CPT code 11303: Shave removal, trunk, arms, or legs over 2 cm2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
Report this code when a clinician tangentially removes a skin lesion larger than 2 cm from the trunk, an arm, or a leg.
Medicare pays $155.79–$194.94 for 11303 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 11303 covers
This service removes a superficial epidermal or dermal lesion by shaving across its surface rather than cutting out a full-thickness section of skin. Dermatologists and other clinicians may perform it in an office or facility for a raised lesion on the trunk, arm, or leg that is symptomatic, repeatedly irritated, or needs diagnostic evaluation. A specimen may be sent for pathology when indicated.
Select the code by the lesion’s body region and measured diameter; this code is for a lesion over 2 cm on the trunk, arms, or legs. Document the site, size, removal method, and reason for treatment, and identify separately treated lesions. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity; 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 11303 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
$155.79 to $194.94
29 of 29 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | $156.19 | $58.08 |
| Chico, CA | $155.79 | $57.68 |
| El Centro, CA | $155.81 | $57.70 |
| Fresno, CA | $155.79 | $57.68 |
| Hanford, CA | $155.79 | $57.68 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $166.21 | $60.32 |
| Madera, CA | $155.79 | $57.68 |
| Marin County, CA | $190.72 | $64.51 |
| Merced, CA | $155.79 | $57.68 |
| Modesto, CA | $155.79 | $57.68 |
| Napa, CA | $180.23 | $62.25 |
| Oxnard, CA | $165.40 | $59.60 |
| Redding, CA | $155.79 | $57.68 |
| Rest of California | $155.79 | $57.68 |
| Riverside, CA | $157.21 | $59.10 |
| Sacramento, CA | $163.41 | $59.30 |
| Salinas, CA | $162.80 | $59.05 |
| San Benito County, CA | $194.94 | $65.86 |
| San Diego, CA | $166.56 | $59.51 |
| San Francisco, CA | $190.58 | $64.36 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $160.18 | $58.23 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | $194.34 | $65.26 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $168.11 | $59.35 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $163.39 | $59.02 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $169.81 | $59.89 |
| Stockton, CA | $155.79 | $57.68 |
| Vallejo, CA | $180.02 | $62.04 |
| Visalia, CA | $155.79 | $57.68 |
| Yuba City, CA | $155.79 | $57.68 |
How the 11303 rate is calculated
Each of 11303’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 · 11303
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.22
1.22 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense3.06
3.06 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.13
0.13 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
4.4100
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$147.30
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 11303
The CMS indicators that decide how 11303 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 11303
Shave removal, trunk, arms, or legs over 2 cm
| 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) | 9 | The concept doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| 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
11303 without 51 · national office
$147.30
Shave removal, trunk, arms, or legs over 2 cm
11303-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$73.65
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%).
11303 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 11302Shave removalTrunk or limb, 1.1–2.0 cm
- Use 11302 for a trunk, arm, or leg lesion measuring 1.1–2.0 cm; this code is for lesions over 2 cm.
- 11308Shave removalScalp, neck, hands, feet, genitalia
- The size tier is the same, but 11308 is for the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia rather than the trunk, arms, or legs.
- 11313Shave removalFace, >2.0 cm
- The size tier is the same, but 11313 is for the face, ears, eyelids, nose, or lips.
- 11403Benign lesion excisionTrunk or limb, 2.1–3 cm
- Use 11403 for full-thickness excision of a benign lesion on the trunk, arms, or legs measuring 2.1–3.0 cm; this code describes tangential shave removal.
11303 billing questions
How does this code differ from 11302?
Both apply to the trunk, arms, or legs, but 11302 is for a lesion measuring 1.1–2.0 cm. Use this code when the lesion is larger than 2 cm.
Does this code describe a shave or an excision?
It describes superficial tangential removal by shaving. A procedure that cuts out a full-thickness section of skin is an excision, not a shave removal.
What documentation supports reporting this code?
Record the lesion’s precise trunk, arm, or leg location, measured diameter, removal technique, and clinical reason for treatment. Document separately treated lesions individually.
Is same-day care included?
Yes. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included in the procedure.
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 subject to a 50% reduction. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity.
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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