Billing code 56515: Vulvar lesion destructionMedicare rate & RVUs in Nevada
Reports extensive destruction of vulvar lesions, such as widespread lesions treated during a gynecologic procedure using a destructive technique.
Medicare pays $270.53 for 56515 in the office in Nevada (Nevada**). Which amount applies depends on the service address.
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 56515 covers
This code describes extensive destruction of one or more lesions on the vulva. A gynecologist or other qualified clinician may use an appropriate destructive technique, such as laser treatment, electrosurgery, cryotherapy, or chemical destruction. A typical clinical setting is treatment of extensive vulvar condylomata; the code is selected for the documented extent of treatment, not for a particular device or technique.
The operative note should identify the vulvar sites treated, describe the extent of the lesions and work performed, and record the method used. Use the simple-lesion code when the treatment is not extensive. Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included. 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% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service; co-surgeons and team surgery are 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.
56515 in Nevada**
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada** | $270.53 | $187.28 |
How the 56515 rate is calculated
Each of 56515’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 · 56515
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 3.00Practice expense 4.67Malpractice 0.51
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 56515
56515 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 56515
Vulvar lesion destruction
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 010 | Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 days after are 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) | 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. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.80/0.10 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 56515
Vulvar lesion destruction
10-day global period ends
Oct 11, 2026
Covers Oct 1, 2026 through Oct 11, 2026 (11 days).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
After the global period ends: visits and procedures are billed normally.
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
56515 without 51 · national office
$273.22
Vulvar lesion destruction
56515-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$136.61
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%).
56515 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
56515 vs 56501 vs 56620 vs 56625: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 56501Vulvar lesion destruction
- Choose 56515 for extensive vulvar lesion destruction and 56501 for simple destruction. The documented extent of treatment separates the two.
- 56620Vulvectomy
- This code describes destruction of extensive vulvar lesions; 56620 describes partial simple vulvectomy, an excisional procedure.
- 56625Vulvectomy
- Use 56515 for destructive treatment of extensive lesions. Code 56625 describes complete simple vulvectomy, not lesion destruction.
56515 billing questions
How is this code distinguished from 56501?
56515 is for extensive vulvar lesion destruction. Use 56501 when the destruction is simple; document the treatment extent rather than relying only on lesion count.
Is the code reported once for each lesion?
It describes extensive treatment of vulvar lesion(s), rather than a separate unit for every lesion. Document the sites and overall extent treated in the session.
Should modifier 50 be appended for lesions on both sides?
No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this service, even when treatment involves both sides of the vulva.
Are related postoperative visits separately payable during the global period?
Related postoperative visits for 10 days are included in the procedure's global period.
How does Medicare handle another procedure performed in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction.
Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgeons and team surgery are 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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