No office rate
Use 15841 when the graft is muscle. Code 15840 is for a fascial graft.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
15840 in Austin
Office / nonfacility
Not available in this setting
Base rate per service
Facility setting
$897.49
Base rate per service
Amounts below use the non-QP conversion factor for participating physicians. These are base physician payments before claim-level adjustments, not patient costs or total hospital charges.
Plastic surgery
About 15840: Facial paralysis fascial graft
A surgeon uses a fascial graft to provide support in facial paralysis, commonly as part of reconstructive surgery to improve facial symmetry or movement.
This operation uses fascia, often harvested from the patient, to support facial tissues affected by paralysis. Plastic surgeons and otolaryngologists may perform it as part of facial reanimation, including reconstruction intended to improve resting symmetry or help restore movement. The service is typically performed in an operating room; it is distinct from eyelid procedures that address inability to close the eye.
Report 15840 when the documented graft material and procedure are fascial, rather than a muscle graft or a microsurgical nerve graft. The operative report should identify the facial paralysis indication, the graft work, and any graft harvest. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during the following 90 days. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
CMS billing rules for 15840
- Global period
- Major surgery with a 90-day global period: the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care are included.
- Multiple procedures
- Standard multiple procedure reduction: the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50% when performed in the same session.
- Bilateral procedures
- Bilateral adjustment does not apply; the descriptor or anatomy makes modifier 50 inappropriate.
- Assistant at surgery
- Statutory restriction: assistant at surgery is not paid.
- Co-surgeons
- Co-surgeons not permitted.
- Team surgery
- Team surgery not permitted.
Where the value comes from
- Work RVU14.62 · 55%
- Practice expense (office) RVU9.65 · 36%
- Malpractice RVU2.27 · 9%
338
Medicare services in 2024 · #3893 by national volume
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.
15840 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Austin, from the same CMS release.
No office rate
Use 15842 for a microsurgical nerve graft in facial paralysis; 15840 describes fascial graft work.
$930.85
67912 addresses correction of lagophthalmos with an implant. It treats eyelid closure, not facial support with a fascial graft.
The same code, a different location
How does Austin compare?
15840 across payment areas
Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0
Austin · This locality
Unavailable
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Unavailable
No comparable rate is available in this setting.
Other payment areas listed in Texas appear first, followed by selected cross-country examples. The chart compares amounts, not distance.
The code’s RVUs stay the same in these comparisons. Geographic adjustments to work, practice expense and malpractice change the dollar amount. A city name alone may not identify the payment area for a service address.
Compare all 108 other payment areas
Rest Of Texas
Texas · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$862.67
No comparable office rate is available.
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty)
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$939.99
No comparable office rate is available.
Dc + Md/Va Suburbs
District of Columbia · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$978.77
No comparable office rate is available.
Miami
Florida · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1015.60
No comparable office rate is available.
Chicago
Illinois · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$989.68
No comparable office rate is available.
Manhattan
New York · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1014.36
No comparable office rate is available.
Alaska*
Alaska · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1117.53
No comparable office rate is available.
Alabama
Alabama · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$813.26
No comparable office rate is available.
Arkansas
Arkansas · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$804.24
No comparable office rate is available.
Arizona
Arizona · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$865.55
No comparable office rate is available.
Bakersfield
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$897.03
No comparable office rate is available.
Chico
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$890.52
No comparable office rate is available.
El Centro
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$890.90
No comparable office rate is available.
Fresno
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$890.52
No comparable office rate is available.
Hanford-Corcoran
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$890.52
No comparable office rate is available.
Madera
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$890.52
No comparable office rate is available.
Merced
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$890.52
No comparable office rate is available.
Modesto
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$890.52
No comparable office rate is available.
Napa
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$982.42
No comparable office rate is available.
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$930.21
No comparable office rate is available.
Redding
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$890.52
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of California
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$890.52
No comparable office rate is available.
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$915.05
No comparable office rate is available.
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$921.40
No comparable office rate is available.
Salinas
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$917.67
No comparable office rate is available.
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$929.56
No comparable office rate is available.
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1023.98
No comparable office rate is available.
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty)
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1021.40
No comparable office rate is available.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty)
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1047.46
No comparable office rate is available.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty)
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1036.92
No comparable office rate is available.
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$904.38
No comparable office rate is available.
Santa Cruz-Watsonville
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$930.83
No comparable office rate is available.
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$918.46
No comparable office rate is available.
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$939.42
No comparable office rate is available.
Stockton
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$890.52
No comparable office rate is available.
Vallejo
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$978.70
No comparable office rate is available.
Visalia
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$890.52
No comparable office rate is available.
Yuba City
California · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$890.52
No comparable office rate is available.
Colorado
Colorado · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$896.34
No comparable office rate is available.
Connecticut
Connecticut · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$936.97
No comparable office rate is available.
Delaware
Delaware · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$877.38
No comparable office rate is available.
Fort Lauderdale
Florida · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$951.91
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Florida
Florida · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$910.42
No comparable office rate is available.
Atlanta
Georgia · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$908.32
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Georgia
Georgia · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$866.21
No comparable office rate is available.
Hawaii, Guam
Hawaii · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$898.70
No comparable office rate is available.
Iowa
Iowa · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$813.34
No comparable office rate is available.
Idaho
Idaho · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$820.72
No comparable office rate is available.
East St. Louis
Illinois · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$937.56
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Illinois
Illinois · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$901.10
No comparable office rate is available.
Suburban Chicago
Illinois · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$957.11
No comparable office rate is available.
Indiana
Indiana · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$823.96
No comparable office rate is available.
Kansas
Kansas · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$817.91
No comparable office rate is available.
Kentucky
Kentucky · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$844.24
No comparable office rate is available.
New Orleans
Louisiana · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$877.75
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Louisiana
Louisiana · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$846.21
No comparable office rate is available.
Metropolitan Boston
Massachusetts · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$960.67
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Massachusetts
Massachusetts · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$895.96
No comparable office rate is available.
Baltimore/Surr. Cntys
Maryland · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$935.77
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Maryland
Maryland · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$888.99
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Maine
Maine · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$832.01
No comparable office rate is available.
Southern Maine
Maine · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$855.58
No comparable office rate is available.
Detroit
Michigan · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$927.19
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Michigan
Michigan · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$868.20
No comparable office rate is available.
Minnesota
Minnesota · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$842.43
No comparable office rate is available.
Metropolitan Kansas City
Missouri · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$865.05
No comparable office rate is available.
Metropolitan St. Louis
Missouri · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$871.14
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Missouri
Missouri · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$840.01
No comparable office rate is available.
Mississippi
Mississippi · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$821.87
No comparable office rate is available.
Montana**
Montana · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$886.31
No comparable office rate is available.
North Carolina
North Carolina · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$837.49
No comparable office rate is available.
North Dakota**
North Dakota · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$841.42
No comparable office rate is available.
Nebraska
Nebraska · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$814.48
No comparable office rate is available.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$890.20
No comparable office rate is available.
Northern Nj
New Jersey · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$973.95
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of New Jersey
New Jersey · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$943.00
No comparable office rate is available.
New Mexico
New Mexico · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$874.95
No comparable office rate is available.
Nevada**
Nevada · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$874.12
No comparable office rate is available.
Nyc Suburbs/Long Island
New York · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1043.61
No comparable office rate is available.
Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs
New York · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$954.98
No comparable office rate is available.
Queens
New York · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$1009.89
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of New York
New York · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$847.83
No comparable office rate is available.
Ohio
Ohio · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$859.02
No comparable office rate is available.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$835.06
No comparable office rate is available.
Portland
Oregon · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$910.64
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Oregon
Oregon · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$862.65
No comparable office rate is available.
Metropolitan Philadelphia
Pennsylvania · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$923.10
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$855.86
No comparable office rate is available.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$888.87
No comparable office rate is available.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$898.19
No comparable office rate is available.
South Carolina
South Carolina · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$850.59
No comparable office rate is available.
South Dakota**
South Dakota · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$836.12
No comparable office rate is available.
Tennessee
Tennessee · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$822.02
No comparable office rate is available.
Utah
Utah · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$859.39
No comparable office rate is available.
Virginia
Virginia · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$858.69
No comparable office rate is available.
Virgin Islands
United States Virgin Islands · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$888.87
No comparable office rate is available.
Vermont
Vermont · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$845.78
No comparable office rate is available.
Rest Of Washington
Washington · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$891.77
No comparable office rate is available.
Seattle (King Cnty)
Washington · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$970.17
No comparable office rate is available.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$820.46
No comparable office rate is available.
West Virginia
West Virginia · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$876.91
No comparable office rate is available.
Wyoming**
Wyoming · 15840
Office
Unavailable
Facility
$866.75
No comparable office rate is available.
See how rates vary across the country
15840 · Office / nonfacility · Non-QP. Choose a state to explore its payment localities. A range means the amount varies within that state.
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.
View all state and territory rates as a table
| State / territory | Rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | No published base rate | 1 |
| AL | No published base rate | 1 |
| AR | No published base rate | 1 |
| AZ | No published base rate | 1 |
| CA | No published base rate | 29 |
| CO | No published base rate | 1 |
| CT | No published base rate | 1 |
| DC | No published base rate | 1 |
| DE | No published base rate | 1 |
| FL | No published base rate | 3 |
| GA | No published base rate | 2 |
| GU | No published base rate | 1 |
| HI | No published base rate | 1 |
| IA | No published base rate | 1 |
| ID | No published base rate | 1 |
| IL | No published base rate | 4 |
| IN | No published base rate | 1 |
| KS | No published base rate | 1 |
| KY | No published base rate | 1 |
| LA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MD | No published base rate | 3 |
| ME | No published base rate | 2 |
| MI | No published base rate | 2 |
| MN | No published base rate | 1 |
| MO | No published base rate | 3 |
| MS | No published base rate | 1 |
| MT | No published base rate | 1 |
| NC | No published base rate | 1 |
| ND | No published base rate | 1 |
| NE | No published base rate | 1 |
| NH | No published base rate | 1 |
| NJ | No published base rate | 2 |
| NM | No published base rate | 1 |
| NV | No published base rate | 1 |
| NY | No published base rate | 5 |
| OH | No published base rate | 1 |
| OK | No published base rate | 1 |
| OR | No published base rate | 2 |
| PA | No published base rate | 2 |
| PR | No published base rate | 1 |
| RI | No published base rate | 1 |
| SC | No published base rate | 1 |
| SD | No published base rate | 1 |
| TN | No published base rate | 1 |
| TX | No published base rate | 8 |
| UT | No published base rate | 1 |
| VA | No published base rate | 2 |
| VI | No published base rate | 1 |
| VT | No published base rate | 1 |
| WA | No published base rate | 2 |
| WI | No published base rate | 1 |
| WV | No published base rate | 1 |
| WY | No published base rate | 1 |
Where does this rate apply?
Austin is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 31 cities and communities in Texas, including the examples shown here.
Some communities span more than one payment area. Follow a city link to compare all of its mapped areas, or check the service-location ZIP above for an address-level starting point.
- 15840 in Austin
Multiple payment areas
- 15840 in Barton Creek
- 15840 in Bee Cave
- 15840 in Briarcliff
- 15840 in Cedar Park
Multiple payment areas
- 15840 in Creedmoor
Multiple payment areas
- 15840 in Elgin
Multiple payment areas
- 15840 in Garfield
Use this rate
What is a percentage of Medicare worth?
Turn a percentage into dollars for 15840 in Austin. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.
Reference amount per service
$987.24
$897.49 × 110% = $987.24
A contract may specify another Medicare year or additional adjustments. This is percentage arithmetic on the displayed base rate, not a claim adjudication.
Working with a whole code list?
Compare an offer across your annual code mix, including an older Medicare schedule or flat per-code rates.
How this local rate is calculated
Each RVU component is multiplied by its own geographic practice cost index (GPCI). The three adjusted components are added, then multiplied by the conversion factor. These are the inputs used for 15840 in Austin.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
1,579
- Code
- 15840
- Physician work
- 14.62
- Practice expense
- 9.65
- Malpractice
- 2.27
GPCI2026.csv
96
- Locality
- Austin
- Physician work
- 1.002
- Practice expense
- 1.058
- Malpractice
- 0.886
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 14.62 | × 1.002 | 14.6492 |
| Practice expense | 9.65 | × 1.058 | 10.2097 |
| Malpractice | 2.27 | × 0.886 | 2.0112 |
| Total RVUs | 26.8702 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Facility rate, Austin$897.49
Open 15840 in the RVU calculator →
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Facility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 14.62 | 1.002 |
| Practice expense | 9.65 | 1.058 |
| Malpractice | 2.27 | 0.886 |
(14.62 × 1.002 + 9.65 × 1.058 + 2.27 × 0.886) × $33.4009 = $897.49
The office and facility calculations use their respective practice-expense RVUs. The facility amount here is the physician fee, not a separate hospital or facility bill.
How this rate has changed
15840 · Office / nonfacility
Rate unavailable
Effective 2026-10-01
A rate is unavailable in one of these releases, so a change cannot be calculated.
One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.
What changed, release by release
Explore release dates and calculate this code in an earlier period →
Each row uses the accepted CMS release effective on that date and the same contractor and locality identifiers. Missing rates stay visible. Historical boundaries may differ; verify the service address for an older claim.
Inspect every release and its CMS source
| Effective from | Office / nonfacility | Facility | CMS release |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $897.49 | RVU26D |
| 2026-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $897.49 | RVU26C |
| 2026-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $897.49 | RVU26B |
| 2026-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $897.49 | RVU26A |
| 2025-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $996.23 | RVU25D |
| 2025-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $996.23 | RVU25C |
| 2025-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $996.23 | RVU25B |
| 2025-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $996.23 | RVU25A |
15840 billing questions
How do I choose between 15840, 15841, and 15842?
Choose 15840 for a fascial graft, 15841 for a muscle graft, and 15842 for a microsurgical nerve graft used for facial paralysis. The operative report should support the graft type and procedure.
Does 15840 include harvesting the fascia?
The service includes obtaining the fascia used for the graft. Do not report a separate graft-harvest service for that work.
Should modifier 50 be used for grafts on both sides?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code, so modifier 50 should not be used.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during the 90 days after surgery.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for 15840. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
How does the multiple-procedure reduction affect 15840?
For multiple procedures in the same session, Medicare pays the highest-valued procedure in full and applies the standard 50% reduction to the others.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense, and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indices and the applicable conversion factor. Unavailable or separately priced services are labeled rather than assigned a made-up amount.
Source: RVU26D. Effective 2026-10-01 through the day before 2027-01-01.
1,57615837,,Exc excsv skin forearm/hand,A,,9.31,17.02,,8.67,,1.73,28.06,19.71,0,090,0.10,0.71,0.19,2,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,57715838,,Exc excsv submental fat pad,A,,8.04,8.44,NA,8.44,,1.48,17.96,17.96,0,090,0.10,0.71,0.19,2,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,57815839,,Exc excessive skn other area,A,,10.24,16.54,,8.25,,1.93,28.71,20.42,0,090,0.10,0.71,0.19,2,0,0,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,57915840,,Nerve palsy fascial graft,A,,14.62,9.65,NA,9.65,,2.27,26.54,26.54,0,090,0.10,0.71,0.19,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,58015841,,Nerve palsy muscle graft,A,,25.34,17.28,NA,17.28,,4.71,47.33,47.33,0,090,0.10,0.71,0.19,2,0,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,58115842,,Nerve palsy microsurg graft,A,,39.98,23.36,NA,23.36,,7.43,70.77,70.77,0,090,0.10,0.71,0.19,2,0,2,1,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,58215845,,Skin and muscle repair face,A,,13.96,12.42,NA,12.42,,2.59,28.97,28.97,0,090,0.10,0.71,0.19,2,0,2,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
9311202,SC,01,SOUTH CAROLINA,1.000,0.924,0.850
9403402,SD,02,SOUTH DAKOTA**,1.000,1.000,0.336
9510312,TN,35,TENNESSEE,1.000,0.909,0.537
9604412,TX,31,AUSTIN,1.002,1.058,0.886
9704412,TX,20,BEAUMONT,1.000,0.910,0.929
9804412,TX,09,BRAZORIA,1.008,0.991,0.780
9904412,TX,11,DALLAS,1.009,0.996,0.858