CPT / HCPCS code · 2026 CMS data · Verified 2026-08-31
CPT 15852 RVU and Medicare Payment (2026)
Dressing change not for burn — 0.84 work RVU, about $38.75 non-facility Medicare payment at the 2026 conversion factor.
- Work RVU
- 0.84
- PE RVU (non-facility)
- 0.2
- PE RVU (facility)
- 0.2
- MP RVU
- 0.12
- Office payment
- $38.75
- Facility payment
- $38.75
How the payment is calculated
Total RVU is work plus practice expense plus malpractice, each adjusted by its GPCI factor, then multiplied by the conversion factor. For 15852 in a non-facility setting with national GPCI: (0.84 + 0.2 + 0.12) × $33.4009 ≈ $38.75. The same code in a facility setting pays about $38.75 because facility PE RVU (0.2) replaces office PE RVU.
What changes by locality
GPCI moves 15852 non-facility payment from $35.69 to $51.41 across CMS localities — from Wisconsin to Alaska. Check your exact locality in the GPCI calculator rather than using a state average.
Related codes
Checking a different code or locality? Open the full RVU calculator to run any of the 7,790 CPT/HCPCS codes with your own GPCI factors.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 2026 work RVU for CPT 15852?
0.84. Work RVU measures physician time, skill, and intensity — it does not change by setting or locality. Total payment adds practice expense and malpractice RVUs plus the conversion factor.
How much does Medicare pay for CPT 15852 in 2026?
About $38.75 non-facility ($38.75 facility) at national GPCI with the 2026 $33.4009 conversion factor. Your locality GPCI moves the number — see the range above.
Does the work RVU change between office and facility?
No. Work RVU (0.84) and malpractice RVU stay fixed; only practice expense changes (0.2 office vs 0.2 facility). That is the entire office-vs-facility payment gap.