Billing code 15778: Absorbable meshMedicare rate & RVUs in Delaware
Reports absorbable mesh or another prosthesis placed to support delayed closure of a defect, such as one involving the abdominal wall or perineum.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 15778 in Delaware.
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 9 sections
What 15778 covers
15778 describes placing absorbable mesh or another prosthesis to support delayed closure of a defect, rather than using it simply to reinforce a completed repair. Abdominal-wall and perineal defects are examples. The service may occur during a staged operation after earlier surgery or wound treatment. Surgeons performing complex abdominal or perineal procedures are the typical users; the code represents the implant placement, not the underlying operation that created or treated the defect.
Report 15778 as an add-on with the primary procedure, not as a stand-alone service. The operative note should identify the defect, explain why closure was delayed, and document the prosthesis placement. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team-surgery payment is 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.
15778 in Delaware
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | Unavailable | $347.99 |
How the 15778 rate is calculated
Each of 15778’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 · 15778
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 6.87Practice expense 2.01Malpractice 1.70
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 15778
The CMS indicators that decide how 15778 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 15778
Absorbable mesh
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is 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) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
15778 without 51 · national facility
$353.38
Absorbable mesh
15778-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$176.69
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%).
15778 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
15778 vs 15777 vs 49900 vs 49002: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 15777Biologic implant
- Choose 15778 for absorbable mesh or another prosthesis used in delayed defect closure. 15777 describes a biologic implant for soft-tissue reinforcement.
- 49900Abdominal wall repair
- 49900 describes secondary suture closure of an abdominal wall for evisceration or dehiscence. 15778 captures the prosthesis placement used to support delayed closure.
- 49002Abdominal reoperation
- 49002 describes reopening a recent laparotomy. 15778 describes placing a prosthesis for delayed defect closure, not reopening the prior incision.
15778 billing questions
Can 15778 be reported by itself?
No. It is an add-on for absorbable mesh or another prosthesis placed for delayed defect closure and is reported with the primary procedure.
How is 15778 different from 15777?
15778 describes absorbable mesh or another prosthesis used for delayed defect closure. 15777 concerns a biologic implant used for soft-tissue reinforcement.
What documentation supports 15778?
Document the defect and its site, the reason closure was delayed, and the placement of the absorbable mesh or other prosthesis. The record should also identify the primary procedure.
Should modifier 50 be appended for defects 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 15778?
When it is performed with other procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the remaining procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team-surgery payment is 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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