CPT code 11102: Tangential skin biopsy, first or only lesion2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
Report 11102 for the first tangential skin lesion sampled by shave, scoop, saucerization, or curette when no higher-valued biopsy technique is used.
Medicare pays $101.89–$128.84 for 11102 in the office in California, from Chico, CA to San Benito County, CA. 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.
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On this page 9 sections
What 11102 covers
A tangential biopsy takes a diagnostic skin sample using a blade held nearly parallel to the surface, a scoop or saucerizing technique, or a curette. Sampling depth varies and can reach the deep dermis or subcutaneous tissue. Dermatologists, primary care clinicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants commonly perform it in the office for lesions suspicious for basal or squamous cell carcinoma. Local anesthesia, hemostasis, and simple closure or dressing when performed are included; pathology examination of the specimen is separate.
Report 11102 once when tangential sampling is the highest-valued biopsy technique used in the session; report 11103 for each additional separate tangential lesion. If a punch or incisional biopsy is also performed, report the appropriate higher-valued primary biopsy code and 11103 for the tangential lesion. Document each lesion's site, sampling technique, and diagnostic intent. The 0-day global includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care; a separately identifiable E/M service requires modifier 25 on the E/M code. With multiple procedures, Medicare pays the highest-valued procedure in full and others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate; assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted, and 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.
Where 11102 pays more and less in California
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
29 payment localities
$101.89 to $128.84
29 of 29 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | $102.08 | $30.32 |
| Chico, CA | $101.89 | $30.14 |
| El Centro, CA | $101.90 | $30.15 |
| Fresno, CA | $101.89 | $30.14 |
| Hanford, CA | $101.89 | $30.14 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $108.93 | $31.49 |
| Madera, CA | $101.89 | $30.14 |
| Marin County, CA | $126.05 | $33.75 |
| Merced, CA | $101.89 | $30.14 |
| Modesto, CA | $101.89 | $30.14 |
| Napa, CA | $118.83 | $32.55 |
| Oxnard, CA | $108.50 | $31.12 |
| Redding, CA | $101.89 | $30.14 |
| Rest of California | $101.89 | $30.14 |
| Riverside, CA | $102.54 | $30.79 |
| Sacramento, CA | $107.13 | $30.99 |
| Salinas, CA | $106.73 | $30.86 |
| San Benito County, CA | $128.84 | $34.43 |
| San Diego, CA | $109.39 | $31.09 |
| San Francisco, CA | $125.98 | $33.68 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $104.99 | $30.42 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | $128.56 | $34.16 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $110.56 | $31.02 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $107.17 | $30.84 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $111.69 | $31.30 |
| Stockton, CA | $101.89 | $30.14 |
| Vallejo, CA | $118.73 | $32.45 |
| Visalia, CA | $101.89 | $30.14 |
| Yuba City, CA | $101.89 | $30.14 |
How the 11102 rate is calculated
Each of 11102’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 · 11102
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.64
0.64 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense2.16
2.16 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.06
0.06 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
2.8600
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$95.53
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 11102
The CMS indicators that decide how 11102 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 11102
Tangential skin biopsy, first or only lesion
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is 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. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
11102 without 51 · national office
$95.53
Tangential skin biopsy, first or only lesion
11102-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$47.77
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%).
11102 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 11104Punch biopsySingle skin lesion
- 11104 takes a cylindrical sample with a punch instrument; 11102 samples tangentially with a blade, scoop, or curette. If both are performed on separate lesions, report 11104 with 11103.
- 11106Skin biopsySingle incisional lesion
- 11106 takes an incisional, full-thickness sample, often closed with sutures; 11102 takes a tangential sample by shaving, scooping, or curettage.
- 11300Shave removalTrunk or extremity, 0.5 cm or less
- 11300 reports intended shave removal of a trunk, arm, or leg lesion measuring 0.5 cm or less; 11102 reports tangential sampling for diagnosis.
- 11103Tangential skin biopsyEach separate or additional lesion
- 11103 is the add-on for each additional tangentially biopsied lesion. Report 11102 once for the first lesion only when tangential sampling is the highest-valued biopsy technique used.
11102 billing questions
How are several tangential biopsies at one visit reported?
Report 11102 once for the first lesion and 11103 for each additional separate lesion biopsied tangentially, with units equal to the number of additional lesions. This applies when no higher-valued biopsy technique is used in the session.
What if a tangential biopsy and a punch biopsy are done on different lesions in the same session?
Report 11104 as the primary code for the punch biopsy and 11103 for the tangential biopsy. Do not report 11102 alongside 11104 or 11106 for biopsies in the same session.
How do I choose between 11102 and a shave removal code?
Use 11102 when the goal is to obtain tissue for diagnosis. Shave removal codes in the 11300 series apply when the intent is to remove the lesion and are selected by anatomic site and lesion diameter.
Can an office visit be billed on the same day?
Yes, if significant, separately identifiable evaluation beyond the usual pre-biopsy assessment is documented; append modifier 25 to the E/M code. The decision to biopsy alone does not support a separate visit.
Is the pathology reading included?
No. The histopathology examination is billed separately by the pathologist or dermatopathologist, typically with 88305.
Is closure of the biopsy site separately billable?
No. Hemostasis, simple closure, and dressing when performed are included in the tangential biopsy service.
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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