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CPT code 11444: Skin excision, face, 3.1–4 cm2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Reports excision of a benign skin lesion on the face or specified facial sites when the lesion plus margins measures 3.1–4 cm.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality1.8K Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $325.74 for 11444 in the office and $221.87 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$325.74Office (non-facility)
$221.87Hospital or facility
+13.0%vs the national office rate ($288.25)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 11444 nationwide

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

We’ll open 11444 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 11444 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

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.

How Washington, DC area compares for 11444

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 11444 runs from $257.31 in Arkansas to $368.16 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $325.74. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

11444 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$325.74
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$318.79−$6.95
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$317.18−$8.56
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$308.43−$17.31
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$330.86+$5.12
  6. Alaska · Alaska$344.79+$19.05
  7. Alabama · Alabama$260.77−$64.97

Other areas in District of Columbia first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

11444 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$257.31$181.57
ArizonaArizona$280.91$195.47
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$300.93$204.29
Chico, CACalifornia$299.67$203.03
El Centro, CACalifornia$299.74$203.10
Fresno, CACalifornia$299.67$203.03
Hanford, CACalifornia$299.67$203.03
Madera, CACalifornia$299.67$203.03

11444 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

$257.31

$344.79

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
11444 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$344.791
AL$260.771
AR$257.311
AZ$280.911
CA$299.67–$368.1629
CO$297.231
CT$306.431
DC$325.741
DE$285.281
FL$287.99–$317.183
GA$272.65–$294.172
GU$305.491
HI$305.491
IA$265.141
ID$267.081
IL$281.54–$308.434
IN$268.461
KS$264.811
KY$268.161
LA$268.10–$280.172
MA$296.01–$323.912
MD$290.15–$325.743
ME$269.22–$281.422
MI$275.31–$292.152
MN$283.071
MO$264.41–$280.123
MS$260.871
MT$288.221
NC$271.671
ND$279.721
NE$266.231
NH$293.421
NJ$309.44–$322.972
NM$277.031
NV$286.021
NY$275.48–$339.345
OH$273.571
OK$266.861
OR$283.30–$305.112
PA$273.52–$299.862
PR$289.901
RI$294.281
SC$273.171
SD$278.711
TN$266.131
TX$271.93–$296.688
UT$276.581
VA$281.14–$325.742
VI$289.901
VT$279.451
WA$295.18–$329.412
WI$271.171
WV$272.171
WY$284.521

See 11444 in every payment locality

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

Office or facility?

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.

The exact Washington, DC area inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,325

Code
11444
Physician work
3.11
Practice expense
5.09
Malpractice
0.43

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 11444 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work3.11× 1.0543.2779
Practice expense5.09× 1.1785.9960
Malpractice0.43× 1.1130.4786
Total RVUs9.7525
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$325.74

Office: (3.11 × 1.054 + 5.09 × 1.178 + 0.43 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $325.74

Facility: (3.11 × 1.054 + 2.45 × 1.178 + 0.43 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $221.87

Open 11444 in the RVU calculator

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

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period010Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 days after are included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.10/0.80/0.10Share 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.

SurgeryVisit
Sep 28, 2026Oct 14, 2026

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%).

When to use modifier 51

Codes related to 11444

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 11444
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Same family
11443Skin excision, face, 2.1 to 3 cmSame facial site group; selected for an excised diameter of 2.1–3 cm.$261.00
11442Facial lesion excision, 1.1–2 cm excised diameterSame facial site group; selected for an excised diameter of 1.1–2 cm.$220.96
11446Skin lesion excision, face, over 4 cmSame facial site group; selected when the excised diameter exceeds 4 cm.$448.54
Used instead
11404Skin excision, trunk or extremity, 3.1–4 cmFor a benign lesion in the trunk or extremity site group at the corresponding size level.$262.96
11644Malignant lesion excision, face and related sites, 3.1-4 cmFor excision of a malignant lesion in the same facial site group and size range.$443.91
Often billed with
12052Wound repair, face, 2.6–5 cmMay be reported for a separately documented qualifying intermediate repair of the facial wound.$355.16

How 11444 has changed in Washington, DC area

11444 · Office / nonfacility

$325.74

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $9.61 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $316.13 to $325.74 (3.0%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $316.13changed to$325.74

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 3.19 changed to 3.11
    • Practice expense RVU 4.90 changed to 5.09
    • Malpractice RVU 0.48 changed to 0.43
    • Work GPCI 1.057 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.192 changed to 1.178
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.168 changed to 1.113

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $324.17changed to$316.13

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 4.91 changed to 4.90
    • Malpractice RVU 0.44 changed to 0.48

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $318.88changed to$324.17

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $332.44changed to$318.88

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 4.86 changed to 4.91
    • Work GPCI 1.056 changed to 1.057
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.214 changed to 1.192
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.231 changed to 1.168

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $341.78changed to$332.44

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 4.82 changed to 4.86
    • Malpractice RVU 0.43 changed to 0.44
    • Work GPCI 1.054 changed to 1.056
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.236 changed to 1.214
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.294 changed to 1.231

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $343.36changed to$341.78

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 4.77 changed to 4.82
    • Malpractice RVU 0.45 changed to 0.43

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $337.62changed to$343.36

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 4.44 changed to 4.77
    • Malpractice RVU 0.46 changed to 0.45
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.221 changed to 1.236
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.277 changed to 1.294

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $332.20changed to$337.62

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 4.36 changed to 4.44
    • Malpractice RVU 0.50 changed to 0.46
    • Work GPCI 1.045 changed to 1.049
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.221
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.261 changed to 1.277

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $330.54changed to$332.20

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 4.33 changed to 4.36

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $329.20changed to$330.54

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 4.30 changed to 4.33
    • Malpractice RVU 0.51 changed to 0.50
    • Work GPCI 1.048 changed to 1.045
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.271 changed to 1.261

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $328.10changed to$329.20

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 4.27 changed to 4.30
    • Malpractice RVU 0.52 changed to 0.51
    • Work GPCI 1.051 changed to 1.048
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.280 changed to 1.271

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $328.36changed to$328.10

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Malpractice RVU 0.50 changed to 0.52

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $326.73changed to$328.36

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $323.71changed to$326.73

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 4.23 changed to 4.27
    • Work GPCI 1.050 changed to 1.051
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.202 changed to 1.205
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.280

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $324.60changed to$323.71

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 4.68 changed to 4.23
    • Malpractice RVU 0.52 changed to 0.50
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.050
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.198 changed to 1.202
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.130 changed to 1.205

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $324.60

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$325.74$221.87RVU26D
2026-07-01$325.74$221.87RVU26C
2026-04-01$325.74$221.87RVU26B
2026-01-01$325.74$221.87RVU26A
2025-10-01$316.13$251.36RVU25D
2025-07-01$316.13$251.36RVU25C
2025-04-01$316.13$251.36RVU25B
2025-01-01$316.13$251.36RVU25A
2024-10-01$324.17$254.73RVU24D
2024-07-01$324.17$254.73RVU24C
2024-04-01$324.17$254.73RVU24B
2024-03-09$324.17$254.73RVU24AR
2024-01-01$318.88$250.57RVU24A
2023-10-01$332.44$259.63RVU23D
2023-07-01$332.44$259.63RVU23C
2023-04-01$332.44$259.63RVU23B
2023-01-01$332.44$259.63RVU23A
2022-10-01$341.78$264.36RVU22D
2022-07-01$341.78$264.36RVU22C
2022-04-01$341.78$264.36RVU22B
2022-01-01$341.78$264.36RVU22A
2021-10-01$343.36$264.43RVU21D
2021-07-01$343.36$264.43RVU21C
2021-04-01$343.36$264.43RVU21B
2021-01-01$343.36$264.43RVU21A
2020-10-01$337.62$267.11RVU20D
2020-07-01$337.62$267.11RVU20C
2020-04-01$337.62$267.11RVU20B
2020-01-01$337.62$267.11RVU20A
2019-10-01$332.20$265.33RVU19D
2019-07-01$332.20$265.33RVU19C
2019-04-01$332.20$265.33RVU19B
2019-01-01$332.20$265.33RVU19A
2018-10-01$330.54$265.03RVU18D
2018-07-01$330.54$265.03RVU18C
2018-04-01$330.54$265.03RVU18B
2018-01-01$330.54$265.03RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$329.20$265.20RVU17D
2017-07-01$329.20$265.20RVU17C
2017-04-01$329.20$265.20RVU17B
2017-01-01$329.20$265.20RVU17A
2016-10-01$328.10$264.68RVU16D
2016-07-01$328.10$264.68RVU16C
2016-04-01$328.10$264.68RVU16B
2016-01-01$328.10$264.68RVU16A
2015-10-01$328.36$265.58RVU15D
2015-07-01$328.36$265.58RVU15C
2015-04-01$326.73$264.26RVU15B
2015-01-01$326.73$264.26RVU15A
2014-10-01$323.71$260.85RVU14D
2014-07-01$323.71$260.85RVU14C
2014-04-01$323.71$260.85RVU14B
2014-01-01$323.71$260.85RVU14A
2013-10-01$324.60$257.75RVU13D
2013-07-01$324.60$257.75RVU13C
2013-04-01$324.60$257.75RVU13B
2013-01-01$324.60$257.75RVU13AR

Price 11444 for an earlier date of service

Where the Washington, DC area rate applies

Washington, DC area is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1 cities and communities in District of Columbia. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Washington

Browse all communities in District of Columbia

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
RVUs for 11444PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,325 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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