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CPT code 11601: Malignant skin excision, trunk, arms, or legs; 0.6–1 cm2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Santa Clara County, CA

Excision of a malignant skin lesion on the trunk, arm, or leg, selected when the lesion and margins together measure 0.6–1 cm.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality16.5K Medicare services in 2024

In Santa Clara County, CA, Medicare pays $296.74 for 11601 in the office and $154.17 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$296.74Office (non-facility)
$154.17Hospital or facility
+30.6%vs the national office rate ($227.13)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 11601 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 11601 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Santa Clara County, CA
  2. What 11601 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 11601 covers

This service removes a malignant skin lesion from the trunk, an arm, or a leg, including the surrounding margins. A dermatologist, surgeon, or other qualified physician typically performs the excision in an office or outpatient setting. The selected size is the greatest diameter of the lesion plus the margins, not the lesion’s diameter alone. Routine simple closure is included; a separately documented intermediate or complex repair may be reported when its requirements are met.

Report this code for an excised diameter of 0.6–1 cm at one of these anatomic sites. Documentation should identify the site, lesion dimensions, margins taken, final excised diameter, and malignant diagnosis. The 10-day global period includes related postoperative visits during that period. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code; 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.

How Santa Clara County, CA compares for 11601

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 11601 runs from $201.86 in Arkansas to $297.85 in San Benito County, CA. Santa Clara County, CA pays $296.74. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

11601 in Santa Clara County, CA vs other payment areas
  1. Santa Clara County, CA · this page$296.74
  2. Bakersfield, CA · California$239.83−$56.91
  3. Chico, CA · California$239.11−$57.63
  4. El Centro, CA · California$239.15−$57.59
  5. Fresno, CA · California$239.11−$57.63
  6. Hanford, CA · California$239.11−$57.63
  7. Los Angeles, CA · California$254.95−$41.79

Other areas in California first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

11601 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Madera, CACalifornia$239.11$130.75
Merced, CACalifornia$239.11$130.75
Modesto, CACalifornia$239.11$130.75
Napa, CACalifornia$275.65$145.35
Oxnard, CACalifornia$253.59$136.73
Redding, CACalifornia$239.11$130.75
Rest of CaliforniaCalifornia$239.11$130.75
Riverside, CACalifornia$241.72$133.36

11601 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.

$201.86

$268.48

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

View every state and territory as a table
11601 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$267.121
AL$204.691
AR$201.861
AZ$221.271
CA$239.11–$297.8529
CO$235.891
CT$241.841
DC$258.671
DE$224.831
FL$224.49–$245.603
GA$212.29–$231.372
GU$244.531
HI$244.531
IA$209.401
ID$210.771
IL$218.45–$238.744
IN$211.941
KS$208.591
KY$209.611
LA$209.35–$219.272
MA$234.62–$258.432
MD$228.96–$258.673
ME$211.96–$222.802
MI$214.97–$227.322
MN$225.881
MO$205.99–$219.863
MS$203.961
MT$227.111
NC$214.071
ND$222.361
NE$210.461
NH$232.341
NJ$244.55–$256.182
NM$216.151
NV$225.941
NY$217.16–$266.975
OH$214.001
OK$209.111
OR$224.14–$242.992
PA$214.25–$236.102
PR$228.671
RI$232.551
SC$214.401
SD$221.801
TN$209.621
TX$212.91–$235.148
UT$217.211
VA$222.19–$258.672
VI$228.671
VT$221.651
WA$234.12–$263.452
WI$215.211
WV$210.721
WY$225.041

See 11601 in every payment locality

How the 11601 rate is calculated

Each of 11601’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 · 11601

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work2.02

2.02 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense4.54

4.54 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.24

0.24 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

6.8000

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$227.13

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

The exact Santa Clara County, CA inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,341

Code
11601
Physician work
2.02
Practice expense
4.54
Malpractice
0.24

GPCI2026.csv

28

Locality
Santa Clara County, CA
Physician work
1.110
Practice expense
1.442
Malpractice
0.397
Office calculation for 11601 in Santa Clara County, CA
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.02× 1.1102.2422
Practice expense4.54× 1.4426.5467
Malpractice0.24× 0.3970.0953
Total RVUs8.8842
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Santa Clara County, CA$296.74

Office: (2.02 × 1.11 + 4.54 × 1.442 + 0.24 × 0.397) × $33.4009 = $296.74

Facility: (2.02 × 1.11 + 1.58 × 1.442 + 0.24 × 0.397) × $33.4009 = $154.17

Open 11601 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 11601

11601 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 11601

Malignant skin excision, trunk, arms, or legs; 0.6–1 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 · 11601

Malignant skin excision, trunk, arms, or legs; 0.6–1 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

11601 without 51 · national office

$227.13

Malignant skin excision, trunk, arms, or legs; 0.6–1 cm

11601-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$113.57

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 11601

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

Codes related to 11601
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Santa Clara County, CA
Same family
11600Malignant lesion excision, trunk or extremity, 0.5 cm or lessSame anatomic group; for an excised diameter of 0.5 cm or less.$261.13
11602Malignant lesion excision, trunk or extremity, 1.1–2 cmSame anatomic group; for an excised diameter of 1.1–2 cm.$314.25
Used instead
11621Skin lesion excision, scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitaliaMalignant lesion excision at a different anatomic group, for an excised diameter of 0.6–1 cm.$298.55
11641Malignant lesion excision, face, 0.6–1.0 cmMalignant lesion excision at a different anatomic group, for an excised diameter of 0.6–1 cm.$309.38
Often billed with
12031Wound repair, scalp, trunk, or extremityMay be reported for a qualifying intermediate repair when separately documented; simple closure is included.$345.07
88305Tissue pathology exam, level IV specimenPathology examination of an excised skin specimen may be reported by the laboratory or pathologist.$92.35

How 11601 has changed in Santa Clara County, CA

11601 · Office / nonfacility

$296.74

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $9.42 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $287.32 to $296.74 (3.3%).

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

    $287.32changed to$296.74

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 2.07 changed to 2.02
    • Practice expense RVU 4.53 changed to 4.54
    • Malpractice RVU 0.25 changed to 0.24
    • Work GPCI 1.100 changed to 1.110
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.435 changed to 1.442
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.420 changed to 0.397

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $297.59changed to$287.32

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 4.57 changed to 4.53

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $292.73changed to$297.59

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $297.33changed to$292.73

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 4.54 changed to 4.57
    • Work GPCI 1.098 changed to 1.100
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.409 changed to 1.435
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.417 changed to 0.420

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $296.99changed to$297.33

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 4.49 changed to 4.54
    • Work GPCI 1.096 changed to 1.098
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.383 changed to 1.409
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.414 changed to 0.417

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $299.45changed to$296.99

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $292.48changed to$299.45

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 4.20 changed to 4.49
    • Work GPCI 1.089 changed to 1.096
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.369 changed to 1.383
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.401 changed to 0.414

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $287.15changed to$292.48

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 4.14 changed to 4.20
    • Malpractice RVU 0.31 changed to 0.25
    • Work GPCI 1.083 changed to 1.089
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.354 changed to 1.369
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.388 changed to 0.401

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $287.67changed to$287.15

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 4.16 changed to 4.14
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.31

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $284.91changed to$287.67

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 4.12 changed to 4.16
    • Malpractice RVU 0.31 changed to 0.30
    • Work GPCI 1.086 changed to 1.083
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.351 changed to 1.354
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.402 changed to 0.388

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $282.51changed to$284.91

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 4.09 changed to 4.12
    • Work GPCI 1.088 changed to 1.086
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.347 changed to 1.351
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.416 changed to 0.402

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $283.23changed to$282.51

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Malpractice RVU 0.29 changed to 0.31

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $281.82changed to$283.23

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $277.13changed to$281.82

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 3.99 changed to 4.09
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.29
    • Work GPCI 1.083 changed to 1.088
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.342 changed to 1.347
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.466 changed to 0.416

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $285.54changed to$277.13

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 4.49 changed to 3.99
    • Malpractice RVU 0.31 changed to 0.30
    • Work GPCI 1.077 changed to 1.083
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.337 changed to 1.342
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.516 changed to 0.466

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. October 1, 2013

    RVU13D

    No ratechanged to$285.54

  17. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$296.74$154.17RVU26D
2026-07-01$296.74$154.17RVU26C
2026-04-01$296.74$154.17RVU26B
2026-01-01$296.74$154.17RVU26A
2025-10-01$287.32$177.31RVU25D
2025-07-01$287.32$177.31RVU25C
2025-04-01$287.32$177.31RVU25B
2025-01-01$287.32$177.31RVU25A
2024-10-01$297.59$181.04RVU24D
2024-07-01$297.59$181.04RVU24C
2024-04-01$297.59$181.04RVU24B
2024-03-09$297.59$181.04RVU24AR
2024-01-01$292.73$178.08RVU24A
2023-10-01$297.33$180.34RVU23D
2023-07-01$297.33$180.34RVU23C
2023-04-01$297.33$180.34RVU23B
2023-01-01$297.33$180.34RVU23A
2022-10-01$296.99$178.77RVU22D
2022-07-01$296.99$178.77RVU22C
2022-04-01$296.99$178.77RVU22B
2022-01-01$296.99$178.77RVU22A
2021-10-01$299.45$178.81RVU21D
2021-07-01$299.45$178.81RVU21C
2021-04-01$299.45$178.81RVU21B
2021-01-01$299.45$178.81RVU21A
2020-10-01$292.48$179.83RVU20D
2020-07-01$292.48$179.83RVU20C
2020-04-01$292.48$179.83RVU20B
2020-01-01$292.48$179.83RVU20A
2019-10-01$287.15$178.33RVU19D
2019-07-01$287.15$178.33RVU19C
2019-04-01$287.15$178.33RVU19B
2019-01-01$287.15$178.33RVU19A
2018-10-01$287.67$177.99RVU18D
2018-07-01$287.67$177.99RVU18C
2018-04-01$287.67$177.99RVU18B
2018-01-01$287.67$177.99RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$284.91$177.76RVU17D
2017-07-01$284.91$177.76RVU17C
2017-04-01$284.91$177.76RVU17B
2017-01-01$284.91$177.76RVU17A
2016-10-01$282.51$176.41RVU16D
2016-07-01$282.51$176.41RVU16C
2016-04-01$282.51$176.41RVU16B
2016-01-01$282.51$176.41RVU16A
2015-10-01$283.23$177.23RVU15D
2015-07-01$283.23$177.23RVU15C
2015-04-01$281.82$176.35RVU15B
2015-01-01$281.82$176.35RVU15A
2014-10-01$277.13$174.25RVU14D
2014-07-01$277.13$174.25RVU14C
2014-04-01$277.13$174.25RVU14B
2014-01-01$277.13$174.25RVU14A
2013-10-01$285.54$175.00RVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 11601 for an earlier date of service

Where the Santa Clara County, CA rate applies

Santa Clara County, CA is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 24 cities and communities in California. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • San Jose
  • Santa Clara
  • Sunnyvale
  • Alum Rock
  • Burbank
  • Cambrian Park
  • Campbell
  • Cupertino

Browse all communities in California

11601 billing questions

How is the size range determined?

Use the greatest diameter of the lesion together with the margins removed. The lesion’s original diameter alone does not determine the code.

When should 11600 or 11602 be reported instead?

For a trunk, arm, or leg lesion, use 11600 when the excised diameter is 0.5 cm or less and 11602 when it is 1.1–2 cm.

Can the closure be billed separately?

Routine simple closure is included. A separately documented intermediate or complex repair may be reported when the repair meets that service’s coding requirements.

Can modifier 50 be used for lesions on both sides?

No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply to this code, and modifier 50 is inappropriate.

What documentation supports reporting 11601?

Record the anatomic site, lesion dimensions, margins removed, greatest final excised diameter, and malignant diagnosis.

Are postoperative visits included?

Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in the procedure payment.

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 11601PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,341 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Santa Clara County, CAGPCI2026.csv, line 28 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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