HCPCS Q4203: Skin substituteMedicare rate & RVUs

Q4203 reports Derma-gide by square centimeter when the product is used with a primary wound procedure for skin substitute application.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities

Medicare pays $127.26 for Q4203 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $109.31–$183.51.

Medicare rate · Q4203

Skin substitute

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
0
Total RVUs
3.81
Global days
ZZZ

National rate · 2026

$127.26

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for Q4203 → · 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 Q4203 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 Q4203 covers

Q4203 identifies Derma-gide supplied for wound coverage, measured in 1-square-centimeter units. It is reported for the product used on a wound, not for the clinician’s wound assessment or application work. Wound care clinicians, surgeons, and podiatrists may use skin substitute products in outpatient wound settings; the record should identify Derma-gide and the treated wound area.

CMS classifies Q4203 as an add-on code: report it only with a primary procedure, and payment is included within that procedure’s global period. The quantity should correspond to the square centimeters of product used, supported by documentation of the product and treated area. CMS identifies this code as technical-component-only; a separate code covers interpretation. Q4203 has no physician work RVUs, so it represents the product’s technical portion rather than a separate professional interpretation service.

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 Q4203 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

$109.31 to $183.51

$109.31$146.41$183.51
One dot per payment locality, office / nonfacility. Hover a dot to see the locality; select it to open that rate.

109 of 109 payment localities

Q4203 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$111.35Unavailable
Alaska*$135.53Unavailable
Arizona$123.31Unavailable
Arkansas$109.31Unavailable
Atlanta$129.29Unavailable
Austin$134.64Unavailable
Bakersfield$139.47Unavailable
Baltimore/Surr. Cntys$136.55Unavailable
Beaumont$115.80Unavailable
Brazoria$126.11Unavailable

Q4203 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.

$109.31

$161.49

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
Q4203 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$135.531
AL$111.351
AR$109.311
AZ$123.311
CA$139.47–$183.5129
CO$135.401
CT$137.061
DC$149.911
DE$125.731
FL$121.66–$132.473
GA$113.51–$129.292
GU$144.691
HI$144.691
IA$116.441
ID$117.081
IL$116.19–$130.694
IN$117.971
KS$115.041
KY$113.131
LA$112.62–$119.752
MA$134.00–$151.952
MD$128.78–$149.913
ME$117.08–$126.112
MI$116.19–$122.802
MN$130.951
MO$109.70–$121.153
MS$109.571
MT$127.261
NC$118.731
ND$127.261
NE$117.461
NH$132.471
NJ$138.97–$147.622
NM$116.701
NV$127.381
NY$120.89–$151.315
OH$116.191
OK$113.641
OR$126.75–$141.382
PA$116.82–$132.472
PR$128.661
RI$131.461
SC$117.591
SD$127.261
TN$115.681
TX$115.80–$134.648
UT$119.621
VA$125.09–$149.912
VI$128.661
VT$125.981
WA$134.00–$156.142
WI$121.911
WV$110.591
WY$127.261

How the Q4203 rate is calculated

Each of Q4203’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 · Q4203

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 0.00Practice expense 3.81Malpractice 0.00

3.8100 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$127.26

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

Payment rules and modifiers for Q4203

The CMS indicators that decide how Q4203 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · Q4203

Skin substitute

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodZZZAdd-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical3Technical component only.

Q4203 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

Q4203 vs Q4200 vs Q4201 vs Q4205: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • Q4203
    Skin substitute · 0 wRVU
    $127.26
  • Q4200
    SkinTE · 0 wRVU
    $127.26+$0.00
  • Q4201
    Matrion · 0 wRVU
    $127.26+$0.00
  • Q4205
    Membrane graft · 0 wRVU
    $127.26+$0.00

How to choose

Q4200SkinTE
Q4200 identifies SkinTE, while Q4203 identifies Derma-gide. Select the code for the specific product used, not simply because both are billed by square centimeter.
Q4201Matrion
Q4201 identifies Matrion; Q4203 identifies Derma-gide. The product name on the record distinguishes the codes.
Q4205Membrane graft
Q4205 describes a membrane graft or wrap product. Q4203 is specific to Derma-gide, so use the code matching the supplied product.

Q4203 billing questions

What does one unit of Q4203 represent?

One unit represents 1 square centimeter of Derma-gide. Document the amount used and the area treated.

Can Q4203 be billed by itself?

No. CMS identifies it as an add-on code that must be billed with a primary procedure.

Which primary procedure may be reported with Q4203?

Pair it with the applicable skin substitute application procedure, such as 15271 for an eligible trunk, arm, or leg site or 15275 for an eligible face, scalp, or neck site.

How does the global-period rule affect payment?

CMS pays Q4203 within the global period of the primary procedure. It is not paid as a separate service outside that pairing.

What should the record support?

Document that Derma-gide was used, the wound treated, and the square centimeters applied. The product identity matters when distinguishing Q4203 from other skin substitute codes.

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 Q4203PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 18,295 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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