$63.82
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$381.92+$53.95
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$371.18+$43.21
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$398.07+$70.10
  7. Alaska · Alaska$412.67+$84.70

Other areas in South 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 South 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

93

Locality
South Carolina
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.924
Malpractice
0.850
Office calculation for 51715 in South Carolina
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work3.64× 1.0003.6400
Practice expense6.20× 0.9245.7288
Malpractice0.53× 0.8500.4505
Total RVUs9.8193
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, South Carolina$327.97

Office: (3.64 × 1 + 6.2 × 0.924 + 0.53 × 0.85) × $33.4009 = $327.97

Facility: (3.64 × 1 + 1.11 × 0.924 + 0.53 × 0.85) × $33.4009 = $170.88

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, South 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 South Carolina

51715 · Office / nonfacility

$327.97

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $8.38 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $319.59 to $327.97 (2.6%).

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

    $319.59changed to$327.97

    • 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 0.913 changed to 0.924
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.817 changed to 0.850

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $346.52changed to$319.59

    • 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

    $340.86changed to$346.52

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $351.77changed to$340.86

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 6.90 changed to 6.86
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.908 changed to 0.913
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.756 changed to 0.817

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $359.54changed to$351.77

    • 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 0.903 changed to 0.908
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.756

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $349.12changed to$359.54

    • 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

    $327.75changed to$349.12

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 5.57 changed to 6.58
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.907 changed to 0.903
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.624 changed to 0.695

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $304.51changed to$327.75

    • 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 0.912 changed to 0.907
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.553 changed to 0.624

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $281.39changed to$304.51

    • 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

    $279.58changed to$281.39

    • 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 0.634 changed to 0.553

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $278.83changed to$279.58

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 4.12 changed to 4.16
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.715 changed to 0.634

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $279.70changed to$278.83

    • 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

    $278.31changed to$279.70

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $273.00changed to$278.31

    • 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 0.911 changed to 0.912
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.618 changed to 0.715

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $268.34changed to$273.00

    • 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 0.909 changed to 0.911
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.520 changed to 0.618

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $268.34

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$327.97$170.88RVU26D
2026-07-01$327.97$170.88RVU26C
2026-04-01$327.97$170.88RVU26B
2026-01-01$327.97$170.88RVU26A
2025-10-01$319.59$184.63RVU25D
2025-07-01$319.59$184.63RVU25C
2025-04-01$319.59$184.63RVU25B
2025-01-01$319.59$184.63RVU25A
2024-10-01$346.52$189.09RVU24D
2024-07-01$346.52$189.09RVU24C
2024-04-01$346.52$189.09RVU24B
2024-03-09$346.52$189.09RVU24AR
2024-01-01$340.86$186.00RVU24A
2023-10-01$351.77$189.93RVU23D
2023-07-01$351.77$189.93RVU23C
2023-04-01$351.77$189.93RVU23B
2023-01-01$351.77$189.93RVU23A
2022-10-01$359.54$190.79RVU22D
2022-07-01$359.54$190.79RVU22C
2022-04-01$359.54$190.79RVU22B
2022-01-01$359.54$190.79RVU22A
2021-10-01$349.12$192.52RVU21D
2021-07-01$349.12$192.52RVU21C
2021-04-01$349.12$192.52RVU21B
2021-01-01$349.12$192.52RVU21A
2020-10-01$327.75$197.14RVU20D
2020-07-01$327.75$197.14RVU20C
2020-04-01$327.75$197.14RVU20B
2020-01-01$327.75$197.14RVU20A
2019-10-01$304.51$195.71RVU19D
2019-07-01$304.51$195.71RVU19C
2019-04-01$304.51$195.71RVU19B
2019-01-01$304.51$195.71RVU19A
2018-10-01$281.39$196.68RVU18D
2018-07-01$281.39$196.68RVU18C
2018-04-01$281.39$196.68RVU18B
2018-01-01$281.39$196.68RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$279.58$196.44RVU17D
2017-07-01$279.58$196.44RVU17C
2017-04-01$279.58$196.44RVU17B
2017-01-01$279.58$196.44RVU17A
2016-10-01$278.83$196.55RVU16D
2016-07-01$278.83$196.55RVU16C
2016-04-01$278.83$196.55RVU16B
2016-01-01$278.83$196.55RVU16A
2015-10-01$279.70$197.77RVU15D
2015-07-01$279.70$197.77RVU15C
2015-04-01$278.31$196.79RVU15B
2015-01-01$278.31$196.79RVU15A
2014-10-01$273.00$194.03RVU14D
2014-07-01$273.00$194.03RVU14C
2014-04-01$273.00$194.03RVU14B
2014-01-01$273.00$194.03RVU14A
2013-10-01$268.34$185.76RVU13D
2013-07-01$268.34$185.76RVU13C
2013-04-01$268.34$185.76RVU13B
2013-01-01$268.34$185.76RVU13AR

Price 51715 for an earlier date of service

Where the South Carolina rate applies

South Carolina is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 475 cities and communities in South Carolina. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Abbeville
  • Abney Crossroads
  • Adams Run
  • Aiken
  • Alcolu
  • Allendale
  • Anderson
  • Andrews

Browse all communities in South 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 South CarolinaGPCI2026.csv, line 93 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

Did this answer your question about what 51715 pays in South Carolina?

Tell us what you were actually trying to work out. We’ll answer you directly, or build the page that does.

Fee sheets · Coming soon

Put 51715 and the rest of your codes on one sheet

Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.

Join the waitlist