Billing code 16036: EscharotomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Florida
Reports each escharotomy incision beyond the first, performed to release constricting burn eschar and relieve pressure on underlying tissue.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 16036 in Florida.
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 16036 covers
Escharotomy releases tight, inelastic burn eschar with an incision so the burn does not continue to restrict tissue expansion. It is typically performed by a surgeon or burn specialist in an acute-care setting when circumferential burns compromise limb perfusion or limit chest expansion. Code 16036 represents an incision beyond the first incision; the initial incision is reported separately with the primary escharotomy code.
Report the additional incision count supported by the operative note, which should identify the sites and describe the separate releases performed. This is an add-on code and must be billed with the primary procedure; CMS pays it within that procedure’s global period. Do not use it to represent the initial incision or simply the length of one incision. The record should distinguish each additional incision from the first and support that each was part of the escharotomy.
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 16036 pays more and less in Florida
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | Unavailable | $83.36 |
| Miami | Unavailable | $92.39 |
| Rest Of Florida | Unavailable | $78.97 |
How the 16036 rate is calculated
Each of 16036’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 · 16036
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 1.46Practice expense 0.38Malpractice 0.36
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 16036
The CMS indicators that decide how 16036 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 16036
Escharotomy
| 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) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
16036 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
16036 vs 16035 vs 16020 vs 16025 vs 16030: national Medicare rates
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How to choose
- 16035Escharotomy
- 16035 reports the initial escharotomy incision. Use 16036 only for incision(s) performed beyond that first incision.
- 16020Burn wound care
- 16020 describes burn dressing or debridement for a small partial-thickness burn; it does not represent an escharotomy incision.
- 16025Burn care
- 16025 describes burn dressing or debridement for a medium partial-thickness burn. Choose 16036 for an additional escharotomy incision, not wound care.
- 16030Burn dressing
- 16030 describes burn dressing or debridement for a large partial-thickness burn. It is distinct from reporting additional escharotomy incisions.
16036 billing questions
When should 16036 be reported instead of 16035?
Use 16035 for the first escharotomy incision. Report 16036 for each additional incision performed during the procedure.
Can 16036 be billed by itself?
No. It is an add-on code and must be reported with the primary escharotomy procedure, 16035.
How many units should be reported?
Report the number of additional incisions beyond the first. The operative note should identify and support each separate incision.
Does the global-period rule affect payment for 16036?
Yes. CMS pays this add-on code within the primary procedure’s global period.
Is 16036 for burn dressing or debridement?
No. It represents an additional escharotomy incision, not burn dressing or debridement.
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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