CPT code 11444: Skin excision, face, 3.1–4 cm2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
Reports excision of a benign skin lesion on the face or specified facial sites when the lesion plus margins measures 3.1–4 cm.
Medicare pays $299.67–$368.16 for 11444 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 11444 covers
This service removes a clinically benign skin lesion from the face, ears, eyelids, nose, or lips. Dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and other physicians may perform it in an office or facility setting. The size category is based on the excised diameter, including the margins, rather than the lesion alone. The code covers one lesion; documentation should identify its site, diagnosis, and measurement with margins.
Report this level when the documented excised diameter is 3.1–4 cm and the site belongs to this facial group. Simple closure is included; a separately documented intermediate or complex repair may be reported when supported. The procedure has a 10-day global period, so related postoperative visits during that period are included. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this procedure, and 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 11444 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
$299.67 to $368.16
29 of 29 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | $300.93 | $204.29 |
| Chico, CA | $299.67 | $203.03 |
| El Centro, CA | $299.74 | $203.10 |
| Fresno, CA | $299.67 | $203.03 |
| Hanford, CA | $299.67 | $203.03 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $318.79 | $214.48 |
| Madera, CA | $299.67 | $203.03 |
| Marin County, CA | $360.05 | $235.72 |
| Merced, CA | $299.67 | $203.03 |
| Modesto, CA | $299.67 | $203.03 |
| Napa, CA | $341.79 | $225.57 |
| Oxnard, CA | $316.69 | $212.46 |
| Redding, CA | $299.67 | $203.03 |
| Rest of California | $299.67 | $203.03 |
| Riverside, CA | $304.33 | $207.69 |
| Sacramento, CA | $313.04 | $210.49 |
| Salinas, CA | $311.84 | $209.64 |
| San Benito County, CA | $368.16 | $241.00 |
| San Diego, CA | $318.11 | $212.65 |
| San Francisco, CA | $359.56 | $235.23 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $306.98 | $206.55 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | $366.16 | $239.01 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $320.32 | $213.18 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $312.72 | $209.90 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $323.46 | $215.18 |
| Stockton, CA | $299.67 | $203.03 |
| Vallejo, CA | $341.09 | $224.87 |
| Visalia, CA | $299.67 | $203.03 |
| Yuba City, CA | $299.67 | $203.03 |
How the 11444 rate is calculated
Each of 11444’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 · 11444
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work3.11
3.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense5.09
5.09 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.43
0.43 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
8.6300
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$288.25
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 11444
11444 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 11444
Skin excision, face, 3.1–4 cm
| 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 · 11444
Skin excision, face, 3.1–4 cm
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
11444 without 51 · national office
$288.25
Skin excision, face, 3.1–4 cm
11444-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$144.13
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%).
11444 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 11443Skin excisionFace, 2.1 to 3 cm
- Use 11443 when the excised diameter, including margins, is 2.1–3 cm. This code is for a diameter of 3.1–4 cm.
- 11404Skin excisionTrunk or extremity, 3.1–4 cm
- 11404 is for the trunk and extremities, not the face, ears, eyelids, nose, or lips. Site determines the code family even when the size is similar.
- 11644Malignant lesion excisionFace and related sites, 3.1-4 cm
- 11644 is for a malignant lesion in this facial site group and size range; this code is for a benign lesion.
- 12052Wound repairFace, 2.6–5 cm
- 12052 describes a qualifying intermediate repair, not lesion excision. Its repair-length criteria are distinct from the excised lesion diameter used here.
11444 billing questions
How is the size category selected?
Measure the excised diameter, including the margins, and use the documented measurement to select the level. A 3.1–4 cm excised diameter falls in this code’s range.
Is simple wound closure separately reportable?
Simple closure is included in the excision. A separately documented intermediate or complex repair may be reported when the repair meets the applicable coding requirements.
Can modifier 50 be used for lesions on both sides of the face?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply to this code, and modifier 50 is inappropriate.
Are postoperative visits included?
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 procedure. Co-surgeon and team-surgery billing are 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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