Billing code 15781: DermabrasionMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports mechanical resurfacing of a defined facial area, such as treatment of selected facial scarring, rather than resurfacing the entire face.
Medicare pays $520.39 for 15781 nationally in the office and $368.41 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $463.38–$678.62.
Medicare rate · 15781
Dermabrasion
- Work RVUs
- 4.89
- Total RVUs
- 15.58
- Global days
- 090
National rate · 2026
$520.39
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 15781 →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 15781 covers
This service mechanically resurfaces a limited, defined portion of facial skin. Dermatologists and plastic surgeons may use it for localized facial scarring, including acne scars, when the treatment plan targets a segment rather than the whole face. The procedure is distinct from superficial abrasion of an individual lesion and from chemical resurfacing, which uses a peeling agent rather than an abrasive technique.
Select the code based on the treated area and method: a segment of the face, not the entire face or a nonfacial site. The operative note should identify the indication, facial area treated, extent of resurfacing, and technique. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate; assistant-at-surgery payment is statutorily restricted, and co-surgeon 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 15781 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
$463.38 to $678.62
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $469.77 | $336.79 |
| Alaska* | $615.30 | $453.45 |
| Arizona | $507.13 | $359.87 |
| Arkansas | $463.38 | $332.83 |
| Atlanta | $530.17 | $375.77 |
| Austin | $538.09 | $377.30 |
| Bakersfield | $548.33 | $381.77 |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $552.24 | $389.17 |
| Beaumont | $488.62 | $350.32 |
| Brazoria | $514.39 | $363.79 |
| Chicago | $548.31 | $395.57 |
| Chico | $546.59 | $380.03 |
| Colorado | $539.72 | $378.01 |
| Connecticut | $553.72 | $390.05 |
| Dallas | $517.75 | $366.39 |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $591.50 | $412.48 |
| Delaware | $515.19 | $365.04 |
| Detroit | $521.86 | $375.20 |
| East St. Louis | $513.02 | $373.20 |
| El Centro | $546.69 | $380.12 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $540.43 | $386.48 |
| Fort Worth | $514.63 | $364.78 |
| Fresno | $546.59 | $380.03 |
| Galveston | $516.00 | $365.09 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $546.59 | $380.03 |
| Hawaii, Guam | $558.49 | $385.70 |
| Houston | $526.61 | $375.70 |
| Idaho | $483.16 | $343.35 |
| Indiana | $485.78 | $344.90 |
| Iowa | $480.00 | $340.95 |
| Kansas | $478.36 | $340.98 |
| Kentucky | $481.26 | $346.15 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $582.37 | $402.58 |
| Madera | $546.59 | $380.03 |
| Manhattan | $596.90 | $420.30 |
| Merced | $546.59 | $380.03 |
| Metropolitan Boston | $590.46 | $409.01 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $499.34 | $356.64 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $540.91 | $382.70 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $504.22 | $359.54 |
| Miami | $563.85 | $405.65 |
| Minnesota | $516.54 | $360.16 |
| Mississippi | $468.39 | $337.54 |
| Modesto | $546.59 | $380.03 |
| Montana** | $520.35 | $368.37 |
| Napa | $628.53 | $428.23 |
| Nebraska | $482.33 | $342.06 |
| Nevada** | $517.49 | $365.36 |
| New Hampshire | $531.81 | $373.60 |
| New Mexico | $496.25 | $356.89 |
| New Orleans | $503.10 | $360.09 |
| North Carolina | $490.77 | $348.98 |
| North Dakota** | $508.88 | $356.90 |
| Northern Nj | $586.02 | $409.73 |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $611.26 | $430.57 |
| Ohio | $491.16 | $352.41 |
| Oklahoma | $479.93 | $344.22 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $579.11 | $399.48 |
| Portland | $555.52 | $386.68 |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $563.88 | $397.47 |
| Puerto Rico | $523.81 | $370.16 |
| Queens | $600.86 | $421.23 |
| Redding | $546.59 | $380.03 |
| Rest Of California | $546.59 | $380.03 |
| Rest Of Florida | $515.27 | $369.99 |
| Rest Of Georgia | $487.64 | $352.07 |
| Rest Of Illinois | $501.91 | $363.16 |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $480.74 | $346.24 |
| Rest Of Maine | $486.05 | $346.23 |
| Rest Of Maryland | $524.48 | $370.69 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $536.96 | $376.94 |
| Rest Of Michigan | $493.51 | $354.75 |
| Rest Of Missouri | $473.28 | $342.28 |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $559.87 | $393.91 |
| Rest Of New York | $497.75 | $353.37 |
| Rest Of Oregon | $513.28 | $361.92 |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $491.63 | $352.12 |
| Rest Of Texas | $501.29 | $357.06 |
| Rest Of Washington | $535.78 | $375.75 |
| Rhode Island | $532.54 | $375.55 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $552.90 | $386.33 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $572.32 | $395.57 |
| Salinas | $570.15 | $394.01 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $582.60 | $400.84 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $663.87 | $449.59 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $663.21 | $448.93 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $678.62 | $459.47 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $675.93 | $456.78 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $561.11 | $388.01 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $587.43 | $402.78 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $572.03 | $394.82 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $593.29 | $406.66 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $601.66 | $415.19 |
| South Carolina | $491.82 | $351.39 |
| South Dakota** | $507.52 | $355.55 |
| Southern Maine | $510.20 | $359.59 |
| Stockton | $546.59 | $380.03 |
| Suburban Chicago | $545.60 | $389.52 |
| Tennessee | $480.69 | $342.54 |
| Utah | $498.15 | $355.29 |
| Vallejo | $627.58 | $427.28 |
| Vermont | $507.44 | $356.98 |
| Virgin Islands | $523.81 | $370.16 |
| Virginia | $508.95 | $359.56 |
| Visalia | $546.59 | $380.03 |
| West Virginia | $484.50 | $352.43 |
| Wisconsin | $492.80 | $347.21 |
| Wyoming** | $515.35 | $363.38 |
| Yuba City | $546.59 | $380.03 |
15781 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.
$463.38
$615.30
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 | $615.30 | 1 |
| AL | $469.77 | 1 |
| AR | $463.38 | 1 |
| AZ | $507.13 | 1 |
| CA | $546.59–$678.62 | 29 |
| CO | $539.72 | 1 |
| CT | $553.72 | 1 |
| DC | $591.50 | 1 |
| DE | $515.19 | 1 |
| FL | $515.27–$563.85 | 3 |
| GA | $487.64–$530.17 | 2 |
| GU | $558.49 | 1 |
| HI | $558.49 | 1 |
| IA | $480.00 | 1 |
| ID | $483.16 | 1 |
| IL | $501.91–$548.31 | 4 |
| IN | $485.78 | 1 |
| KS | $478.36 | 1 |
| KY | $481.26 | 1 |
| LA | $480.74–$503.10 | 2 |
| MA | $536.96–$590.46 | 2 |
| MD | $524.48–$591.50 | 3 |
| ME | $486.05–$510.20 | 2 |
| MI | $493.51–$521.86 | 2 |
| MN | $516.54 | 1 |
| MO | $473.28–$504.22 | 3 |
| MS | $468.39 | 1 |
| MT | $520.35 | 1 |
| NC | $490.77 | 1 |
| ND | $508.88 | 1 |
| NE | $482.33 | 1 |
| NH | $531.81 | 1 |
| NJ | $559.87–$586.02 | 2 |
| NM | $496.25 | 1 |
| NV | $517.49 | 1 |
| NY | $497.75–$611.26 | 5 |
| OH | $491.16 | 1 |
| OK | $479.93 | 1 |
| OR | $513.28–$555.52 | 2 |
| PA | $491.63–$540.91 | 2 |
| PR | $523.81 | 1 |
| RI | $532.54 | 1 |
| SC | $491.82 | 1 |
| SD | $507.52 | 1 |
| TN | $480.69 | 1 |
| TX | $488.62–$538.09 | 8 |
| UT | $498.15 | 1 |
| VA | $508.95–$591.50 | 2 |
| VI | $523.81 | 1 |
| VT | $507.44 | 1 |
| WA | $535.78–$601.66 | 2 |
| WI | $492.80 | 1 |
| WV | $484.50 | 1 |
| WY | $515.35 | 1 |
How the 15781 rate is calculated
Each of 15781’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 · 15781
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work4.89
4.89 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense10.11
10.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.58
0.58 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
15.5800
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$520.39
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 15781
15781 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 15781
Dermabrasion
| 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 · 15781
Dermabrasion
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
15781 without 51 · national office
$520.39
Dermabrasion
15781-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$260.20
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%).
15781 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 15780Dermabrasion
- This code is for a defined facial segment; 15780 is used when dermabrasion treats the entire face.
- 15782Dermabrasion
- Use 15782 for dermabrasion at a nonfacial site. This code applies to a segment of the face.
- 15783Dermabrasion
- 15783 identifies superficial dermabrasion at any site. Choose this code for segmental facial treatment when the service is not classified as superficial.
- 15788Chemical peel facial epidrm
- 15788 describes facial epidermal chemical resurfacing. This code represents mechanical dermabrasion of a facial segment.
15781 billing questions
How does this differ from total-face dermabrasion?
Use this code when resurfacing is limited to a segment of the face. Total-face resurfacing is reported with 15780.
Can modifier 50 be used for treatment on both sides of the face?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
How are other procedures performed in the same session paid?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full; other procedures in the session are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction.
Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is statutorily restricted. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted for this code under the CMS rules provided.
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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