HCPCS code G0281: Wound stimulation, specified chronic ulcers2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $11.69 for G0281 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $10.77–$14.89.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What G0281 covers

G0281 describes unattended electrical stimulation to one or more areas for chronic stage III or stage IV pressure ulcers, arterial ulcers, diabetic ulcers, or venous stasis ulcers that have not demonstrated healing after 30 days of conventional care. A physical or occupational therapist typically incorporates the treatment into a therapy plan of care in an outpatient rehabilitation or other therapy setting. The electrodes deliver stimulation without continuous hands-on attendance during the treatment.

Report G0281 when the ulcer type and clinical course meet this specific wound-care description, rather than using it for other wound indications or non-wound stimulation. Documentation should identify the ulcer location and type, pressure-ulcer stage when applicable, lack of healing with conventional care, stimulation provided, and the therapy plan. The professional component modifier is not used for this therapy service. Under the therapy multiple procedure payment reduction, practice expense is reduced for the second and later therapy units furnished on the same day.

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 G0281 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

G0281 rates by state

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

How the G0281 rate is calculated

Each of G0281’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for G0281

The CMS indicators that decide how G0281 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

G0281 compared with similar codes

How to choose

G0282Wound stimulationOther wound-care category

Choose G0282 for wound-care stimulation outside G0281's specified chronic ulcer group; G0281 is limited to the listed ulcer types with the stated healing history.

G0283Electrical stimulationUnattended, other than wound care

G0283 is for unattended stimulation used for a non-wound indication. G0281 is for the specified chronic ulcer conditions.

97014Electrical stimulationUnattended

97014 is the CPT code for unattended electrical stimulation. For the specified chronic-ulcer wound treatment described by G0281, use the Medicare HCPCS wound-care code rather than treating 97014 as interchangeable.

Codes related to G0281

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates