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CPT code 11606: Lesion excision, trunk or extremity, over 4 cm2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in South Carolina

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 South Carolina, Medicare pays $438.71 for 11606 in the office and $264.64 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$438.71Office (non-facility)
$264.64Hospital or facility
−5.4%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 South Carolina
  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 South Carolina 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. South Carolina pays $438.71. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

11606 in South Carolina vs other payment areas
  1. South Carolina · this page$438.71
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$510.69+$71.98
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$524.05+$85.34
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$517.66+$78.95
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$502.44+$63.73
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$534.60+$95.89
  7. Alaska · Alaska$550.37+$111.66

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

Every other payment area

11606 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$417.40$252.57
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

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 South Carolina 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

93

Locality
South Carolina
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.924
Malpractice
0.850
Office calculation for 11606 in South Carolina
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work4.89× 1.0004.8900
Practice expense8.15× 0.9247.5306
Malpractice0.84× 0.8500.7140
Total RVUs13.1346
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, South Carolina$438.71

Office: (4.89 × 1 + 8.15 × 0.924 + 0.84 × 0.85) × $33.4009 = $438.71

Facility: (4.89 × 1 + 2.51 × 0.924 + 0.84 × 0.85) × $33.4009 = $264.64

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, South Carolina
Same family
11604Malignant excision, trunk or extremity, 3.1–4 cmSame site group, for an excised diameter of 3.1–4 cm.$294.18
11626Skin excision, scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitalia; over 4 cmSame greater-than-4-cm size category, for scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia.$396.84
11646Malignant lesion excision, face and related sites, over 4 cmSame greater-than-4-cm size category, for the face, ears, eyelids, nose, or lips.$489.34
Often billed with
88305Tissue pathology exam, level IV specimenMay represent pathologic examination of the excised skin specimen.$66.61
12032Intermediate repair, 2.6–7.5 cm, scalp/trunk/extremitiesMay describe a separately reportable intermediate repair when the repair performed meets its requirements.$282.75

How 11606 has changed in South Carolina

11606 · Office / nonfacility

$438.71

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $29.13 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $409.58 to $438.71 (7.1%).

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

    $409.58changed to$438.71

    • 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
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.913 changed to 0.924
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.817 changed to 0.850

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $421.74changed to$409.58

    • 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

    $414.86changed to$421.74

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $423.69changed to$414.86

    • 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
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.908 changed to 0.913
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.756 changed to 0.817

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $425.80changed to$423.69

    • 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
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.903 changed to 0.908
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.756

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $426.93changed to$425.80

    • 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

    $428.09changed to$426.93

    • 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
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.907 changed to 0.903
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.624 changed to 0.695

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $426.63changed to$428.09

    • 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
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.912 changed to 0.907
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.553 changed to 0.624

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $426.62changed to$426.63

    • 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

    $426.48changed to$426.62

    • 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
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.634 changed to 0.553

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $427.36changed to$426.48

    • 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
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.715 changed to 0.634

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $427.62changed to$427.36

    • 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

    $425.49changed to$427.62

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $418.38changed to$425.49

    • 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
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.911 changed to 0.912
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.618 changed to 0.715

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $420.17changed to$418.38

    • 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
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.909 changed to 0.911
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.520 changed to 0.618

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $420.17

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$438.71$264.64RVU26D
2026-07-01$438.71$264.64RVU26C
2026-04-01$438.71$264.64RVU26B
2026-01-01$438.71$264.64RVU26A
2025-10-01$409.58$292.04RVU25D
2025-07-01$409.58$292.04RVU25C
2025-04-01$409.58$292.04RVU25B
2025-01-01$409.58$292.04RVU25A
2024-10-01$421.74$299.26RVU24D
2024-07-01$421.74$299.26RVU24C
2024-04-01$421.74$299.26RVU24B
2024-03-09$421.74$299.26RVU24AR
2024-01-01$414.86$294.38RVU24A
2023-10-01$423.69$300.30RVU23D
2023-07-01$423.69$300.30RVU23C
2023-04-01$423.69$300.30RVU23B
2023-01-01$423.69$300.30RVU23A
2022-10-01$425.80$302.05RVU22D
2022-07-01$425.80$302.05RVU22C
2022-04-01$425.80$302.05RVU22B
2022-01-01$425.80$302.05RVU22A
2021-10-01$426.93$302.15RVU21D
2021-07-01$426.93$302.15RVU21C
2021-04-01$426.93$302.15RVU21B
2021-01-01$426.93$302.15RVU21A
2020-10-01$428.09$308.29RVU20D
2020-07-01$428.09$308.29RVU20C
2020-04-01$428.09$308.29RVU20B
2020-01-01$428.09$308.29RVU20A
2019-10-01$426.63$307.97RVU19D
2019-07-01$426.63$307.97RVU19C
2019-04-01$426.63$307.97RVU19B
2019-01-01$426.63$307.97RVU19A
2018-10-01$426.62$307.77RVU18D
2018-07-01$426.62$307.77RVU18C
2018-04-01$426.62$307.77RVU18B
2018-01-01$426.62$307.77RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$426.48$309.30RVU17D
2017-07-01$426.48$309.30RVU17C
2017-04-01$426.48$309.30RVU17B
2017-01-01$426.48$309.30RVU17A
2016-10-01$427.36$310.46RVU16D
2016-07-01$427.36$310.46RVU16C
2016-04-01$427.36$310.46RVU16B
2016-01-01$427.36$310.46RVU16A
2015-10-01$427.62$309.97RVU15D
2015-07-01$427.62$309.97RVU15C
2015-04-01$425.49$308.43RVU15B
2015-01-01$425.49$308.43RVU15A
2014-10-01$418.38$304.49RVU14D
2014-07-01$418.38$304.49RVU14C
2014-04-01$418.38$304.49RVU14B
2014-01-01$418.38$304.49RVU14A
2013-10-01$420.17$296.77RVU13D
2013-07-01$420.17$296.77RVU13C
2013-04-01$420.17$296.77RVU13B
2013-01-01$420.17$296.77RVU13AR

Price 11606 for an earlier date of service

Where the South Carolina rate applies

South Carolina is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 475 cities and communities in South Carolina. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Abbeville
  • Abney Crossroads
  • Adams Run
  • Aiken
  • Alcolu
  • Allendale
  • Anderson
  • Andrews

Browse all communities in South Carolina

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 South CarolinaGPCI2026.csv, line 93 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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