Billing code 15786: Lesion abrasionMedicare rate & RVUs in Oregon
Report this service for mechanical abrasion of one discrete lesion, such as a scar or keratosis, at any body site.
Medicare pays $229.52–$249.01 for 15786 in the office in Oregon, from Rest Of Oregon to Portland. 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 15786 covers
This service covers localized mechanical abrasion of one discrete lesion, such as a scar or keratosis, rather than resurfacing a broad facial or nonfacial area. A dermatologist or plastic surgeon may perform it in an office or procedure setting to abrade the targeted lesion. The treated lesion’s location does not change the code’s single-lesion scope.
Report one unit for the single lesion and document its site, the clinical indication, and the abrasion performed. Use the additional-lesion code for further lesions. The 10-day global period includes related postoperative visits during that period. 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 because this service is selected by lesion count, not paired anatomy. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service; co-surgeon and team-surgery billing 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.
Where 15786 pays more and less in Oregon
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Portland | $249.01 | $123.21 |
| Rest Of Oregon | $229.52 | $116.75 |
How the 15786 rate is calculated
Each of 15786’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 · 15786
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work2.03
2.03 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense4.72
4.72 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.20
0.20 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
6.9500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$232.14
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 15786
15786 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 15786
Lesion abrasion
| 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 · 15786
Lesion abrasion
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
15786 without 51 · national office
$232.14
Lesion abrasion
15786-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$116.07
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%).
15786 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 15787Lesion abrasion
- 15786 covers abrasion of one lesion; 15787 is the add-on for each additional lesion.
- 15783Dermabrasion
- Use 15783 for superficial dermabrasion at any site. Use 15786 when the service targets one discrete lesion.
- 15780Dermabrasion
- 15780 describes dermabrasion of the total face, not abrasion of a single lesion.
- 15782Dermabrasion
- 15782 describes dermabrasion of a nonfacial area; 15786 is selected for one discrete lesion at any site.
15786 billing questions
When should I report 15786 rather than 15787?
Report 15786 for abrasion of the first, single lesion. Report 15787 for each additional lesion treated in the same session.
What documentation supports the single-lesion service?
Document the lesion’s location, the reason for treatment, and the abrasion performed. The record should make clear that one discrete lesion was treated.
Can modifier 50 be used for lesions on both sides?
No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code; report according to the number of lesions treated.
Are postoperative visits separately reportable?
Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in the procedure.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be billed?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service, and co-surgeon or team-surgery billing is not permitted.
How are other procedures performed 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%.
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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