FeeBase
Log inGet started
Menu
On this page

CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01

15837 in Merced

Office / nonfacility

$970.28

Base rate per service

Facility setting

$664.61

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 15837: Forearm or hand excess skin excision

Removal of redundant skin and underlying tissue from the forearm or hand, commonly during reconstructive contouring when excess tissue causes functional or hygiene problems.

This operation removes redundant skin and underlying fatty tissue from the forearm or hand, then closes the surgical wound. Plastic and reconstructive surgeons may perform it after substantial weight loss when hanging tissue limits movement, complicates hygiene, or causes persistent skin irritation. The operative site must be the forearm or hand; removal of a discrete lesion or treatment of a wound is a different service.

Report the code when the operative work addresses excess skin and subcutaneous tissue at one of these sites. The record should identify the exact site, the clinical problem, and the tissue removed. This major surgery code has a 90-day global period that includes 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 other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

CMS billing rules for 15837

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
Assistant at surgery is paid only with documentation of medical necessity.
Co-surgeons
Co-surgeons not permitted.
Team surgery
Team surgery not permitted.

Where the value comes from

  • Work RVU9.31 · 33%
  • Practice expense (office) RVU17.02 · 61%
  • Malpractice RVU1.73 · 6%

14

Medicare services in 2024 · #6088 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.

15837 compared with similar codes

Office rates for Merced, from the same CMS release.

15836

Skin excision

Upper arm

No office rate

Use 15837 for the forearm or hand; use 15836 when the excess skin and subcutaneous tissue being removed are in the upper arm.

15839

Excess skin excision

Other anatomical area

$987.88

Use 15837 for the forearm or hand. Code 15839 is for an excess-skin site not otherwise specified by a site-specific code.

15830

Exc excessive skin abdomen

No office rate

Code 15830 concerns excess skin removal from the abdomen, not the forearm or hand.

The same code, a different location

How does Merced compare?

In Bakersfield, the office rate for 15837 is $975.12—$4.84 higher than the $970.28 rate in Merced. Both use the same code, release and participation basis.

15837 across payment areas

Same release and payment basis · bars start at $0

  1. Merced · This locality

    $970.28

  2. Bakersfield

    $975.12

    $4.84 higher than Merced

  3. Chico

    $970.28

    The same base rate than Merced

  4. El Centro

    $970.57

    $0.29 higher than Merced

  5. Fresno

    $970.28

    The same base rate than Merced

  6. Hanford-Corcoran

    $970.28

    The same base rate than Merced

  7. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty)

    $1034.60

    $64.32 higher than Merced

Other payment areas listed in California appear first, followed by selected cross-country examples. The chart compares amounts, not distance.

Across 109 of 109 CMS payment localities with a supported office rate, 15837 ranges from $829.05 in Arkansas to $1195.89 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty). This is a geographic range, not an average.

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

  • Madera

    California · 15837

    Office

    $970.28

    Facility

    $664.61

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Modesto

    California · 15837

    Office

    $970.28

    Facility

    $664.61

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Napa

    California · 15837

    Office

    $1109.17

    Facility

    $741.58

    $138.89 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

    California · 15837

    Office

    $1027.62

    Facility

    $697.96

    $57.34 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Redding

    California · 15837

    Office

    $970.28

    Facility

    $664.61

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of California

    California · 15837

    Office

    $970.28

    Facility

    $664.61

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

    California · 15837

    Office

    $988.91

    Facility

    $683.24

    $18.63 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom

    California · 15837

    Office

    $1014.28

    Facility

    $689.92

    $44.00 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Salinas

    California · 15837

    Office

    $1010.45

    Facility

    $687.20

    $40.17 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

    California · 15837

    Office

    $1031.52

    Facility

    $697.95

    $61.24 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty)

    California · 15837

    Office

    $1168.59

    Facility

    $775.34

    $198.31 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty)

    California · 15837

    Office

    $1166.62

    Facility

    $773.38

    $196.34 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty)

    California · 15837

    Office

    $1195.89

    Facility

    $793.72

    $225.61 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty)

    California · 15837

    Office

    $1187.86

    Facility

    $785.69

    $217.58 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles

    California · 15837

    Office

    $994.72

    Facility

    $677.06

    $24.44 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Santa Cruz-Watsonville

    California · 15837

    Office

    $1039.17

    Facility

    $700.31

    $68.89 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

    California · 15837

    Office

    $1013.49

    Facility

    $688.30

    $43.21 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma

    California · 15837

    Office

    $1049.36

    Facility

    $706.87

    $79.08 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Stockton

    California · 15837

    Office

    $970.28

    Facility

    $664.61

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Vallejo

    California · 15837

    Office

    $1106.34

    Facility

    $738.75

    $136.06 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Visalia

    California · 15837

    Office

    $970.28

    Facility

    $664.61

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Yuba City

    California · 15837

    Office

    $970.28

    Facility

    $664.61

    The same base rate than Merced for the office setting.

  • Dc + Md/Va Suburbs

    District of Columbia · 15837

    Office

    $1061.74

    Facility

    $733.20

    $91.46 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Miami

    Florida · 15837

    Office

    $1048.89

    Facility

    $758.56

    $78.61 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Chicago

    Illinois · 15837

    Office

    $1017.08

    Facility

    $736.79

    $46.80 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Manhattan

    New York · 15837

    Office

    $1083.09

    Facility

    $759.01

    $112.81 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Alaska*

    Alaska · 15837

    Office

    $1103.72

    Facility

    $806.69

    $133.44 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Alabama

    Alabama · 15837

    Office

    $841.09

    Facility

    $597.06

    $129.19 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Arkansas

    Arkansas · 15837

    Office

    $829.05

    Facility

    $589.48

    $141.23 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Arizona

    Arizona · 15837

    Office

    $911.29

    Facility

    $641.03

    $58.99 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Colorado

    Colorado · 15837

    Office

    $964.69

    Facility

    $667.94

    $5.59 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Connecticut

    Connecticut · 15837

    Office

    $999.36

    Facility

    $698.98

    $29.08 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Delaware

    Delaware · 15837

    Office

    $926.13

    Facility

    $650.58

    $44.15 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Fort Lauderdale

    Florida · 15837

    Office

    $991.31

    Facility

    $708.79

    $21.03 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Florida

    Florida · 15837

    Office

    $941.28

    Facility

    $674.66

    $29.00 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Atlanta

    Georgia · 15837

    Office

    $958.87

    Facility

    $675.51

    $11.41 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Georgia

    Georgia · 15837

    Office

    $886.93

    Facility

    $638.15

    $83.35 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Hawaii, Guam

    Hawaii · 15837

    Office

    $990.78

    Facility

    $673.68

    $20.50 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Iowa

    Iowa · 15837

    Office

    $854.06

    Facility

    $598.87

    $116.22 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Idaho

    Idaho · 15837

    Office

    $861.30

    Facility

    $604.71

    $108.98 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • East St. Louis

    Illinois · 15837

    Office

    $950.34

    Facility

    $693.76

    $19.94 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Illinois

    Illinois · 15837

    Office

    $920.30

    Facility

    $665.67

    $49.98 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Suburban Chicago

    Illinois · 15837

    Office

    $999.36

    Facility

    $712.94

    $29.08 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Indiana

    Indiana · 15837

    Office

    $866.03

    Facility

    $607.49

    $104.25 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Kansas

    Kansas · 15837

    Office

    $853.99

    Facility

    $601.87

    $116.29 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Kentucky

    Kentucky · 15837

    Office

    $869.22

    Facility

    $621.28

    $101.06 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • New Orleans

    Louisiana · 15837

    Office

    $911.55

    Facility

    $649.10

    $58.73 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Louisiana

    Louisiana · 15837

    Office

    $869.43

    Facility

    $622.60

    $100.85 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Boston

    Massachusetts · 15837

    Office

    $1053.91

    Facility

    $720.90

    $83.63 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Massachusetts

    Massachusetts · 15837

    Office

    $960.60

    Facility

    $666.93

    $9.68 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Baltimore/Surr. Cntys

    Maryland · 15837

    Office

    $997.40

    Facility

    $698.14

    $27.12 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maryland

    Maryland · 15837

    Office

    $942.42

    Facility

    $660.18

    $27.86 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Maine

    Maine · 15837

    Office

    $869.91

    Facility

    $613.32

    $100.37 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Southern Maine

    Maine · 15837

    Office

    $910.79

    Facility

    $634.40

    $59.49 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Detroit

    Michigan · 15837

    Office

    $956.97

    Facility

    $687.84

    $13.31 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Michigan

    Michigan · 15837

    Office

    $895.23

    Facility

    $640.59

    $75.05 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Minnesota

    Minnesota · 15837

    Office

    $913.04

    Facility

    $626.05

    $57.24 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Kansas City

    Missouri · 15837

    Office

    $901.22

    Facility

    $639.34

    $69.06 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan St. Louis

    Missouri · 15837

    Office

    $910.06

    Facility

    $644.55

    $60.22 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Missouri

    Missouri · 15837

    Office

    $857.28

    Facility

    $616.87

    $113.00 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi · 15837

    Office

    $843.13

    Facility

    $603.00

    $127.15 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Montana**

    Montana · 15837

    Office

    $937.11

    Facility

    $658.22

    $33.17 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • North Carolina

    North Carolina · 15837

    Office

    $878.28

    Facility

    $618.07

    $92.00 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • North Dakota**

    North Dakota · 15837

    Office

    $902.91

    Facility

    $624.01

    $67.37 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Nebraska

    Nebraska · 15837

    Office

    $857.51

    Facility

    $600.09

    $112.77 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire · 15837

    Office

    $953.31

    Facility

    $662.98

    $16.97 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Northern Nj

    New Jersey · 15837

    Office

    $1051.71

    Facility

    $728.19

    $81.43 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New Jersey

    New Jersey · 15837

    Office

    $1007.57

    Facility

    $703.02

    $37.29 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • New Mexico

    New Mexico · 15837

    Office

    $901.66

    Facility

    $645.91

    $68.62 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Nevada**

    Nevada · 15837

    Office

    $928.15

    Facility

    $648.97

    $42.13 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Nyc Suburbs/Long Island

    New York · 15837

    Office

    $1114.09

    Facility

    $782.49

    $143.81 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs

    New York · 15837

    Office

    $1017.36

    Facility

    $711.97

    $47.08 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Queens

    New York · 15837

    Office

    $1086.14

    Facility

    $756.48

    $115.86 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of New York

    New York · 15837

    Office

    $891.64

    Facility

    $626.69

    $78.64 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Ohio

    Ohio · 15837

    Office

    $888.23

    Facility

    $633.60

    $82.05 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Oklahoma

    Oklahoma · 15837

    Office

    $863.52

    Facility

    $614.46

    $106.76 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Portland

    Oregon · 15837

    Office

    $990.51

    Facility

    $680.66

    $20.23 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Oregon

    Oregon · 15837

    Office

    $917.79

    Facility

    $640.01

    $52.49 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Metropolitan Philadelphia

    Pennsylvania · 15837

    Office

    $977.29

    Facility

    $686.95

    $7.01 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania · 15837

    Office

    $887.44

    Facility

    $631.41

    $82.84 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico · 15837

    Office

    $942.62

    Facility

    $660.65

    $27.66 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island · 15837

    Office

    $955.66

    Facility

    $667.56

    $14.62 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • South Carolina

    South Carolina · 15837

    Office

    $885.36

    Facility

    $627.66

    $84.92 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • South Dakota**

    South Dakota · 15837

    Office

    $898.86

    Facility

    $619.96

    $71.42 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Tennessee

    Tennessee · 15837

    Office

    $858.74

    Facility

    $605.23

    $111.54 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Austin

    Texas · 15837

    Office

    $964.24

    Facility

    $669.16

    $6.04 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Beaumont

    Texas · 15837

    Office

    $881.96

    Facility

    $628.17

    $88.32 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Brazoria

    Texas · 15837

    Office

    $921.89

    Facility

    $645.50

    $48.39 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Dallas

    Texas · 15837

    Office

    $929.55

    Facility

    $651.77

    $40.73 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Fort Worth

    Texas · 15837

    Office

    $924.62

    Facility

    $649.62

    $45.66 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Galveston

    Texas · 15837

    Office

    $925.80

    Facility

    $648.85

    $44.48 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Houston

    Texas · 15837

    Office

    $957.46

    Facility

    $680.52

    $12.82 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Texas

    Texas · 15837

    Office

    $902.63

    Facility

    $637.96

    $67.65 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Utah

    Utah · 15837

    Office

    $897.23

    Facility

    $635.06

    $73.05 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Virginia

    Virginia · 15837

    Office

    $910.58

    Facility

    $636.42

    $59.70 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Virgin Islands

    United States Virgin Islands · 15837

    Office

    $942.62

    Facility

    $660.65

    $27.66 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Vermont

    Vermont · 15837

    Office

    $903.00

    Facility

    $626.89

    $67.28 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Rest Of Washington

    Washington · 15837

    Office

    $957.59

    Facility

    $663.91

    $12.69 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Seattle (King Cnty)

    Washington · 15837

    Office

    $1071.25

    Facility

    $729.04

    $100.97 higher than Merced for the office setting.

  • Wisconsin

    Wisconsin · 15837

    Office

    $873.37

    Facility

    $606.18

    $96.91 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • West Virginia

    West Virginia · 15837

    Office

    $887.66

    Facility

    $645.30

    $82.62 lower than Merced for the office setting.

  • Wyoming**

    Wyoming · 15837

    Office

    $922.21

    Facility

    $643.31

    $48.07 lower than Merced for the office setting.

See how rates vary across the country

15837 · Office / nonfacility · Non-QP. Choose a state to explore its payment localities. A range means the amount varies within that state.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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.

$829.05

$1,103.72

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

View all state and territory rates as a table
State / territoryRate rangeLocalities
AK$1,103.721
AL$841.091
AR$829.051
AZ$911.291
CA$970.28–$1,195.8929
CO$964.691
CT$999.361
DC$1,061.741
DE$926.131
FL$941.28–$1,048.893
GA$886.93–$958.872
GU$990.781
HI$990.781
IA$854.061
ID$861.301
IL$920.30–$1,017.084
IN$866.031
KS$853.991
KY$869.221
LA$869.43–$911.552
MA$960.60–$1,053.912
MD$942.42–$1,061.743
ME$869.91–$910.792
MI$895.23–$956.972
MN$913.041
MO$857.28–$910.063
MS$843.131
MT$937.111
NC$878.281
ND$902.911
NE$857.511
NH$953.311
NJ$1,007.57–$1,051.712
NM$901.661
NV$928.151
NY$891.64–$1,114.095
OH$888.231
OK$863.521
OR$917.79–$990.512
PA$887.44–$977.292
PR$942.621
RI$955.661
SC$885.361
SD$898.861
TN$858.741
TX$881.96–$964.248
UT$897.231
VA$910.58–$1,061.742
VI$942.621
VT$903.001
WA$957.59–$1,071.252
WI$873.371
WV$887.661
WY$922.211

Explore 15837 on the national rate map →

Where does this rate apply?

Merced is a Medicare payment area. Our Census mapping connects it to 24 cities and communities in California, 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.

Browse all communities in California →

Why are the office and facility amounts different?

For 15837 in Merced, the physician’s office rate is $970.28 and the facility-setting rate is $664.61: a difference of $305.67.

The calculation uses a different practice-expense RVU for each setting. Both amounts here are physician fee-schedule amounts. The facility figure does not include a hospital’s separate charges, so this comparison does not tell you the total cost of receiving care in each setting.

See the inputs behind this difference →

Use this rate

What is a percentage of Medicare worth?

Turn a percentage into dollars for 15837 in Merced. This uses the base rate on this page, so the locality and release stay consistent.

Reference amount per service

$1067.31

$970.28 × 110% = $1067.31

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.

Compare your contract offer →

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 15837 in Merced.

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,576

Code
15837
Physician work
9.31
Practice expense
17.02
Malpractice
1.73

GPCI2026.csv

15

Locality
Merced
Physician work
1.017
Practice expense
1.096
Malpractice
0.536
Office / nonfacility calculation for 15837 in Merced
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work9.31× 1.0179.4683
Practice expense17.02× 1.09618.6539
Malpractice1.73× 0.5360.9273
Total RVUs29.0495
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office / nonfacility rate, Merced$970.28

Values as parsed from CMS release RVU26D, effective 2026-10-01. The amount is rounded to the nearest cent only at the end.

Open 15837 in the RVU calculator →

Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula

Office / nonfacility

Office / nonfacility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work9.311.017
Practice expense17.021.096
Malpractice1.730.536

(9.31 × 1.017 + 17.02 × 1.096 + 1.73 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $970.28

Facility

Facility calculation inputs
ComponentRVULocal GPCI
Work9.311.017
Practice expense8.671.096
Malpractice1.730.536

(9.31 × 1.017 + 8.67 × 1.096 + 1.73 × 0.536) × $33.4009 = $664.61

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

15837 · Office / nonfacility

$970.28

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $94.67 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $875.61 to $970.28 (10.8%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

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

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $875.61changed to$970.28

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 9.55 changed to 9.31
    • Practice expense RVU 15.01 changed to 17.02
    • Malpractice RVU 1.75 changed to 1.73
    • Work GPCI 1.014 changed to 1.017
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.093 changed to 1.096
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.560 changed to 0.536

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    Earliest loaded release: $875.61

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

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 fromOffice / nonfacilityFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$970.28$664.61RVU26D
2026-07-01$970.28$664.61RVU26C
2026-04-01$970.28$664.61RVU26B
2026-01-01$970.28$664.61RVU26A
2025-10-01$875.61$716.51RVU25D
2025-07-01$875.61$716.51RVU25C
2025-04-01$875.61$716.51RVU25B
2025-01-01$875.61$716.51RVU25A

15837 billing questions

How is this code different from 15836?

This code is for excess skin and underlying tissue of the forearm or hand. Code 15836 addresses the upper arm.

Can it be used for removal of a skin lesion?

No. It describes removal of redundant skin and subcutaneous tissue for reconstructive contouring, not excision of a discrete lesion.

Is routine closure separately reported?

The code represents the forearm or hand excess-tissue operation, including the surgical closure that completes it. Do not treat routine closure as a separate service.

Should modifier 50 be used when both sides are treated?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code. Document the treated site or sites in the operative report.

What documentation supports reporting this service?

Record whether the site is the forearm or hand, the symptoms or functional problem from redundant tissue, and the tissue removed during surgery.

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.

RVUs for 15837PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,576 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for MercedGPCI2026.csv, line 15 (RVU26D)
Open CMS sourceHow this rate is calculatedBuild a fee sheet