Billing code 15839: Excess skin excisionMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports surgical removal of redundant skin and underlying tissue, including lipectomy, from an anatomical area without a dedicated site-specific code.
Medicare pays $958.94 for 15839 nationally in the office and $682.05 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $849.78–$1,210.83.
Medicare rate · 15839
Excess skin excision
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 10.24
- Total RVUs
- 28.71
- Global days
- 090
National rate · 2026
$958.94
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 15839 → · 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 15839 covers
A plastic or reconstructive surgeon removes excess skin and underlying subcutaneous tissue from an area not identified by a dedicated site-specific excision code. The operation may include removal of some underlying fat as part of contouring the treated area. The operative report should identify the actual anatomical site and describe the tissue removed; “other area” is not a substitute for a code that specifically names the treated site.
Report this code when the documented site fits the other-area category rather than a site-specific code such as the abdomen, thigh, or arm codes. Documentation should describe the excess tissue, the site and extent of excision, and the clinical indication. Medicare 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 the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of 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 15839 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
$849.78 to $1210.83
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $861.91 | $619.62 |
| Alaska* | $1,136.92 | $842.03 |
| Arizona | $932.53 | $664.22 |
| Arkansas | $849.78 | $611.93 |
| Atlanta | $981.76 | $700.44 |
| Austin | $984.32 | $691.36 |
| Bakersfield | $993.27 | $689.79 |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $1,020.02 | $722.91 |
| Beaumont | $904.64 | $652.67 |
| Brazoria | $942.52 | $668.12 |
| Chicago | $1,047.58 | $769.30 |
| Chico | $987.88 | $684.40 |
| Colorado | $984.28 | $689.67 |
| Connecticut | $1,021.86 | $723.64 |
| Dallas | $950.65 | $674.87 |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $1,083.03 | $756.85 |
| Delaware | $947.51 | $673.94 |
| Detroit | $983.83 | $716.62 |
| East St. Louis | $980.11 | $725.37 |
| El Centro | $988.20 | $684.73 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $1,018.21 | $737.72 |
| Fort Worth | $945.97 | $672.95 |
| Fresno | $987.88 | $684.40 |
| Galveston | $946.72 | $671.77 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $987.88 | $684.40 |
| Hawaii, Guam | $1,007.49 | $692.66 |
| Houston | $982.05 | $707.09 |
| Idaho | $880.77 | $626.03 |
| Indiana | $885.48 | $628.80 |
| Iowa | $873.11 | $619.75 |
| Kansas | $873.93 | $623.62 |
| Kentucky | $892.14 | $645.98 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $1,052.40 | $724.84 |
| Madera | $987.88 | $684.40 |
| Manhattan | $1,108.10 | $786.35 |
| Merced | $987.88 | $684.40 |
| Metropolitan Boston | $1,073.05 | $742.44 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $923.76 | $663.75 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $1,000.19 | $711.94 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $932.55 | $668.95 |
| Miami | $1,080.16 | $791.91 |
| Minnesota | $929.58 | $644.66 |
| Mississippi | $865.32 | $626.92 |
| Modesto | $987.88 | $684.40 |
| Montana** | $958.81 | $681.92 |
| Napa | $1,124.45 | $759.51 |
| Nebraska | $876.30 | $620.73 |
| Nevada** | $948.73 | $671.56 |
| New Hampshire | $973.53 | $685.29 |
| New Mexico | $926.04 | $672.13 |
| New Orleans | $935.11 | $674.56 |
| North Carolina | $898.65 | $640.31 |
| North Dakota** | $920.65 | $643.75 |
| Northern Nj | $1,073.26 | $752.07 |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $1,140.49 | $811.26 |
| Ohio | $911.39 | $658.59 |
| Oklahoma | $885.45 | $638.19 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $1,044.76 | $717.47 |
| Portland | $1,009.23 | $701.60 |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $1,040.35 | $737.15 |
| Puerto Rico | $964.05 | $684.11 |
| Queens | $1,109.87 | $782.58 |
| Redding | $987.88 | $684.40 |
| Rest Of California | $987.88 | $684.40 |
| Rest Of Florida | $967.06 | $702.35 |
| Rest Of Georgia | $911.65 | $664.66 |
| Rest Of Illinois | $947.17 | $694.37 |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $892.70 | $647.65 |
| Rest Of Maine | $890.38 | $635.63 |
| Rest Of Maryland | $963.70 | $683.49 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $980.61 | $689.04 |
| Rest Of Michigan | $919.19 | $666.39 |
| Rest Of Missouri | $881.03 | $642.34 |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $1,029.70 | $727.33 |
| Rest Of New York | $912.17 | $649.12 |
| Rest Of Oregon | $937.58 | $661.80 |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $910.09 | $655.91 |
| Rest Of Texas | $924.51 | $661.74 |
| Rest Of Washington | $977.26 | $685.69 |
| Rhode Island | $976.71 | $690.68 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $1,008.66 | $705.18 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $1,031.39 | $709.36 |
| Salinas | $1,027.47 | $706.55 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $1,047.96 | $716.79 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $1,183.06 | $792.64 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $1,180.87 | $790.45 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $1,210.83 | $811.55 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $1,201.87 | $802.59 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $1,011.63 | $696.25 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $1,054.99 | $718.56 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $1,030.31 | $707.45 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $1,065.25 | $725.22 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $1,089.65 | $749.90 |
| South Carolina | $907.28 | $651.43 |
| South Dakota** | $916.14 | $639.24 |
| Southern Maine | $930.18 | $655.78 |
| Stockton | $987.88 | $684.40 |
| Suburban Chicago | $1,026.02 | $741.65 |
| Tennessee | $878.82 | $627.12 |
| Utah | $919.22 | $658.94 |
| Vallejo | $1,121.29 | $756.35 |
| Vermont | $921.57 | $647.45 |
| Virgin Islands | $964.05 | $684.11 |
| Virginia | $930.60 | $658.41 |
| Visalia | $987.88 | $684.40 |
| West Virginia | $914.35 | $673.73 |
| Wisconsin | $891.13 | $625.86 |
| Wyoming** | $942.18 | $665.29 |
| Yuba City | $987.88 | $684.40 |
15839 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.
$849.78
$1,136.92
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 | $1,136.92 | 1 |
| AL | $861.91 | 1 |
| AR | $849.78 | 1 |
| AZ | $932.53 | 1 |
| CA | $987.88–$1,210.83 | 29 |
| CO | $984.28 | 1 |
| CT | $1,021.86 | 1 |
| DC | $1,083.03 | 1 |
| DE | $947.51 | 1 |
| FL | $967.06–$1,080.16 | 3 |
| GA | $911.65–$981.76 | 2 |
| GU | $1,007.49 | 1 |
| HI | $1,007.49 | 1 |
| IA | $873.11 | 1 |
| ID | $880.77 | 1 |
| IL | $947.17–$1,047.58 | 4 |
| IN | $885.48 | 1 |
| KS | $873.93 | 1 |
| KY | $892.14 | 1 |
| LA | $892.70–$935.11 | 2 |
| MA | $980.61–$1,073.05 | 2 |
| MD | $963.70–$1,083.03 | 3 |
| ME | $890.38–$930.18 | 2 |
| MI | $919.19–$983.83 | 2 |
| MN | $929.58 | 1 |
| MO | $881.03–$932.55 | 3 |
| MS | $865.32 | 1 |
| MT | $958.81 | 1 |
| NC | $898.65 | 1 |
| ND | $920.65 | 1 |
| NE | $876.30 | 1 |
| NH | $973.53 | 1 |
| NJ | $1,029.70–$1,073.26 | 2 |
| NM | $926.04 | 1 |
| NV | $948.73 | 1 |
| NY | $912.17–$1,140.49 | 5 |
| OH | $911.39 | 1 |
| OK | $885.45 | 1 |
| OR | $937.58–$1,009.23 | 2 |
| PA | $910.09–$1,000.19 | 2 |
| PR | $964.05 | 1 |
| RI | $976.71 | 1 |
| SC | $907.28 | 1 |
| SD | $916.14 | 1 |
| TN | $878.82 | 1 |
| TX | $904.64–$984.32 | 8 |
| UT | $919.22 | 1 |
| VA | $930.60–$1,083.03 | 2 |
| VI | $964.05 | 1 |
| VT | $921.57 | 1 |
| WA | $977.26–$1,089.65 | 2 |
| WI | $891.13 | 1 |
| WV | $914.35 | 1 |
| WY | $942.18 | 1 |
How the 15839 rate is calculated
Each of 15839’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 · 15839
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 10.24Practice expense 16.54Malpractice 1.93
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 15839
15839 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 15839
Excess skin excision
| 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 · 15839
Excess skin excision
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
15839 without 51 · national office
$958.94
Excess skin excision
15839-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$479.47
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%).
15839 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
15839 vs 15830 vs 15832 vs 15836 vs 15838: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 15830Exc excessive skin abdomen
- Use 15830 for excision of excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue from the abdomen. Use 15839 for an area without its own site-specific code.
- 15832Thigh lift
- Use 15832 when the treated site is the thigh; 15839 identifies an other-area excision.
- 15836Skin excision
- Use 15836 for excess skin excision of the arm. The other-area code is for a site not represented by a dedicated code.
- 15838Fat pad excision
- Code 15838 addresses excision of the submental fat pad. Code 15839 is for excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue in another area.
15839 billing questions
When should this code be chosen instead of a site-specific excess-skin code?
Use it when the excised skin and subcutaneous tissue are from an area without its own site-specific code. If the treated site is the abdomen, thigh, or arm, consider the corresponding dedicated code instead.
Does the service include removal of underlying fat?
The service includes removal of subcutaneous tissue, including lipectomy, as part of the excess-tissue excision. Document the tissue and anatomical site treated.
Can modifier 50 be reported for treatment 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 payment?
For procedures performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant or another surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity. Co-surgeons and team surgery are 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
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