Billing code 15787: Lesion abrasionMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports abrasion of each additional skin lesion treated in the same session after the first lesion is reported with the primary abrasion code.
Medicare pays $31.40 for 15787 nationally in the office and $14.36 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $28.25–$41.12.
Medicare rate · 15787
Lesion abrasion
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- Work RVUs
- 0.32
- Total RVUs
- 0.94
- Global days
- ZZZ
National rate · 2026
$31.40
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 15787 → · 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 15787 covers
billing code 15787 accounts for abrasion treatment of additional separate skin lesions after the first lesion. The service may be used for lesions such as scars or actinic keratoses when abrasion is the chosen treatment. Dermatologists and plastic surgeons commonly perform these procedures in an office setting, using an abrasive instrument to treat the targeted skin surface.
Report 15786 for the first lesion and 15787 for each additional lesion treated during the session. The note should identify the treated lesions, their locations, the treatment performed, and the clinical reason for abrasion. Count distinct lesions, not passes over one lesion or the size of the treated area. CMS classifies 15787 as an add-on code: bill it only with a primary procedure, and payment falls within that procedure's global period.
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 15787 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
$28.25 to $41.12
109 of 109 payment localities
15787 rates by state
Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.
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Local rates. Clear comparisons.
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$28.25
$37.74
Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.
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| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $37.74 | 1 |
| AL | $28.60 | 1 |
| AR | $28.25 | 1 |
| AZ | $30.68 | 1 |
| CA | $33.19–$41.12 | 29 |
| CO | $32.66 | 1 |
| CT | $33.29 | 1 |
| DC | $35.62 | 1 |
| DE | $31.14 | 1 |
| FL | $30.85–$33.24 | 3 |
| GA | $29.36–$31.88 | 2 |
| GU | $33.86 | 1 |
| HI | $33.86 | 1 |
| IA | $29.29 | 1 |
| ID | $29.44 | 1 |
| IL | $30.03–$32.53 | 4 |
| IN | $29.59 | 1 |
| KS | $29.14 | 1 |
| KY | $29.12 | 1 |
| LA | $29.06–$30.31 | 2 |
| MA | $32.49–$35.65 | 2 |
| MD | $31.69–$35.62 | 3 |
| ME | $29.54–$30.97 | 2 |
| MI | $29.74–$31.15 | 2 |
| MN | $31.51 | 1 |
| MO | $28.61–$30.44 | 3 |
| MS | $28.44 | 1 |
| MT | $31.40 | 1 |
| NC | $29.81 | 1 |
| ND | $31.00 | 1 |
| NE | $29.44 | 1 |
| NH | $32.14 | 1 |
| NJ | $33.73–$35.32 | 2 |
| NM | $29.87 | 1 |
| NV | $31.31 | 1 |
| NY | $30.20–$36.44 | 5 |
| OH | $29.66 | 1 |
| OK | $29.10 | 1 |
| OR | $31.12–$33.62 | 2 |
| PA | $29.72–$32.54 | 2 |
| PR | $31.61 | 1 |
| RI | $32.19 | 1 |
| SC | $29.77 | 1 |
| SD | $30.95 | 1 |
| TN | $29.26 | 1 |
| TX | $29.55–$32.50 | 8 |
| UT | $30.13 | 1 |
| VA | $30.86–$35.62 | 2 |
| VI | $31.61 | 1 |
| VT | $30.87 | 1 |
| WA | $32.44–$36.36 | 2 |
| WI | $30.09 | 1 |
| WV | $29.06 | 1 |
| WY | $31.22 | 1 |
How the 15787 rate is calculated
Each of 15787’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 · 15787
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.32Practice expense 0.60Malpractice 0.02
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 15787
The CMS indicators that decide how 15787 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 15787
Lesion abrasion
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | ZZZ | Add-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| 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. |
15787 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
15787 vs 15786 vs 15783 vs 17110: national Medicare rates
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How to choose
- 15786Lesion abrasion
- 15786 is reported for the first lesion treated by abrasion. Use 15787 only for additional separate lesions treated in the same session.
- 15783Dermabrasion
- 15783 describes superficial dermabrasion at any site. 15787 is for additional individual lesions when lesion abrasion is performed.
- 17110Benign lesion destruction
- 17110 is for destruction of benign lesions by a destructive method. Choose 15787 when additional lesions are treated by abrasion instead.
15787 billing questions
When should 15787 be reported instead of 15786?
Use 15786 for the first lesion treated by abrasion. Report 15787 for each additional separate lesion treated in the same session.
Can 15787 be billed by itself?
No. It is an add-on code and must be reported with a primary procedure, typically 15786 for the first lesion.
How should the number of units be determined?
Count each additional lesion treated after the first. Do not count multiple passes over one lesion as additional lesions.
What documentation supports additional units?
Document each treated lesion's location, the abrasion performed, and the clinical reason for treatment. The record should make clear which lesion was first and which were additional.
Is 15787 paid separately from the primary procedure's global period?
CMS identifies it as an add-on code paid within the primary procedure's global period. It is not reported as a standalone service.
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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