CPT code 11620: Skin excision, scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitalia2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $198.74 for 11620 nationally in the office and $109.22 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $175.84–$262.48.

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

What 11620 covers

This code covers surgical removal of a malignant skin lesion, including the surrounding margins, on the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia. Dermatologists, surgeons, and other qualified clinicians may perform the procedure in an office or facility. The code is selected by the excised diameter, which includes the lesion and the margins; it is not based on the lesion alone. For example, a small malignant lesion on the hand may qualify if the combined measurement is no more than 0.5 cm.

Document the site, malignant diagnosis, lesion and margin measurements, and resulting excised diameter. Simple closure is included; a separately performed intermediate or complex repair may be reported when supported. Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery, 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 11620 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

11620 rates by state

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

How the 11620 rate is calculated

Each of 11620’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 11620

11620 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 51

11620 compared with similar codes

How to choose

11600Malignant lesion excisionTrunk or extremity, 0.5 cm or less

Use 11600 for an excised diameter of 0.5 cm or less on the trunk or extremities. This code is for the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia.

11621Skin lesion excisionScalp, neck, hands, feet, genitalia

Use 11621 for the same anatomic group when the excised diameter is 0.6 to 1.0 cm; this code is limited to 0.5 cm or less.

11640Lesion excisionFace, 0.5 cm or less

Use 11640 for an excised diameter of 0.5 cm or less on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, or lips, rather than the sites covered here.

Codes related to 11620

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

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates