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Billing code 15832: Thigh liftMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports surgical removal of redundant skin and underlying tissue from the thigh, such as thigh contouring after substantial weight loss.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities104 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $842.37 for 15832 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 15832

Thigh lift

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
12.53
Total RVUs
25.22
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$842.37

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 15832 → · 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 15832 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 15832 covers

A plastic or reconstructive surgeon uses this code for an operation that removes excess thigh skin and underlying tissue and reshapes the area. A thigh lift may be performed when redundant tissue remains after substantial weight loss or causes documented functional problems. The service is typically performed in a surgical facility; the code identifies treatment of the thigh rather than excess skin at the hip, buttock, or lower leg.

Select the code based on the treated anatomy and document the operative findings, extent of tissue removed, side or sides treated, and clinical rationale. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. With modifier 50 for bilateral treatment, CMS pays 150%. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeons are paid only with supporting documentation, and team surgery 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 15832 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

15832 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$765.03
Alaska*Unavailable$1,038.66
ArizonaUnavailable$820.32
ArkansasUnavailable$755.49
AtlantaUnavailable$864.99
AustinUnavailable$854.23
BakersfieldUnavailable$852.62
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$892.94
BeaumontUnavailable$805.72
BrazoriaUnavailable$825.27

15832 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
15832 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 15832 rate is calculated

Each of 15832’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 · 15832

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 12.53Practice expense 10.33Malpractice 2.36

25.2200 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$842.37

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 15832

15832 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 15832

Thigh lift

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period090Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
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.
Split (54/55/56)0.10/0.71/0.19Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 15832

Thigh lift

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.

  • 24 Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79 Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58 Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78 Unplanned return to the operating room for a related complication
SurgeryVisit
Sep 23, 2026Jan 10, 2027

Pre-op dayGlobal period

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

15832 without 50 · national facility

$842.37

Thigh lift

15832-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$1,263.56

Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).

When to use modifier 50

15832 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

15832 vs 15833 vs 15834 vs 15830: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 15832
    Thigh lift · 12.53 wRVU
    —
  • 15833
    Skin excision · 11.6 wRVU
    —
  • 15834
    Skin excision · 11.87 wRVU
    —
  • 15830
    · 16.68 wRVU
    —

How to choose

15833Skin excision
Choose 15832 for the thigh and 15833 for the leg. Base code selection on the operative site, not simply the overall length of the excision.
15834Skin excision
15834 identifies excess-skin excision at the hip; 15832 is for the thigh. The documented site of tissue removal guides the choice.
15830Exc excessive skin abdomen
15830 is for excess-skin excision of the abdomen. It does not describe an operation confined to the thigh.

Codes related to 15832

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

Codes related to 15832
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
15833Skin excisionExcess-skin excision for the leg rather than the thigh.No office rate
15834Skin excisionExcess-skin excision directed to the hip.No office rate
15835Skin excisionExcess-skin excision directed to the buttock.No office rate
15830Exc excessive skin abdomenExcess-skin excision for the abdomen.No office rate

15832 billing questions

How is 15832 distinguished from the leg code?

Use 15832 when the excision treats excess skin of the thigh. Use 15833 when the treated area is the leg rather than the thigh.

How should bilateral thigh treatment be reported?

For bilateral treatment, report modifier 50. CMS pays the bilateral procedure at 150%.

Is routine closure of the thigh incision separately reported?

Routine closure completes the thigh excision and is not a separate procedure. The operative note should describe the excision and closure performed.

What documentation supports 15832?

Document that the treated area is the thigh, the extent of redundant tissue removed, laterality, and the clinical rationale for surgery.

What postoperative care falls within the global period?

The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.

Does reporting 15832 establish Medicare coverage?

No. The code identifies thigh excess-skin excision; coverage depends on the documented indication and applicable Medicare coverage policy.

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 15832PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,571 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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