Billing code 15733: Pedicled flapMedicare rate & RVUs in Ohio
Reports transfer of a muscle, myocutaneous, or fasciocutaneous flap to reconstruct a head or neck defect while retaining its named vascular pedicle.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 15733 in Ohio.
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 15733 covers
This code covers reconstruction with a muscle, skin-and-muscle, or fascia-and-skin flap moved to a head or neck defect while remaining attached to its named blood supply. Examples include buccinator, facial artery musculomucosal, and submental flaps. Plastic surgeons and head-and-neck surgeons may use these flaps to restore tissue after tumor removal, trauma, or other defects, commonly in an operating room.
Choose the code when the operative report supports the flap’s tissue type, head-and-neck location, and named vascular pedicle; distinguish it from a free flap that requires microvascular transfer. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted; co-surgeons require supporting documentation, and team surgery 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.
15733 in Ohio
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | Unavailable | $881.78 |
How the 15733 rate is calculated
Each of 15733’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 · 15733
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 15.29Practice expense 9.32Malpractice 2.58
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 15733
15733 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 15733
Pedicled flap
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 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) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.71/0.19 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 15733
Pedicled flap
90-day global period ends
Dec 30, 2026
Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
15733 without 51 · national facility
$908.17
Pedicled flap
15733-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$454.09
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%).
15733 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
15733 vs 15730 vs 15756: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 15730Midface flap
- 15730 describes a midface flap with preservation of its vascular pedicle; 15733 identifies a muscle, myocutaneous, or fasciocutaneous flap with a named pedicle.
- 15756Free tissue flap
- Use 15756 for a free muscle or muscle-skin flap transferred with microvascular technique, rather than a flap retained on its named pedicle.
15733 billing questions
How does this differ from a free flap?
This flap remains attached to its named vascular pedicle during transfer. A free flap is detached and transferred using microvascular anastomosis.
What documentation supports reporting this code?
Document the flap’s tissue composition, head-or-neck recipient site, named vascular pedicle, and transfer into the defect.
Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral work?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code’s descriptor or anatomy.
Is related postoperative care separately reported during the global period?
The 90-day global period includes related postoperative care, as well as the day-before preoperative visit.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
Under the standard multiple procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50%.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted. Co-surgeons are paid only with supporting documentation; team surgery 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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