Billing code 15135: Dermal autograftMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports initial dermal autograft coverage of specified anatomic sites, using the grafted area to select the initial service for the patient.
Medicare pays $901.49 for 15135 nationally in the office and $674.03 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $806.51–$1,132.02.
Medicare rate · 15135
Dermal autograft
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 10.75
- Total RVUs
- 26.99
- Global days
- 090
National rate · 2026
$901.49
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 15135 → · Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
On this page 10 sections
What 15135 covers
Code 15135 reports placement of a dermal autograft on the face, scalp, eyelids, mouth, neck, ears, orbits, genitalia, hands, or feet. The graft comes from the patient and is used to cover a wound or defect. Plastic surgeons and burn surgeons commonly perform the procedure in an operating room for reconstructive coverage after burns, trauma, or excision.
Select this initial-area code when the documented dermal autograft at these sites reaches the first 100 sq cm, or the applicable 1% body-surface-area threshold for an infant or child. Record the graft type, recipient site, and treated area; report additional area with 15136. The 90-day global includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care through day 90. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service; 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.
Where 15135 pays more and less
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
109 payment localities
$806.51 to $1132.02
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $817.07 | $618.04 |
| Alaska* | $1,088.64 | $846.39 |
| Arizona | $878.60 | $658.19 |
| Arkansas | $806.51 | $611.12 |
| Atlanta | $921.19 | $690.10 |
| Austin | $924.42 | $683.77 |
| Bakersfield | $934.20 | $684.90 |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $955.65 | $711.59 |
| Beaumont | $853.69 | $646.70 |
| Brazoria | $888.13 | $662.72 |
| Chicago | $976.09 | $747.49 |
| Chico | $929.55 | $680.26 |
| Colorado | $925.30 | $683.28 |
| Connecticut | $957.59 | $712.62 |
| Dallas | $895.13 | $668.58 |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $1,013.94 | $745.99 |
| Delaware | $891.99 | $667.26 |
| Detroit | $921.28 | $701.78 |
| East St. Louis | $916.93 | $707.66 |
| El Centro | $929.82 | $680.53 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $951.29 | $720.88 |
| Fort Worth | $890.94 | $666.67 |
| Fresno | $929.55 | $680.26 |
| Galveston | $891.69 | $665.82 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $929.55 | $680.26 |
| Hawaii, Guam | $945.80 | $687.17 |
| Houston | $921.16 | $695.29 |
| Idaho | $834.06 | $624.79 |
| Indiana | $838.18 | $627.32 |
| Iowa | $827.53 | $619.40 |
| Kansas | $827.91 | $622.28 |
| Kentucky | $842.68 | $640.47 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $987.57 | $718.48 |
| Madera | $929.55 | $680.26 |
| Manhattan | $1,035.14 | $770.84 |
| Merced | $929.55 | $680.26 |
| Metropolitan Boston | $1,005.10 | $733.51 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $870.45 | $656.86 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $938.37 | $701.58 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $878.14 | $661.60 |
| Miami | $1,003.75 | $766.96 |
| Minnesota | $877.80 | $643.75 |
| Mississippi | $819.53 | $623.69 |
| Modesto | $929.55 | $680.26 |
| Montana** | $901.38 | $673.92 |
| Napa | $1,053.05 | $753.25 |
| Nebraska | $830.42 | $620.47 |
| Nevada** | $893.00 | $665.31 |
| New Hampshire | $914.80 | $678.02 |
| New Mexico | $871.74 | $663.16 |
| New Orleans | $879.97 | $665.93 |
| North Carolina | $849.34 | $637.12 |
| North Dakota** | $869.55 | $642.09 |
| Northern Nj | $1,005.95 | $742.10 |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $1,062.91 | $792.46 |
| Ohio | $859.41 | $651.74 |
| Oklahoma | $837.21 | $634.09 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $980.21 | $711.35 |
| Portland | $947.71 | $695.00 |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $975.36 | $726.29 |
| Puerto Rico | $906.06 | $676.10 |
| Queens | $1,037.17 | $768.32 |
| Redding | $929.55 | $680.26 |
| Rest Of California | $929.55 | $680.26 |
| Rest Of Florida | $907.04 | $689.59 |
| Rest Of Georgia | $859.04 | $656.15 |
| Rest Of Illinois | $889.25 | $681.58 |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $843.04 | $641.73 |
| Rest Of Maine | $842.07 | $632.81 |
| Rest Of Maryland | $906.54 | $676.35 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $922.22 | $682.70 |
| Rest Of Michigan | $865.91 | $658.24 |
| Rest Of Missouri | $832.66 | $636.59 |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $966.03 | $717.64 |
| Rest Of New York | $861.09 | $645.00 |
| Rest Of Oregon | $883.56 | $657.01 |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $858.46 | $649.65 |
| Rest Of Texas | $871.35 | $655.49 |
| Rest Of Washington | $919.20 | $679.69 |
| Rhode Island | $918.63 | $683.66 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $946.96 | $697.66 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $969.12 | $704.58 |
| Salinas | $965.37 | $701.74 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $983.41 | $711.37 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $1,106.86 | $786.14 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $1,105.03 | $784.31 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $1,132.02 | $804.02 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $1,124.55 | $796.55 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $950.57 | $691.49 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $989.14 | $712.78 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $967.71 | $702.49 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $998.72 | $719.40 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $1,020.53 | $741.43 |
| South Carolina | $856.29 | $646.11 |
| South Dakota** | $865.78 | $638.32 |
| Southern Maine | $877.25 | $651.84 |
| Stockton | $929.55 | $680.26 |
| Suburban Chicago | $958.71 | $725.11 |
| Tennessee | $832.12 | $625.36 |
| Utah | $866.69 | $652.87 |
| Vallejo | $1,050.41 | $750.62 |
| Vermont | $870.04 | $644.85 |
| Virgin Islands | $906.06 | $676.10 |
| Virginia | $877.37 | $653.78 |
| Visalia | $929.55 | $680.26 |
| West Virginia | $860.65 | $662.99 |
| Wisconsin | $843.75 | $625.85 |
| Wyoming** | $887.51 | $660.05 |
| Yuba City | $929.55 | $680.26 |
15135 rates by state
Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.
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.
$806.51
$1,088.64
Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.
View every state and territory as a table
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $1,088.64 | 1 |
| AL | $817.07 | 1 |
| AR | $806.51 | 1 |
| AZ | $878.60 | 1 |
| CA | $929.55–$1,132.02 | 29 |
| CO | $925.30 | 1 |
| CT | $957.59 | 1 |
| DC | $1,013.94 | 1 |
| DE | $891.99 | 1 |
| FL | $907.04–$1,003.75 | 3 |
| GA | $859.04–$921.19 | 2 |
| GU | $945.80 | 1 |
| HI | $945.80 | 1 |
| IA | $827.53 | 1 |
| ID | $834.06 | 1 |
| IL | $889.25–$976.09 | 4 |
| IN | $838.18 | 1 |
| KS | $827.91 | 1 |
| KY | $842.68 | 1 |
| LA | $843.04–$879.97 | 2 |
| MA | $922.22–$1,005.10 | 2 |
| MD | $906.54–$1,013.94 | 3 |
| ME | $842.07–$877.25 | 2 |
| MI | $865.91–$921.28 | 2 |
| MN | $877.80 | 1 |
| MO | $832.66–$878.14 | 3 |
| MS | $819.53 | 1 |
| MT | $901.38 | 1 |
| NC | $849.34 | 1 |
| ND | $869.55 | 1 |
| NE | $830.42 | 1 |
| NH | $914.80 | 1 |
| NJ | $966.03–$1,005.95 | 2 |
| NM | $871.74 | 1 |
| NV | $893.00 | 1 |
| NY | $861.09–$1,062.91 | 5 |
| OH | $859.41 | 1 |
| OK | $837.21 | 1 |
| OR | $883.56–$947.71 | 2 |
| PA | $858.46–$938.37 | 2 |
| PR | $906.06 | 1 |
| RI | $918.63 | 1 |
| SC | $856.29 | 1 |
| SD | $865.78 | 1 |
| TN | $832.12 | 1 |
| TX | $853.69–$924.42 | 8 |
| UT | $866.69 | 1 |
| VA | $877.37–$1,013.94 | 2 |
| VI | $906.06 | 1 |
| VT | $870.04 | 1 |
| WA | $919.20–$1,020.53 | 2 |
| WI | $843.75 | 1 |
| WV | $860.65 | 1 |
| WY | $887.51 | 1 |
How the 15135 rate is calculated
Each of 15135’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 · 15135
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 10.75Practice expense 14.63Malpractice 1.61
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 15135
15135 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 15135
Dermal autograft
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.71/0.19 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 15135
Dermal autograft
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.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
15135 without 51 · national office
$901.49
Dermal autograft
15135-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$450.75
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%).
15135 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
15135 vs 15136 vs 15130 vs 15120 vs 15115: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 15136Dermal autograft
- 15135 represents the initial grafted area at the specified sites; 15136 represents qualifying additional area.
- 15130Dermal autograft
- Both report dermal autografts, but 15130 applies to the trunk, arms, or legs; 15135 applies to the specified face, head, neck, genital, hand, and foot sites.
- 15120Skin graft
- 15120 is for a split-thickness autograft at the specified sites. Choose 15135 when the graft is dermal.
- 15115Epidermal graft
- 15115 reports an epidermal autograft at the specified sites, rather than the dermal autograft represented by 15135.
15135 billing questions
How is 15135 distinguished from 15130?
15135 is for dermal autografting at the specified sites, such as the face, hands, or feet. Code 15130 is the initial-area dermal autograft code for the trunk, arms, or legs.
When is 15136 reported with 15135?
Report 15135 for the initial area and 15136 for qualifying additional area at the specified sites. Documentation should support the total grafted area and the additional area.
Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral grafting?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply to 15135, and modifier 50 is inappropriate.
Does the global period include postoperative visits?
Yes. The 90-day global includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for 15135. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
What supports reporting 15135 rather than a split-thickness graft code?
Document that the graft is a dermal autograft, the recipient site, and the grafted area. A split-thickness autograft is reported with a different code.
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
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