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Billing code 15778: Absorbable meshMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports absorbable mesh or another prosthesis placed to support delayed closure of a defect, such as one involving the abdominal wall or perineum.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities339 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $353.38 for 15778 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 15778

Absorbable mesh

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
6.87
Total RVUs
10.58
Global days
000

National rate · 2026

$353.38

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 15778 → · 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
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 15778 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 15778 covers

15778 describes placing absorbable mesh or another prosthesis to support delayed closure of a defect, rather than using it simply to reinforce a completed repair. Abdominal-wall and perineal defects are examples. The service may occur during a staged operation after earlier surgery or wound treatment. Surgeons performing complex abdominal or perineal procedures are the typical users; the code represents the implant placement, not the underlying operation that created or treated the defect.

Report 15778 as an add-on with the primary procedure, not as a stand-alone service. The operative note should identify the defect, explain why closure was delayed, and document the prosthesis placement. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. 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. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team-surgery payment is 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 15778 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

15778 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$320.35
Alaska*Unavailable$446.98
ArizonaUnavailable$343.12
ArkansasUnavailable$316.38
AtlantaUnavailable$366.56
AustinUnavailable$351.26
BakersfieldUnavailable$341.98
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$375.41
BeaumontUnavailable$343.31
BrazoriaUnavailable$342.12

15778 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

View every state and territory as a table
15778 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 15778 rate is calculated

Each of 15778’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 · 15778

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 6.87Practice expense 2.01Malpractice 1.70

10.5800 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$353.38

All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 15778

The CMS indicators that decide how 15778 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 15778

Absorbable mesh

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)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
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

15778 without 51 · national facility

$353.38

Absorbable mesh

15778-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$176.69

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

15778 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

15778 vs 15777 vs 49900 vs 49002: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 15778
    Absorbable mesh · 6.87 wRVU
    —
  • 15777
    Biologic implant · 3.56 wRVU
    $224.12
  • 49900
    Abdominal wall repair · 12.1 wRVU
    —
  • 49002
    Abdominal reoperation · 17.19 wRVU
    —

How to choose

15777Biologic implant
Choose 15778 for absorbable mesh or another prosthesis used in delayed defect closure. 15777 describes a biologic implant for soft-tissue reinforcement.
49900Abdominal wall repair
49900 describes secondary suture closure of an abdominal wall for evisceration or dehiscence. 15778 captures the prosthesis placement used to support delayed closure.
49002Abdominal reoperation
49002 describes reopening a recent laparotomy. 15778 describes placing a prosthesis for delayed defect closure, not reopening the prior incision.

Codes related to 15778

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

Codes related to 15778
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
15777Biologic implantBiologic implant code for soft-tissue reinforcement, rather than delayed closure with absorbable mesh.$201.59–$278.91
49900Abdominal wall repairSecondary abdominal-wall closure for evisceration or dehiscence; a different closure service.No office rate
Often billed with
49002Abdominal reoperationMay accompany staged abdominal surgery when recent laparotomy is reopened and delayed closure is performed.No office rate

15778 billing questions

Can 15778 be reported by itself?

No. It is an add-on for absorbable mesh or another prosthesis placed for delayed defect closure and is reported with the primary procedure.

How is 15778 different from 15777?

15778 describes absorbable mesh or another prosthesis used for delayed defect closure. 15777 concerns a biologic implant used for soft-tissue reinforcement.

What documentation supports 15778?

Document the defect and its site, the reason closure was delayed, and the placement of the absorbable mesh or other prosthesis. The record should also identify the primary procedure.

Should modifier 50 be appended for defects on both sides?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code; modifier 50 should not be used.

How does the multiple-procedure reduction affect 15778?

When it is performed with other procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the remaining procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team-surgery payment is not permitted.

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 15778PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,550 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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