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CPT code 11606: Lesion excision, trunk or extremity, over 4 cm2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Excision of a malignant skin lesion on the trunk, arm, or leg is reported when the lesion and required margins produce an excised diameter greater than 4 cm.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality28.7K Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $524.05 for 11606 in the office and $302.14 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$524.05Office (non-facility)
$302.14Hospital or facility
+13.0%vs the national office rate ($463.60)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 11606 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 11606 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 11606 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 11606 covers

This code covers surgical removal of a malignant skin lesion from the trunk, an arm, or a leg when the excised diameter, including the margins, is greater than 4 cm. Dermatologists, general surgeons, and other qualified physicians may perform the procedure in an office or surgical setting. The removed tissue is typically submitted for pathologic examination; closure is based on the resulting defect and may involve a separate repair service when the closure is intermediate or complex.

Choose the code by the anatomic site and the excised diameter, not the lesion’s appearance alone. Documentation should identify the site and diagnosis, describe the lesion dimensions and margins, and support the final excised diameter. Simple closure is included. A 10-day global period includes related postoperative visits during that period. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate; assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted, and co-surgeon and team-surgery services 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 11606

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 11606 runs from $411.61 in Arkansas to $588.87 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $524.05. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

11606 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$524.05
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$510.69−$13.36
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$517.66−$6.39
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$502.44−$21.61
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$534.60+$10.55
  6. Alaska · Alaska$550.37+$26.32
  7. Alabama · Alabama$417.40−$106.65

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

Every other payment area

11606 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$411.61$249.79
ArizonaArizona$451.13$268.58
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$481.87$275.40
Chico, CACalifornia$479.50$273.03
El Centro, CACalifornia$479.64$273.17
Fresno, CACalifornia$479.50$273.03
Hanford, CACalifornia$479.50$273.03
Madera, CACalifornia$479.50$273.03

11606 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.

$411.61

$550.37

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

View every state and territory as a table
11606 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$550.371
AL$417.401
AR$411.611
AZ$451.131
CA$479.50–$588.8729
CO$476.841
CT$493.721
DC$524.051
DE$458.321
FL$465.74–$517.663
GA$439.59–$474.092
GU$489.091
HI$489.091
IA$423.551
ID$427.041
IL$455.72–$502.444
IN$429.311
KS$423.561
KY$431.001
LA$431.12–$451.362
MA$474.95–$520.022
MD$466.20–$524.053
ME$431.22–$450.802
MI$443.54–$473.322
MN$451.751
MO$425.31–$450.593
MS$418.441
MT$463.551
NC$435.241
ND$446.941
NE$425.191
NH$471.261
NJ$497.90–$519.362
NM$446.651
NV$459.191
NY$441.66–$549.555
OH$440.151
OK$428.221
OR$454.18–$489.252
PA$439.74–$483.122
PR$466.181
RI$472.661
SC$438.711
SD$444.971
TN$425.841
TX$437.11–$476.528
UT$444.411
VA$450.73–$524.052
VI$466.181
VT$447.021
WA$473.45–$528.432
WI$432.761
WV$440.041
WY$456.311

See 11606 in every payment locality

How the 11606 rate is calculated

Each of 11606’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 · 11606

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work4.89

4.89 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense8.15

8.15 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.84

0.84 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

13.8800

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$463.60

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

1,345

Code
11606
Physician work
4.89
Practice expense
8.15
Malpractice
0.84

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 11606 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work4.89× 1.0545.1541
Practice expense8.15× 1.1789.6007
Malpractice0.84× 1.1130.9349
Total RVUs15.6897
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$524.05

Office: (4.89 × 1.054 + 8.15 × 1.178 + 0.84 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $524.05

Facility: (4.89 × 1.054 + 2.51 × 1.178 + 0.84 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $302.14

Open 11606 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 11606

11606 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 11606

Lesion excision, trunk or extremity, over 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 · 11606

Lesion excision, trunk or extremity, over 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

11606 without 51 · national office

$463.60

Lesion excision, trunk or extremity, over 4 cm

11606-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$231.80

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 11606

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

Codes related to 11606
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Same family
11604Malignant excision, trunk or extremity, 3.1–4 cmSame site group, for an excised diameter of 3.1–4 cm.$352.65
11626Skin excision, scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitalia; over 4 cmSame greater-than-4-cm size category, for scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia.$473.55
11646Malignant lesion excision, face and related sites, over 4 cmSame greater-than-4-cm size category, for the face, ears, eyelids, nose, or lips.$579.79
Often billed with
88305Tissue pathology exam, level IV specimenMay represent pathologic examination of the excised skin specimen.$79.56
12032Intermediate repair, 2.6–7.5 cm, scalp/trunk/extremitiesMay describe a separately reportable intermediate repair when the repair performed meets its requirements.$342.58

How 11606 has changed in Washington, DC area

11606 · Office / nonfacility

$524.05

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $26.88 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $497.17 to $524.05 (5.4%).

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

    $497.17changed to$524.05

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 5.02 changed to 4.89
    • Practice expense RVU 7.61 changed to 8.15
    • Malpractice RVU 0.85 changed to 0.84
    • 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

    $512.01changed to$497.17

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 7.60 changed to 7.61
    • Malpractice RVU 0.87 changed to 0.85

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $503.65changed to$512.01

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $524.86changed to$503.65

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 7.55 changed to 7.60
    • Malpractice RVU 0.83 changed to 0.87
    • 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

    $538.10changed to$524.86

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 7.42 changed to 7.55
    • Malpractice RVU 0.84 changed to 0.83
    • 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

    $538.56changed to$538.10

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 7.39 changed to 7.42
    • Malpractice RVU 0.78 changed to 0.84

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $534.91changed to$538.56

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 7.00 changed to 7.39
    • Malpractice RVU 0.79 changed to 0.78
    • 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

    $530.91changed to$534.91

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 6.93 changed to 7.00
    • Malpractice RVU 0.90 changed to 0.79
    • 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

    $530.74changed to$530.91

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 6.95 changed to 6.93
    • Malpractice RVU 0.89 changed to 0.90

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $528.26changed to$530.74

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 6.90 changed to 6.95
    • Malpractice RVU 0.90 changed to 0.89
    • 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

    $527.01changed to$528.26

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 6.87 changed to 6.90
    • Malpractice RVU 0.91 changed to 0.90
    • 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

    $526.61changed to$527.01

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Malpractice RVU 0.86 changed to 0.91

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $523.99changed to$526.61

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $515.30changed to$523.99

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 6.74 changed to 6.87
    • Malpractice RVU 0.84 changed to 0.86
    • 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

    $521.14changed to$515.30

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 7.56 changed to 6.74
    • Malpractice RVU 0.88 changed to 0.84
    • 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: $521.14

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$524.05$302.14RVU26D
2026-07-01$524.05$302.14RVU26C
2026-04-01$524.05$302.14RVU26B
2026-01-01$524.05$302.14RVU26A
2025-10-01$497.17$343.71RVU25D
2025-07-01$497.17$343.71RVU25C
2025-04-01$497.17$343.71RVU25B
2025-01-01$497.17$343.71RVU25A
2024-10-01$512.01$352.11RVU24D
2024-07-01$512.01$352.11RVU24C
2024-04-01$512.01$352.11RVU24B
2024-03-09$512.01$352.11RVU24AR
2024-01-01$503.65$346.36RVU24A
2023-10-01$524.86$359.90RVU23D
2023-07-01$524.86$359.90RVU23C
2023-04-01$524.86$359.90RVU23B
2023-01-01$524.86$359.90RVU23A
2022-10-01$538.10$368.72RVU22D
2022-07-01$538.10$368.72RVU22C
2022-04-01$538.10$368.72RVU22B
2022-01-01$538.10$368.72RVU22A
2021-10-01$538.56$367.77RVU21D
2021-07-01$538.56$367.77RVU21C
2021-04-01$538.56$367.77RVU21B
2021-01-01$538.56$367.77RVU21A
2020-10-01$534.91$373.63RVU20D
2020-07-01$534.91$373.63RVU20C
2020-04-01$534.91$373.63RVU20B
2020-01-01$534.91$373.63RVU20A
2019-10-01$530.91$374.14RVU19D
2019-07-01$530.91$374.14RVU19C
2019-04-01$530.91$374.14RVU19B
2019-01-01$530.91$374.14RVU19A
2018-10-01$530.74$373.71RVU18D
2018-07-01$530.74$373.71RVU18C
2018-04-01$530.74$373.71RVU18B
2018-01-01$530.74$373.71RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$528.26$373.44RVU17D
2017-07-01$528.26$373.44RVU17C
2017-04-01$528.26$373.44RVU17B
2017-01-01$528.26$373.44RVU17A
2016-10-01$527.01$372.55RVU16D
2016-07-01$527.01$372.55RVU16C
2016-04-01$527.01$372.55RVU16B
2016-01-01$527.01$372.55RVU16A
2015-10-01$526.61$371.17RVU15D
2015-07-01$526.61$371.17RVU15C
2015-04-01$523.99$369.32RVU15B
2015-01-01$523.99$369.32RVU15A
2014-10-01$515.30$365.02RVU14D
2014-07-01$515.30$365.02RVU14C
2014-04-01$515.30$365.02RVU14B
2014-01-01$515.30$365.02RVU14A
2013-10-01$521.14$358.51RVU13D
2013-07-01$521.14$358.51RVU13C
2013-04-01$521.14$358.51RVU13B
2013-01-01$521.14$358.51RVU13AR

Price 11606 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

11606 billing questions

How is the size threshold determined?

Use the excised diameter, including the margins, rather than the lesion diameter alone. This code applies when that measurement is greater than 4 cm.

When should 11604 be used instead?

Use 11604 for a malignant lesion on the trunk, arm, or leg with an excised diameter of 3.1–4 cm. The site is the same; the size category differs.

Is closure separately reportable?

Simple closure is included in the excision. An intermediate or complex repair may be separately reported when the repair performed and its documentation support that service.

Can modifier 50 be used for lesions on both sides?

No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Follow the applicable reporting rules for each procedure performed.

What postoperative care is included?

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

How are other procedures in the same session paid?

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted; co-surgeons and team surgery 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 11606PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,345 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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