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CPT code 17260: Skin lesion destruction, trunk, arms, legs, 0.5 cm or less2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Delaware

Destruction of a malignant skin lesion measuring 0.5 cm or less on the trunk, arms, or legs, selected by lesion size and anatomic site.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality23.1K Medicare services in 2024

In Delaware, Medicare pays $96.00 for 17260 in the office and $58.71 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$96.00Office (non-facility)
$58.71Hospital or facility
−0.9%vs the national office rate ($96.86)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 17260 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 17260 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Delaware
  2. What 17260 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 17260 covers

Code 17260 covers destruction of a malignant skin lesion on the trunk, an arm, or a leg when the lesion measures 0.5 cm or less. Methods may include electrosurgery, cryosurgery, laser treatment, chemical destruction, or surgical curettement. Dermatologists and other clinicians who treat skin cancers commonly perform the service in an office or outpatient facility. The code represents treatment of the lesion, rather than removal by an excision technique.

Select the code using the lesion’s anatomic group and measured diameter, not the destruction method. Document the malignant diagnosis, exact site, lesion measurement, method, and each lesion treated. Report the appropriate code for each treated lesion. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, Medicare pays the highest-valued procedure in full and reduces payment for the others by 50%. The 10-day global period includes related postoperative visits during that period. Modifier 50 is inappropriate; assistant-at-surgery services are not paid, and co-surgeon and team-surgery payment 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 Delaware compares for 17260

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 17260 runs from $86.71 in Arkansas to $126.83 in San Benito County, CA. Delaware pays $96.00. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

17260 in Delaware vs other payment areas
  1. Delaware · this page$96.00
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$108.74+$12.74
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$110.04+$14.04
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$103.52+$7.52
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$100.86+$4.86
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$110.61+$14.61
  7. Alaska · Alaska$115.44+$19.44

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

Every other payment area

17260 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$87.85$54.83
ArkansasArkansas$86.71$54.29
ArizonaArizona$94.53$57.96
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$102.44$61.08
Chico, CACalifornia$102.18$60.82
El Centro, CACalifornia$102.20$60.83
Fresno, CACalifornia$102.18$60.82
Hanford, CACalifornia$102.18$60.82

17260 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.

$86.71

$115.44

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

View every state and territory as a table
17260 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$115.441
AL$87.851
AR$86.711
AZ$94.531
CA$102.18–$126.8329
CO$100.671
CT$102.891
DC$110.041
DE$96.001
FL$95.44–$103.523
GA$90.59–$98.502
GU$104.341
HI$104.341
IA$89.911
ID$90.431
IL$92.90–$100.864
IN$90.911
KS$89.511
KY$89.671
LA$89.53–$93.522
MA$100.15–$110.042
MD$97.71–$110.043
ME$90.83–$95.312
MI$91.74–$96.502
MN$96.801
MO$88.13–$93.853
MS$87.441
MT$96.861
NC$91.691
ND$95.281
NE$90.371
NH$99.101
NJ$104.15–$109.072
NM$92.191
NV$96.481
NY$92.93–$113.035
OH$91.421
OK$89.551
OR$95.82–$103.652
PA$91.57–$100.522
PR$97.511
RI$99.241
SC$91.691
SD$95.091
TN$89.911
TX$91.02–$100.268
UT$92.821
VA$95.01–$110.042
VI$97.511
VT$94.911
WA$99.96–$112.202
WI$92.381
WV$89.791
WY$96.171

See 17260 in every payment locality

How the 17260 rate is calculated

Each of 17260’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 · 17260

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.94

0.94 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense1.88

1.88 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.08

0.08 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

2.9000

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$96.86

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

The exact Delaware inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,628

Code
17260
Physician work
0.94
Practice expense
1.88
Malpractice
0.08

GPCI2026.csv

40

Locality
Delaware
Physician work
1.005
Practice expense
0.988
Malpractice
0.899
Office calculation for 17260 in Delaware
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.94× 1.0050.9447
Practice expense1.88× 0.9881.8574
Malpractice0.08× 0.8990.0719
Total RVUs2.8741
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Delaware$96.00

Office: (0.94 × 1.005 + 1.88 × 0.988 + 0.08 × 0.899) × $33.4009 = $96.00

Facility: (0.94 × 1.005 + 0.75 × 0.988 + 0.08 × 0.899) × $33.4009 = $58.71

Open 17260 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 17260

17260 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 17260

Skin lesion destruction, trunk, arms, legs, 0.5 cm or less

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 · 17260

Skin lesion destruction, trunk, arms, legs, 0.5 cm or less

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

17260 without 51 · national office

$96.86

Skin lesion destruction, trunk, arms, legs, 0.5 cm or less

17260-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$48.43

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 17260

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

Codes related to 17260
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Delaware
Same family
17261Malignant lesion destruction, trunk, arms, or legs; 0.6–1.0 cmSame site group; applies when the malignant lesion measures 0.6 to 1.0 cm.$142.88
17262Lesion destruction, trunk, arms, or legs; 1.1–2.0 cmSame site group; applies to a malignant lesion measuring 1.1 to 2.0 cm.$172.03
17270Lesion destruction, scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitaliaSame destruction service for the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia, at the smallest size level.$145.57
17280Lesion destruction, small facial or mucosal lesionSame destruction service for the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membrane, at the smallest size level.$136.94

How 17260 has changed in Delaware

17260 · Office / nonfacility

$96.00

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $0.65 lower than on 2025-10-01, moving from $96.65 to $96.00 (0.7%).

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

    $96.65changed to$96.00

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.96 changed to 0.94
    • Practice expense RVU 1.94 changed to 1.88
    • Malpractice RVU 0.10 changed to 0.08
    • Work GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.005
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.992 changed to 0.988
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.949 changed to 0.899

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $99.79changed to$96.65

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 1.95 changed to 1.94

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $98.17changed to$99.79

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $102.14changed to$98.17

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 1.94 changed to 1.95
    • Work GPCI 1.007 changed to 1.009
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.007 changed to 0.992
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.938 changed to 0.949

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $103.83changed to$102.14

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 1.91 changed to 1.94
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.10
    • Work GPCI 1.005 changed to 1.007
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.022 changed to 1.007
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.927 changed to 0.938

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $102.55changed to$103.83

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 1.85 changed to 1.91

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $100.45changed to$102.55

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 1.69 changed to 1.85
    • Work GPCI 1.006 changed to 1.005
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.021 changed to 1.022
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.023 changed to 0.927

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $99.61changed to$100.45

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 1.61 changed to 1.69
    • Malpractice RVU 0.14 changed to 0.09
    • Work GPCI 1.007 changed to 1.006
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.019 changed to 1.021
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.119 changed to 1.023

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $99.87changed to$99.61

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 1.62 changed to 1.61

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $98.82changed to$99.87

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 1.59 changed to 1.62
    • Work GPCI 1.010 changed to 1.007
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.025 changed to 1.019
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.101 changed to 1.119

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $98.54changed to$98.82

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 1.58 changed to 1.59
    • Work GPCI 1.012 changed to 1.010
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.031 changed to 1.025
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.083 changed to 1.101

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $98.49changed to$98.54

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 1.59 changed to 1.58
    • Malpractice RVU 0.12 changed to 0.14

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $98.00changed to$98.49

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $95.53changed to$98.00

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 1.54 changed to 1.59
    • Malpractice RVU 0.11 changed to 0.12
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.038 changed to 1.031
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.878 changed to 1.083

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $97.60changed to$95.53

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 1.74 changed to 1.54
    • Malpractice RVU 0.12 changed to 0.11
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.044 changed to 1.038
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.672 changed to 0.878

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $97.60

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$96.00$58.71RVU26D
2026-07-01$96.00$58.71RVU26C
2026-04-01$96.00$58.71RVU26B
2026-01-01$96.00$58.71RVU26A
2025-10-01$96.65$69.06RVU25D
2025-07-01$96.65$69.06RVU25C
2025-04-01$96.65$69.06RVU25B
2025-01-01$96.65$69.06RVU25A
2024-10-01$99.79$70.41RVU24D
2024-07-01$99.79$70.41RVU24C
2024-04-01$99.79$70.41RVU24B
2024-03-09$99.79$70.41RVU24AR
2024-01-01$98.17$69.26RVU24A
2023-10-01$102.14$71.43RVU23D
2023-07-01$102.14$71.43RVU23C
2023-04-01$102.14$71.43RVU23B
2023-01-01$102.14$71.43RVU23A
2022-10-01$103.83$72.00RVU22D
2022-07-01$103.83$72.00RVU22C
2022-04-01$103.83$72.00RVU22B
2022-01-01$103.83$72.00RVU22A
2021-10-01$102.55$71.88RVU21D
2021-07-01$102.55$71.88RVU21C
2021-04-01$102.55$71.88RVU21B
2021-01-01$102.55$71.88RVU21A
2020-10-01$100.45$73.18RVU20D
2020-07-01$100.45$73.18RVU20C
2020-04-01$100.45$73.18RVU20B
2020-01-01$100.45$73.18RVU20A
2019-10-01$99.61$74.64RVU19D
2019-07-01$99.61$74.64RVU19C
2019-04-01$99.61$74.64RVU19B
2019-01-01$99.61$74.64RVU19A
2018-10-01$99.87$73.82RVU18D
2018-07-01$99.87$73.82RVU18C
2018-04-01$99.87$73.82RVU18B
2018-01-01$99.87$73.82RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$98.82$74.17RVU17D
2017-07-01$98.82$74.17RVU17C
2017-04-01$98.82$74.17RVU17B
2017-01-01$98.82$74.17RVU17A
2016-10-01$98.54$73.81RVU16D
2016-07-01$98.54$73.81RVU16C
2016-04-01$98.54$73.81RVU16B
2016-01-01$98.54$73.81RVU16A
2015-10-01$98.49$73.29RVU15D
2015-07-01$98.49$73.29RVU15C
2015-04-01$98.00$72.93RVU15B
2015-01-01$98.00$72.93RVU15A
2014-10-01$95.53$71.36RVU14D
2014-07-01$95.53$71.36RVU14C
2014-04-01$95.53$71.36RVU14B
2014-01-01$95.53$71.36RVU14A
2013-10-01$97.60$71.32RVU13D
2013-07-01$97.60$71.32RVU13C
2013-04-01$97.60$71.32RVU13B
2013-01-01$97.60$71.32RVU13AR

Price 17260 for an earlier date of service

Where the Delaware rate applies

Delaware is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 79 cities and communities in Delaware. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Arden
  • Ardencroft
  • Ardentown
  • Bear
  • Bellefonte
  • Bethany Beach
  • Bethel
  • Blades

Browse all communities in Delaware

17260 billing questions

When should 17260 be used instead of 17261?

Use 17260 for a malignant lesion on the trunk, arm, or leg measuring 0.5 cm or less. Code 17261 is for the same anatomic group when the lesion is larger.

Does the destruction method change the code?

No. The code selection depends on the lesion’s site and diameter; qualifying methods include electrosurgery, cryosurgery, laser treatment, chemical destruction, and surgical curettement.

How should multiple lesions treated in one session be reported?

Select the size- and site-appropriate code for each lesion treated. Medicare’s multiple-procedure reduction applies when multiple procedures are performed in the same session.

Should modifier 50 be appended for lesions on both sides?

No. The bilateral adjustment does not apply to this code, and modifier 50 is inappropriate.

What postoperative care is included?

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

Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be billed?

Assistant-at-surgery services are not paid for this code. Co-surgeon and team-surgery payment 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 17260PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,628 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for DelawareGPCI2026.csv, line 40 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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