HCPCS Q4278: EpiEffectMedicare rate & RVUs
Report EpiEffect by square centimeter when the product is applied to a wound alongside the appropriate skin substitute application procedure.
Medicare pays $127.26 for Q4278 nationally in the office. Local office rates run $109.31–$183.51.
Medicare rate · Q4278
EpiEffect
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 Q4278 → · 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 Q4278 covers
Q4278 identifies the EpiEffect product used during a skin substitute application. A physician or podiatrist may apply it to a wound, such as a diabetic foot ulcer or venous leg ulcer, in an office or outpatient wound clinic. The product code identifies the material; the application procedure describes the clinician’s work preparing and covering the wound.
Report Q4278 in square centimeters of EpiEffect used, supported by the product name, wound location, and amount applied in the treatment record. Choose the primary application procedure according to the wound site and treated area; for example, a leg wound and a foot wound fall under different application codes. CMS treats Q4278 as an add-on billed only with a primary procedure, with payment within that procedure’s global period. CMS also classifies Q4278 as technical-component-only: any interpretation is covered by a separate code, not by Q4278.
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 Q4278 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 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $111.35 | Unavailable |
| Alaska* | $135.53 | Unavailable |
| Arizona | $123.31 | Unavailable |
| Arkansas | $109.31 | Unavailable |
| Atlanta | $129.29 | Unavailable |
| Austin | $134.64 | Unavailable |
| Bakersfield | $139.47 | Unavailable |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $136.55 | Unavailable |
| Beaumont | $115.80 | Unavailable |
| Brazoria | $126.11 | Unavailable |
| Chicago | $127.89 | Unavailable |
| Chico | $139.47 | Unavailable |
| Colorado | $135.40 | Unavailable |
| Connecticut | $137.06 | Unavailable |
| Dallas | $126.75 | Unavailable |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $149.91 | Unavailable |
| Delaware | $125.73 | Unavailable |
| Detroit | $122.80 | Unavailable |
| East St. Louis | $117.08 | Unavailable |
| El Centro | $139.47 | Unavailable |
| Fort Lauderdale | $128.91 | Unavailable |
| Fort Worth | $125.48 | Unavailable |
| Fresno | $139.47 | Unavailable |
| Galveston | $126.37 | Unavailable |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $139.47 | Unavailable |
| Hawaii, Guam | $144.69 | Unavailable |
| Houston | $126.37 | Unavailable |
| Idaho | $117.08 | Unavailable |
| Indiana | $117.97 | Unavailable |
| Iowa | $116.44 | Unavailable |
| Kansas | $115.04 | Unavailable |
| Kentucky | $113.13 | Unavailable |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $150.55 | Unavailable |
| Madera | $139.47 | Unavailable |
| Manhattan | $147.87 | Unavailable |
| Merced | $139.47 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Boston | $151.95 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $119.49 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $132.47 | Unavailable |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $121.15 | Unavailable |
| Miami | $132.47 | Unavailable |
| Minnesota | $130.95 | Unavailable |
| Mississippi | $109.57 | Unavailable |
| Modesto | $139.47 | Unavailable |
| Montana** | $127.26 | Unavailable |
| Napa | $167.73 | Unavailable |
| Nebraska | $117.46 | Unavailable |
| Nevada** | $127.38 | Unavailable |
| New Hampshire | $132.47 | Unavailable |
| New Mexico | $116.70 | Unavailable |
| New Orleans | $119.75 | Unavailable |
| North Carolina | $118.73 | Unavailable |
| North Dakota** | $127.26 | Unavailable |
| Northern Nj | $147.62 | Unavailable |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $151.31 | Unavailable |
| Ohio | $116.19 | Unavailable |
| Oklahoma | $113.64 | Unavailable |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $150.42 | Unavailable |
| Portland | $141.38 | Unavailable |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $139.35 | Unavailable |
| Puerto Rico | $128.66 | Unavailable |
| Queens | $150.42 | Unavailable |
| Redding | $139.47 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of California | $139.47 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Florida | $121.66 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Georgia | $113.51 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Illinois | $116.19 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $112.62 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maine | $117.08 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Maryland | $128.78 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $134.00 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Michigan | $116.19 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Missouri | $109.70 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $138.97 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of New York | $120.89 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Oregon | $126.75 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $116.82 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Texas | $120.77 | Unavailable |
| Rest Of Washington | $134.00 | Unavailable |
| Rhode Island | $131.46 | Unavailable |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $139.47 | Unavailable |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $148.00 | Unavailable |
| Salinas | $147.49 | Unavailable |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $152.20 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $179.43 | Unavailable |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $179.43 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $183.51 | Unavailable |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $183.51 | Unavailable |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $144.95 | Unavailable |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $154.62 | Unavailable |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $148.38 | Unavailable |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $156.27 | Unavailable |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $156.14 | Unavailable |
| South Carolina | $117.59 | Unavailable |
| South Dakota** | $127.26 | Unavailable |
| Southern Maine | $126.11 | Unavailable |
| Stockton | $139.47 | Unavailable |
| Suburban Chicago | $130.69 | Unavailable |
| Tennessee | $115.68 | Unavailable |
| Utah | $119.62 | Unavailable |
| Vallejo | $167.73 | Unavailable |
| Vermont | $125.98 | Unavailable |
| Virgin Islands | $128.66 | Unavailable |
| Virginia | $125.09 | Unavailable |
| Visalia | $139.47 | Unavailable |
| West Virginia | $110.59 | Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | $121.91 | Unavailable |
| Wyoming** | $127.26 | Unavailable |
| Yuba City | $139.47 | Unavailable |
Q4278 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
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $135.53 | 1 |
| AL | $111.35 | 1 |
| AR | $109.31 | 1 |
| AZ | $123.31 | 1 |
| CA | $139.47–$183.51 | 29 |
| CO | $135.40 | 1 |
| CT | $137.06 | 1 |
| DC | $149.91 | 1 |
| DE | $125.73 | 1 |
| FL | $121.66–$132.47 | 3 |
| GA | $113.51–$129.29 | 2 |
| GU | $144.69 | 1 |
| HI | $144.69 | 1 |
| IA | $116.44 | 1 |
| ID | $117.08 | 1 |
| IL | $116.19–$130.69 | 4 |
| IN | $117.97 | 1 |
| KS | $115.04 | 1 |
| KY | $113.13 | 1 |
| LA | $112.62–$119.75 | 2 |
| MA | $134.00–$151.95 | 2 |
| MD | $128.78–$149.91 | 3 |
| ME | $117.08–$126.11 | 2 |
| MI | $116.19–$122.80 | 2 |
| MN | $130.95 | 1 |
| MO | $109.70–$121.15 | 3 |
| MS | $109.57 | 1 |
| MT | $127.26 | 1 |
| NC | $118.73 | 1 |
| ND | $127.26 | 1 |
| NE | $117.46 | 1 |
| NH | $132.47 | 1 |
| NJ | $138.97–$147.62 | 2 |
| NM | $116.70 | 1 |
| NV | $127.38 | 1 |
| NY | $120.89–$151.31 | 5 |
| OH | $116.19 | 1 |
| OK | $113.64 | 1 |
| OR | $126.75–$141.38 | 2 |
| PA | $116.82–$132.47 | 2 |
| PR | $128.66 | 1 |
| RI | $131.46 | 1 |
| SC | $117.59 | 1 |
| SD | $127.26 | 1 |
| TN | $115.68 | 1 |
| TX | $115.80–$134.64 | 8 |
| UT | $119.62 | 1 |
| VA | $125.09–$149.91 | 2 |
| VI | $128.66 | 1 |
| VT | $125.98 | 1 |
| WA | $134.00–$156.14 | 2 |
| WI | $121.91 | 1 |
| WV | $110.59 | 1 |
| WY | $127.26 | 1 |
How the Q4278 rate is calculated
Each of Q4278’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 · Q4278
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 0.00Practice expense 3.81Malpractice 0.00
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for Q4278
The CMS indicators that decide how Q4278 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · Q4278
EpiEffect
| 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) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 3 | Technical component only. |
Q4278 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
Q4278 vs 15271 vs 15275 vs Q4279 vs Q4280: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 15271Skin substitute graft
- 15271 describes applying a skin substitute to an eligible leg wound. Q4278 identifies the EpiEffect material used during that procedure.
- 15275Skin substitute
- 15275 describes applying a skin substitute to an eligible foot wound. Q4278 identifies the EpiEffect product, not the application work.
- Q4279Wound product
- Both are product codes measured per square centimeter. Use Q4278 for EpiEffect and Q4279 for Vendaje AC.
- Q4280Amniotic matrix
- Q4280 identifies Xcell Amnio Matrix per square centimeter; Q4278 identifies EpiEffect. Select the code for the product documented as used.
Q4278 billing questions
Does Q4278 replace the skin substitute application code?
No. Q4278 identifies the EpiEffect product and is billed with the primary procedure describing its application.
How are Q4278 units determined?
Each unit represents one square centimeter of EpiEffect. Support the units with documentation of the product and amount used, rather than assuming the product quantity equals the wound measurement.
Which application code pairs with Q4278 for a leg or foot wound?
For an eligible leg wound, 15271 describes the initial application area; for an eligible foot wound, 15275 serves that role. Select the procedure from the documented site and treated area.
Can Q4278 be used when a different skin substitute was applied?
No. Use the product code for the material actually documented as applied; Q4278 identifies EpiEffect specifically.
Does Q4278 include interpretation or have its own global period?
CMS classifies Q4278 as technical-component-only and assigns interpretation to a separate code. As an add-on, it is paid within the primary procedure’s global period.
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
Fee sheets
Put Q4278 and the rest of your codes on one sheet
Build a fee sheet from your own code list at your locality, put your payer contracts beside Medicare, and see what changed each quarter.
Build my fee sheetOr price your code list free →