CPT code 17003: Actinic keratosis destruction, lesions 2-14, each additional2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Missouri
Report this add-on once per additional premalignant skin lesion, typically an actinic keratosis, when two through fourteen are destroyed in one session.
Medicare pays $5.65–$6.11 for 17003 in the office in Missouri, from Rest of Missouri to Metropolitan St. Louis, MO. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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What 17003 covers
This code captures destruction of additional premalignant skin lesions, most commonly actinic keratoses, after the first lesion has been treated in the same session. Dermatologists, primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants usually perform it in the office. Liquid nitrogen cryosurgery is the typical method, though curettage, electrosurgery, chemical destruction, and laser also qualify. Patients with sun-damaged skin on the face, scalp, ears, forearms, and backs of the hands often have several lesions treated at one visit, which is why this is among the highest-volume codes Medicare pays.
Report the first lesion with 17000, then report one unit of 17003 for each additional premalignant lesion from the second through the fourteenth, for a maximum of 13 units. When 15 or more premalignant lesions are treated, use 17004 alone instead of 17000 and 17003. Documentation should state the lesion count, anatomic locations, clinical diagnosis, and destruction method. CMS designates 17003 as an add-on code: it is billed only with its primary procedure and paid within that procedure's global period.
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 17003 pays more and less in Missouri
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
3 payment localities
$5.65 to $6.11
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MO | $6.04 | $1.65 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MO | $6.11 | $1.65 |
| Rest of Missouri | $5.65 | $1.62 |
How the 17003 rate is calculated
Each of 17003’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 · 17003
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.04
0.04 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.15
0.15 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.00
0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
0.1900
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$6.35
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 17003
The CMS indicators that decide how 17003 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 17003
Actinic keratosis destruction, lesions 2-14, each additional
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | ZZZ | Add-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period. |
| Multiple procedures | 0 | No multiple-procedure reduction. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
17003 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 17000Premalignant lesion destructionFirst lesion
- 17000 is reported once for the first premalignant lesion. 17003 is the add-on counted per lesion for lesions two through fourteen and cannot stand alone.
- 17004Premalignant lesion destruction15 or more lesions
- When the session total reaches 15 or more premalignant lesions, report 17004 as a single unit instead of 17000 and 17003.
- 17110Benign lesion destructionUp to 14 lesions
- 17110 is for up to 14 benign lesions such as common warts or molluscum, reported as one unit. 17003 is limited to additional premalignant lesions such as actinic keratoses and is counted per lesion.
17003 billing questions
How many units of 17003 can be reported?
Report one unit per premalignant lesion from the second through the fourteenth, or 1 to 13 units alongside one unit of 17000. Treating 15 or more premalignant lesions shifts reporting to 17004 alone.
Can 17003 be reported with 17004?
No. When 15 or more premalignant lesions are destroyed in a session, 17004 covers the entire count and replaces both 17000 and 17003.
Is 17003 billable without 17000?
No. It is an add-on reported with 17000 for the first premalignant lesion treated in the same session.
Can an E/M visit be billed on the same day as 17000 and 17003?
Yes, if documentation supports a significant, separately identifiable E/M service beyond the usual evaluation and decision to destroy the lesions. Append modifier 25 to the E/M code; a different diagnosis is not required.
Does 17003 apply to warts or seborrheic keratoses?
No. It covers premalignant lesions such as actinic keratoses. Destruction of benign lesions such as warts or seborrheic keratoses is reported with 17110 or 17111 according to the benign lesion count.
What documentation supports the unit count?
The note should list the number of lesions treated, their body sites, the premalignant diagnosis, and the destruction method used, so the units tie directly to the record.
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
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