HCPCS code G0281: Wound stimulation, specified chronic ulcers2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Reports unattended electrical stimulation in a therapy plan for specified chronic ulcers that have not shown healing after conventional care.
Medicare pays $11.41–$12.19 for G0281 in the office in Illinois, from Rest of Illinois to Chicago, IL. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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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 in Illinois
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
4 payment localities
$11.41 to $12.19
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $12.19 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis, IL | $11.60 | Unavailable |
| Rest of Illinois | $11.41 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago, IL | $12.13 | Unavailable |
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.
How the rate is built · G0281
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.18
0.18 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.16
0.16 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.01
0.01 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
0.3500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$11.69
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for G0281
The CMS indicators that decide how G0281 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · G0281
Wound stimulation, specified chronic ulcers
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | XXX | The global surgery concept doesn’t apply. |
| Multiple procedures | 5 | Therapy reduction: practice expense of the second and later units is reduced. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 7 | Therapy service: the split doesn’t apply. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier CQ · payment effect
With and without the modifier
G0281 without CQ · national office
$11.69
Wound stimulation, specified chronic ulcers
G0281-CQ · Allowed amount unchanged
$11.69
Medicare cuts its own payment by 15% after the patient’s 20% coinsurance; the allowed amount stays the same. On $100 allowed: $20 coinsurance, then Medicare pays $68 instead of $80.
G0281 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
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.
G0281 billing questions
How does G0281 differ from G0282?
G0281 is for the specified chronic pressure, arterial, diabetic, and venous stasis ulcers that have not demonstrated healing after 30 days of conventional care. G0282 describes unattended electrical stimulation for wound care outside that group.
When should G0283 be considered instead?
G0283 describes unattended electrical stimulation for indications other than wound care. G0281 is the wound-care code for the specified chronic ulcer conditions.
Should a professional component modifier be appended?
No. CMS identifies G0281 as a therapy service for which the professional component modifier does not apply.
What documentation supports reporting G0281?
Document the ulcer type and site, its stage when applicable, the lack of healing after conventional care, the stimulation treatment, and its place in the therapy plan of care.
Is G0281 reported by treatment minutes?
The descriptor does not specify a time increment. Document the treatment delivered and the therapy units reported rather than deriving units from minutes alone.
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
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