Billing code 15731: Forehead flapMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports transfer of forehead tissue on its vascular pedicle, commonly for staged reconstruction of a nasal defect after cancer removal, trauma, or tissue loss.
Medicare pays $1,148.32 for 15731 nationally in the office and $877.44 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $1,027.85–$1,435.65.
Medicare rate · 15731
Forehead flap
- Work RVUs
- 14.02
- Total RVUs
- 34.38
- Global days
- 090
National rate · 2026
$1,148.32
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 15731 →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 15731 covers
A surgeon raises forehead tissue while keeping its blood supply attached, then transfers it to cover a defect, most commonly on the nose. This staged flap is often used by plastic, facial plastic, or otolaryngology surgeons when a nasal defect needs more vascularized tissue than a graft can provide. The flap remains connected to the forehead until a later operation divides and insets it.
Select this code for the forehead flap transfer, based on the flap used and its attached vascular pedicle—not simply because the defect is on the nose. The operative report should identify the donor tissue, recipient defect, and flap transfer. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care for 90 days. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 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.
Where 15731 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
$1027.85 to $1435.65
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $1,041.23 | $804.21 |
| Alaska* | $1,389.93 | $1,101.44 |
| Arizona | $1,119.16 | $856.68 |
| Arkansas | $1,027.85 | $795.16 |
| Atlanta | $1,173.83 | $898.62 |
| Austin | $1,176.41 | $889.82 |
| Bakersfield | $1,187.69 | $890.81 |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $1,217.18 | $926.53 |
| Beaumont | $1,088.48 | $841.98 |
| Brazoria | $1,130.87 | $862.42 |
| Chicago | $1,247.21 | $974.97 |
| Chico | $1,181.54 | $884.65 |
| Colorado | $1,177.24 | $889.02 |
| Connecticut | $1,219.56 | $927.82 |
| Dallas | $1,139.95 | $870.16 |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $1,290.01 | $970.91 |
| Delaware | $1,136.14 | $868.51 |
| Detroit | $1,176.06 | $914.66 |
| East St. Louis | $1,172.12 | $922.91 |
| El Centro | $1,181.90 | $885.01 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $1,213.99 | $939.59 |
| Fort Worth | $1,134.80 | $867.71 |
| Fresno | $1,181.54 | $884.65 |
| Galveston | $1,135.52 | $866.53 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $1,181.54 | $884.65 |
| Hawaii, Guam | $1,201.60 | $893.61 |
| Houston | $1,174.68 | $905.70 |
| Idaho | $1,061.97 | $812.76 |
| Indiana | $1,067.16 | $816.05 |
| Iowa | $1,053.49 | $805.64 |
| Kansas | $1,054.45 | $809.57 |
| Kentucky | $1,074.70 | $833.88 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $1,254.87 | $934.42 |
| Madera | $1,181.54 | $884.65 |
| Manhattan | $1,318.77 | $1,004.00 |
| Merced | $1,181.54 | $884.65 |
| Metropolitan Boston | $1,277.72 | $954.29 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $1,109.56 | $855.20 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $1,195.50 | $913.51 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $1,119.25 | $861.38 |
| Miami | $1,282.56 | $1,000.58 |
| Minnesota | $1,115.65 | $836.91 |
| Mississippi | $1,045.08 | $811.85 |
| Modesto | $1,181.54 | $884.65 |
| Montana** | $1,148.18 | $877.30 |
| Napa | $1,336.18 | $979.16 |
| Nebraska | $1,057.00 | $806.98 |
| Nevada** | $1,136.99 | $865.84 |
| New Hampshire | $1,164.34 | $882.35 |
| New Mexico | $1,112.18 | $863.78 |
| New Orleans | $1,122.14 | $867.24 |
| North Carolina | $1,081.75 | $829.01 |
| North Dakota** | $1,105.87 | $834.98 |
| Northern Nj | $1,280.06 | $965.83 |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $1,354.57 | $1,032.49 |
| Ohio | $1,095.95 | $848.64 |
| Oklahoma | $1,067.27 | $825.37 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $1,245.25 | $925.06 |
| Portland | $1,205.07 | $904.12 |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $1,242.22 | $945.60 |
| Puerto Rico | $1,153.94 | $880.08 |
| Queens | $1,320.64 | $1,000.46 |
| Redding | $1,181.54 | $884.65 |
| Rest Of California | $1,181.54 | $884.65 |
| Rest Of Florida | $1,157.50 | $898.54 |
| Rest Of Georgia | $1,096.32 | $854.70 |
| Rest Of Illinois | $1,135.62 | $888.31 |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $1,075.34 | $835.61 |
| Rest Of Maine | $1,072.62 | $823.41 |
| Rest Of Maryland | $1,154.45 | $880.32 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $1,173.56 | $888.32 |
| Rest Of Michigan | $1,104.60 | $857.28 |
| Rest Of Missouri | $1,062.48 | $828.98 |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $1,229.98 | $934.17 |
| Rest Of New York | $1,096.67 | $839.33 |
| Rest Of Oregon | $1,124.66 | $854.86 |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $1,094.49 | $845.82 |
| Rest Of Texas | $1,110.35 | $853.29 |
| Rest Of Washington | $1,169.58 | $884.34 |
| Rhode Island | $1,169.58 | $889.76 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $1,204.67 | $907.78 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $1,231.21 | $916.18 |
| Salinas | $1,226.44 | $912.48 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $1,248.91 | $924.94 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $1,403.65 | $1,021.71 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $1,401.22 | $1,019.28 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $1,435.65 | $1,045.04 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $1,425.72 | $1,035.11 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $1,207.71 | $899.17 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $1,255.83 | $926.71 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $1,229.29 | $913.44 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $1,267.96 | $935.32 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $1,296.80 | $964.43 |
| South Carolina | $1,091.35 | $841.06 |
| South Dakota** | $1,100.86 | $829.98 |
| Southern Maine | $1,116.47 | $848.03 |
| Stockton | $1,181.54 | $884.65 |
| Suburban Chicago | $1,223.21 | $945.02 |
| Tennessee | $1,059.85 | $813.62 |
| Utah | $1,104.52 | $849.89 |
| Vallejo | $1,332.68 | $975.66 |
| Vermont | $1,106.93 | $838.75 |
| Virgin Islands | $1,153.94 | $880.08 |
| Virginia | $1,116.96 | $850.69 |
| Visalia | $1,181.54 | $884.65 |
| West Virginia | $1,099.41 | $864.01 |
| Wisconsin | $1,073.30 | $813.80 |
| Wyoming** | $1,129.74 | $858.86 |
| Yuba City | $1,181.54 | $884.65 |
15731 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.
$1,027.85
$1,389.93
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 | $1,389.93 | 1 |
| AL | $1,041.23 | 1 |
| AR | $1,027.85 | 1 |
| AZ | $1,119.16 | 1 |
| CA | $1,181.54–$1,435.65 | 29 |
| CO | $1,177.24 | 1 |
| CT | $1,219.56 | 1 |
| DC | $1,290.01 | 1 |
| DE | $1,136.14 | 1 |
| FL | $1,157.50–$1,282.56 | 3 |
| GA | $1,096.32–$1,173.83 | 2 |
| GU | $1,201.60 | 1 |
| HI | $1,201.60 | 1 |
| IA | $1,053.49 | 1 |
| ID | $1,061.97 | 1 |
| IL | $1,135.62–$1,247.21 | 4 |
| IN | $1,067.16 | 1 |
| KS | $1,054.45 | 1 |
| KY | $1,074.70 | 1 |
| LA | $1,075.34–$1,122.14 | 2 |
| MA | $1,173.56–$1,277.72 | 2 |
| MD | $1,154.45–$1,290.01 | 3 |
| ME | $1,072.62–$1,116.47 | 2 |
| MI | $1,104.60–$1,176.06 | 2 |
| MN | $1,115.65 | 1 |
| MO | $1,062.48–$1,119.25 | 3 |
| MS | $1,045.08 | 1 |
| MT | $1,148.18 | 1 |
| NC | $1,081.75 | 1 |
| ND | $1,105.87 | 1 |
| NE | $1,057.00 | 1 |
| NH | $1,164.34 | 1 |
| NJ | $1,229.98–$1,280.06 | 2 |
| NM | $1,112.18 | 1 |
| NV | $1,136.99 | 1 |
| NY | $1,096.67–$1,354.57 | 5 |
| OH | $1,095.95 | 1 |
| OK | $1,067.27 | 1 |
| OR | $1,124.66–$1,205.07 | 2 |
| PA | $1,094.49–$1,195.50 | 2 |
| PR | $1,153.94 | 1 |
| RI | $1,169.58 | 1 |
| SC | $1,091.35 | 1 |
| SD | $1,100.86 | 1 |
| TN | $1,059.85 | 1 |
| TX | $1,088.48–$1,176.41 | 8 |
| UT | $1,104.52 | 1 |
| VA | $1,116.96–$1,290.01 | 2 |
| VI | $1,153.94 | 1 |
| VT | $1,106.93 | 1 |
| WA | $1,169.58–$1,296.80 | 2 |
| WI | $1,073.30 | 1 |
| WV | $1,099.41 | 1 |
| WY | $1,129.74 | 1 |
How the 15731 rate is calculated
Each of 15731’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 · 15731
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work14.02
14.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense18.22
18.22 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice2.14
2.14 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
34.3800
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,148.32
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 15731
15731 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 15731
Forehead flap
| 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) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| 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 · 15731
Forehead flap
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
15731 without 51 · national office
$1,148.32
Forehead flap
15731-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$574.16
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%).
15731 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 15630Flap staging
- This code is for the initial forehead-flap transfer. Code 15630 may describe a later division and inset at the nose when that staged procedure is performed.
- 15730Midface flap
- Code 15730 describes a midface flap with a preserved vascular pedicle; 15731 uses forehead tissue.
- 15740Island flap
- Code 15740 describes an island pedicle flap. Choose 15731 when the transferred flap is specifically raised from the forehead and remains attached by its vascular pedicle.
- 15757Free flap
- Code 15757 is for a free skin flap transferred with microvascular anastomosis. Code 15731 keeps the forehead flap attached to its original blood supply.
15731 billing questions
When is this code appropriate for nasal reconstruction?
Use it when the surgeon transfers forehead tissue to the defect while keeping its vascular pedicle attached. The recipient site alone does not determine code selection.
Is division of the flap included in this service?
The initial transfer leaves the flap attached to its forehead blood supply. A later operation to divide and inset a flap at the nose is represented by a separate service, such as 15630 when its descriptor and circumstances fit.
Can modifier 50 be reported?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.
How does the 90-day global period affect follow-up billing?
The day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included in the global period.
Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be billed?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is allowed only when medical necessity is documented. CMS does not permit co-surgeons or team surgery for this code.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction.
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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