CPT code 17250: Granulation cautery, chemical treatment2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Iowa

Report chemical cauterization when a clinician treats excess granulation tissue, such as an umbilical granuloma or tissue around a stoma, with a chemical agent.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality207.9K Medicare services in 2024

In Iowa, Medicare pays $82.70 for 17250 in the office and $32.58 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$82.70Office (non-facility)
$32.58Hospital or facility
−8.3%vs the national office rate ($90.18)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 17250 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 17250 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Iowa
  2. What 17250 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 17250 covers

This service treats excess granulation tissue by applying a chemical cauterant, commonly silver nitrate, to the affected area. Typical examples include an umbilical granuloma or granulation tissue at a gastrostomy or other stoma site. A physician or other qualified clinician may perform it in an office, clinic, or wound-care setting. The target is granulation tissue, not a malignant skin lesion or an area requiring tissue removal by debridement.

Report the service for the chemical treatment itself, with documentation identifying the site and the granulation tissue treated. The code has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. 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% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service; 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 Iowa compares for 17250

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 17250 runs from $78.97 in Arkansas to $122.49 in San Benito County, CA. Iowa pays $82.70. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

17250 in Iowa vs other payment areas
  1. Iowa · this page$82.70
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$103.15+$20.45
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$104.05+$21.35
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$96.69+$13.99
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$93.68+$10.98
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$104.18+$21.48
  7. Alaska · Alaska$101.96+$19.26

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

Every other payment area

17250 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$80.23$32.30
ArkansasArkansas$78.97$31.92
ArizonaArizona$87.63$34.55
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$96.44$36.40
Chico, CACalifornia$96.24$36.20
El Centro, CACalifornia$96.25$36.21
Fresno, CACalifornia$96.24$36.20
Hanford, CACalifornia$96.24$36.20

17250 rates by state

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

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.

$78.97

$109.37

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

View every state and territory as a table
17250 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$101.961
AL$80.231
AR$78.971
AZ$87.631
CA$96.24–$122.4929
CO$94.441
CT$96.501
DC$104.051
DE$89.171
FL$88.21–$96.693
GA$82.91–$91.852
GU$98.991
HI$98.991
IA$82.701
ID$83.231
IL$85.28–$94.034
IN$83.761
KS$82.161
KY$82.051
LA$81.86–$86.282
MA$93.76–$104.462
MD$91.01–$104.053
ME$83.58–$88.682
MI$84.27–$89.282
MN$90.611
MO$80.26–$86.763
MS$79.641
MT$90.181
NC$84.551
ND$88.791
NE$83.221
NH$92.821
NJ$97.64–$102.812
NM$84.721
NV$89.861
NY$85.91–$106.745
OH$83.981
OK$82.011
OR$89.20–$97.782
PA$84.19–$93.862
PR$90.931
RI$92.601
SC$84.401
SD$88.631
TN$82.601
TX$83.58–$94.098
UT$85.661
VA$88.28–$104.052
VI$90.931
VT$88.311
WA$93.62–$106.802
WI$85.561
WV$81.831
WY$89.571

See 17250 in every payment locality

How the 17250 rate is calculated

Each of 17250’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 · 17250

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.49

0.49 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense2.14

2.14 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.07

0.07 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

2.7000

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$90.18

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

The exact Iowa inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,627

Code
17250
Physician work
0.49
Practice expense
2.14
Malpractice
0.07

GPCI2026.csv

53

Locality
Iowa
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.915
Malpractice
0.397
Office calculation for 17250 in Iowa
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.49× 1.0000.4900
Practice expense2.14× 0.9151.9581
Malpractice0.07× 0.3970.0278
Total RVUs2.4759
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Iowa$82.70

Office: (0.49 × 1 + 2.14 × 0.915 + 0.07 × 0.397) × $33.4009 = $82.70

Facility: (0.49 × 1 + 0.5 × 0.915 + 0.07 × 0.397) × $33.4009 = $32.58

Open 17250 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 17250

The CMS indicators that decide how 17250 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 17250

Granulation cautery, chemical treatment

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is 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.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

17250 without 51 · national office

$90.18

Granulation cautery, chemical treatment

17250-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$45.09

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

How 17250 has changed in Iowa

17250 · Office / nonfacility

$82.70

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $7.31 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $75.39 to $82.70 (9.7%).

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

    $75.39changed to$82.70

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.50 changed to 0.49
    • Practice expense RVU 1.97 changed to 2.14
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.913 changed to 0.915
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.457 changed to 0.397

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $79.86changed to$75.39

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 2.04 changed to 1.97
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.07

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $78.56changed to$79.86

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $81.36changed to$78.56

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 2.05 changed to 2.04
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.910 changed to 0.913
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.441 changed to 0.457
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $84.23changed to$81.36

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 2.09 changed to 2.05
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.08
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.907 changed to 0.910
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.425 changed to 0.441

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $83.85changed to$84.23

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 2.07 changed to 2.09
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.09

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $79.32changed to$83.85

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 1.83 changed to 2.07
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.06
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.424 changed to 0.425

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $75.96changed to$79.32

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 1.74 changed to 1.83
    • Malpractice RVU 0.07 changed to 0.09
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.423 changed to 0.424

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $75.23changed to$75.96

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 1.72 changed to 1.74

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $73.16changed to$75.23

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 1.67 changed to 1.72
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.902 changed to 0.907
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.458 changed to 0.423

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $72.71changed to$73.16

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.896 changed to 0.902
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.493 changed to 0.458

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $73.12changed to$72.71

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 1.68 changed to 1.67
    • Malpractice RVU 0.06 changed to 0.07

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $72.76changed to$73.12

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $71.83changed to$72.76

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 1.65 changed to 1.68
    • Malpractice RVU 0.07 changed to 0.06
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.892 changed to 0.896
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.475 changed to 0.493

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $73.93changed to$71.83

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 1.85 changed to 1.65
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.887 changed to 0.892
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.456 changed to 0.475

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $73.93

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$82.70$32.58RVU26D
2026-07-01$82.70$32.58RVU26C
2026-04-01$82.70$32.58RVU26B
2026-01-01$82.70$32.58RVU26A
2025-10-01$75.39$33.75RVU25D
2025-07-01$75.39$33.75RVU25C
2025-04-01$75.39$33.75RVU25B
2025-01-01$75.39$33.75RVU25A
2024-10-01$79.86$34.58RVU24D
2024-07-01$79.86$34.58RVU24C
2024-04-01$79.86$34.58RVU24B
2024-03-09$79.86$34.58RVU24AR
2024-01-01$78.56$34.01RVU24A
2023-10-01$81.36$34.48RVU23D
2023-07-01$81.36$34.48RVU23C
2023-04-01$81.36$34.48RVU23B
2023-01-01$81.36$34.48RVU23A
2022-10-01$84.23$34.63RVU22D
2022-07-01$84.23$34.63RVU22C
2022-04-01$84.23$34.63RVU22B
2022-01-01$84.23$34.63RVU22A
2021-10-01$83.85$34.16RVU21D
2021-07-01$83.85$34.16RVU21C
2021-04-01$83.85$34.16RVU21B
2021-01-01$83.85$34.16RVU21A
2020-10-01$79.32$35.13RVU20D
2020-07-01$79.32$35.13RVU20C
2020-04-01$79.32$35.13RVU20B
2020-01-01$79.32$35.13RVU20A
2019-10-01$75.96$34.78RVU19D
2019-07-01$75.96$34.78RVU19C
2019-04-01$75.96$34.78RVU19B
2019-01-01$75.96$34.78RVU19A
2018-10-01$75.23$35.39RVU18D
2018-07-01$75.23$35.39RVU18C
2018-04-01$75.23$35.39RVU18B
2018-01-01$75.23$35.39RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$73.16$34.96RVU17D
2017-07-01$73.16$34.96RVU17C
2017-04-01$73.16$34.96RVU17B
2017-01-01$73.16$34.96RVU17A
2016-10-01$72.71$34.86RVU16D
2016-07-01$72.71$34.86RVU16C
2016-04-01$72.71$34.86RVU16B
2016-01-01$72.71$34.86RVU16A
2015-10-01$73.12$34.81RVU15D
2015-07-01$73.12$34.81RVU15C
2015-04-01$72.76$34.63RVU15B
2015-01-01$72.76$34.63RVU15A
2014-10-01$71.83$34.76RVU14D
2014-07-01$71.83$34.76RVU14C
2014-04-01$71.83$34.76RVU14B
2014-01-01$71.83$34.76RVU14A
2013-10-01$73.93$34.09RVU13D
2013-07-01$73.93$34.09RVU13C
2013-04-01$73.93$34.09RVU13B
2013-01-01$73.93$34.09RVU13AR

Price 17250 for an earlier date of service

Where the Iowa rate applies

Iowa is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1026 cities and communities in Iowa. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Ackley
  • Ackworth
  • Adair
  • Adel
  • Afton
  • Agency
  • Ainsworth
  • Akron

Browse all communities in Iowa

17250 billing questions

When should this code be chosen instead of a skin-lesion destruction code?

Use it for chemical treatment of granulation tissue, such as an umbilical granuloma or peristomal tissue. Codes such as 17260 describe destruction of malignant skin lesions, not granulation tissue.

Does the code include same-day care around the procedure?

Yes. Its 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care.

Can an office E/M service be reported on the same date?

A separately identifiable E/M service may be reported when the record supports evaluation and management beyond the cautery; modifier 25 belongs on the E/M code when appropriate.

Should modifier 50 be appended for treatment on both sides?

No. Bilateral adjustment does not apply, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code.

How are multiple procedures in the same session paid?

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction.

What documentation supports reporting this service?

Record the treated site, the presence of granulation tissue, and the chemical cauterization performed. The documentation should distinguish the service from lesion destruction or wound debridement.

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 17250PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,627 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for IowaGPCI2026.csv, line 53 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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