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CPT code 17261: Malignant lesion destruction, trunk, arms, or legs; 0.6–1.0 cm2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Arkansas

Destruction of a malignant skin lesion measuring 0.6–1.0 cm on the trunk, arm, or leg, using an appropriate destructive technique.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality131K Medicare services in 2024

In Arkansas, Medicare pays $128.17 for 17261 in the office and $68.21 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$128.17Office (non-facility)
$68.21Hospital or facility
−11.2%vs the national office rate ($144.29)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 17261 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 17261 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Arkansas
  2. What 17261 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 17261 covers

This service destroys a confirmed malignant skin lesion on the trunk, an arm, or a leg. Techniques may include electrosurgery, cryosurgery, laser treatment, chemical destruction, or curettage. Dermatologists commonly perform it in an office for selected skin cancers, such as appropriate superficial basal cell or squamous cell lesions; it may also be performed in a facility setting. The lesion must fit this code’s size range, and the anatomic site must match its trunk-and-limb group.

Select the code using the lesion’s documented size and location, and record the diagnosis, treatment method, and measurements supporting the choice. Report separately for each treated lesion, with documentation identifying each site and size. Medicare assigns a 10-day global period, so related postoperative visits during that period are 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 multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate; assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted, 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.

How Arkansas compares for 17261

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 17261 runs from $128.17 in Arkansas to $191.24 in San Benito County, CA. Arkansas pays $128.17. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

17261 in Arkansas vs other payment areas
  1. Arkansas · this page$128.17
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$162.97+$34.80
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$164.79+$36.62
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$154.54+$26.37
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$150.26+$22.09
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$165.47+$37.30
  7. Alaska · Alaska$168.90+$40.73

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

Every other payment area

17261 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$129.99$68.90
ArizonaArizona$140.60$72.95
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$153.13$76.62
Chico, CACalifornia$152.76$76.25
El Centro, CACalifornia$152.78$76.27
Fresno, CACalifornia$152.76$76.25
Hanford, CACalifornia$152.76$76.25
Madera, CACalifornia$152.76$76.25

17261 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.

$128.17

$172.00

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

View every state and territory as a table
17261 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$168.901
AL$129.991
AR$128.171
AZ$140.601
CA$152.76–$191.2429
CO$150.331
CT$153.671
DC$164.791
DE$142.881
FL$141.88–$154.543
GA$134.20–$146.832
GU$156.381
HI$156.381
IA$133.331
ID$134.141
IL$137.80–$150.384
IN$134.891
KS$132.651
KY$132.791
LA$132.56–$138.912
MA$149.44–$164.982
MD$145.57–$164.793
ME$134.73–$141.912
MI$136.06–$143.522
MN$144.391
MO$130.31–$139.473
MS$129.271
MT$144.281
NC$136.111
ND$141.911
NE$134.061
NH$147.911
NJ$155.52–$163.152
NM$136.751
NV$143.721
NY$138.07–$169.275
OH$135.581
OK$132.641
OR$142.70–$155.062
PA$135.83–$149.902
PR$145.341
RI$147.931
SC$136.051
SD$141.631
TN$133.291
TX$134.96–$149.758
UT$137.851
VA$141.40–$164.792
VI$145.341
VT$141.311
WA$149.18–$168.372
WI$137.301
WV$132.851
WY$143.251

See 17261 in every payment locality

How the 17261 rate is calculated

Each of 17261’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 · 17261

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.19

1.19 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense3.01

3.01 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.12

0.12 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

4.3200

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$144.29

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

The exact Arkansas inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,629

Code
17261
Physician work
1.19
Practice expense
3.01
Malpractice
0.12

GPCI2026.csv

7

Locality
Arkansas
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.859
Malpractice
0.515
Office calculation for 17261 in Arkansas
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.19× 1.0001.1900
Practice expense3.01× 0.8592.5856
Malpractice0.12× 0.5150.0618
Total RVUs3.8374
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Arkansas$128.17

Office: (1.19 × 1 + 3.01 × 0.859 + 0.12 × 0.515) × $33.4009 = $128.17

Facility: (1.19 × 1 + 0.92 × 0.859 + 0.12 × 0.515) × $33.4009 = $68.21

Open 17261 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 17261

17261 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 17261

Malignant lesion destruction, trunk, arms, or legs; 0.6–1.0 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 · 17261

Malignant lesion destruction, trunk, arms, or legs; 0.6–1.0 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

17261 without 51 · national office

$144.29

Malignant lesion destruction, trunk, arms, or legs; 0.6–1.0 cm

17261-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$72.15

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 17261

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

Codes related to 17261
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Arkansas
Same family
17260Skin lesion destruction, trunk, arms, legs, 0.5 cm or lessSame trunk, arm, and leg site group; used for a lesion in the smaller size tier.$86.71
17262Lesion destruction, trunk, arms, or legs; 1.1–2.0 cmSame site group; used for a lesion in the next larger size tier.$154.84
17270Lesion destruction, scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitaliaMalignant lesion destruction for a different site group and a smaller lesion size.$131.06
17271Lesion destruction, scalp, neck, hand, foot, genitalia; 0.6–1 cmSame size tier for malignant lesions on the head, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia.$144.78
Used instead
17250Granulation cautery, chemical treatmentChemical cautery of granulation tissue, rather than destruction of a malignant skin lesion.$78.97

How 17261 has changed in Arkansas

17261 · Office / nonfacility

$128.17

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $0.02 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $128.15 to $128.17 (0.0%).

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

    $128.15changed to$128.17

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.22 changed to 1.19
    • Practice expense RVU 3.11 changed to 3.01
    • Malpractice RVU 0.13 changed to 0.12
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.860 changed to 0.859
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.518 changed to 0.515

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $132.46changed to$128.15

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 3.13 changed to 3.11

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $130.29changed to$132.46

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $132.95changed to$130.29

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 3.10 changed to 3.13
    • Malpractice RVU 0.12 changed to 0.13
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.853 changed to 0.860
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.492 changed to 0.518

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $133.39changed to$132.95

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 3.05 changed to 3.10
    • Malpractice RVU 0.11 changed to 0.12
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.847 changed to 0.853
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.465 changed to 0.492

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $133.34changed to$133.39

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 3.00 changed to 3.05
    • Malpractice RVU 0.13 changed to 0.11

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $132.90changed to$133.34

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 2.80 changed to 3.00
    • Malpractice RVU 0.11 changed to 0.13
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.859 changed to 0.847
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.521 changed to 0.465

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $132.98changed to$132.90

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 2.72 changed to 2.80
    • Malpractice RVU 0.17 changed to 0.11
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.872 changed to 0.859
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.576 changed to 0.521

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $132.72changed to$132.98

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 2.71 changed to 2.72
    • Malpractice RVU 0.18 changed to 0.17

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $130.54changed to$132.72

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 2.67 changed to 2.71
    • Malpractice RVU 0.17 changed to 0.18
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.870 changed to 0.872
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.555 changed to 0.576

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $129.70changed to$130.54

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 2.66 changed to 2.67
    • Malpractice RVU 0.18 changed to 0.17
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.867 changed to 0.870
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.534 changed to 0.555

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $130.09changed to$129.70

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 2.67 changed to 2.66
    • Malpractice RVU 0.16 changed to 0.18

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $129.44changed to$130.09

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $127.05changed to$129.44

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 2.59 changed to 2.67
    • Malpractice RVU 0.17 changed to 0.16
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.866 changed to 0.867
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.492 changed to 0.534

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $130.79changed to$127.05

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 2.94 changed to 2.59
    • Malpractice RVU 0.18 changed to 0.17
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.865 changed to 0.866
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.450 changed to 0.492

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $130.79

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$128.17$68.21RVU26D
2026-07-01$128.17$68.21RVU26C
2026-04-01$128.17$68.21RVU26B
2026-01-01$128.17$68.21RVU26A
2025-10-01$128.15$78.08RVU25D
2025-07-01$128.15$78.08RVU25C
2025-04-01$128.15$78.08RVU25B
2025-01-01$128.15$78.08RVU25A
2024-10-01$132.46$79.21RVU24D
2024-07-01$132.46$79.21RVU24C
2024-04-01$132.46$79.21RVU24B
2024-03-09$132.46$79.21RVU24AR
2024-01-01$130.29$77.92RVU24A
2023-10-01$132.95$78.90RVU23D
2023-07-01$132.95$78.90RVU23C
2023-04-01$132.95$78.90RVU23B
2023-01-01$132.95$78.90RVU23A
2022-10-01$133.39$78.58RVU22D
2022-07-01$133.39$78.58RVU22C
2022-04-01$133.39$78.58RVU22B
2022-01-01$133.39$78.58RVU22A
2021-10-01$133.34$79.26RVU21D
2021-07-01$133.34$79.26RVU21C
2021-04-01$133.34$79.26RVU21B
2021-01-01$133.34$79.26RVU21A
2020-10-01$132.90$82.06RVU20D
2020-07-01$132.90$82.06RVU20C
2020-04-01$132.90$82.06RVU20B
2020-01-01$132.90$82.06RVU20A
2019-10-01$132.98$84.89RVU19D
2019-07-01$132.98$84.89RVU19C
2019-04-01$132.98$84.89RVU19B
2019-01-01$132.98$84.89RVU19A
2018-10-01$132.72$86.26RVU18D
2018-07-01$132.72$86.26RVU18C
2018-04-01$132.72$86.26RVU18B
2018-01-01$132.72$86.26RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$130.54$85.89RVU17D
2017-07-01$130.54$85.89RVU17C
2017-04-01$130.54$85.89RVU17B
2017-01-01$130.54$85.89RVU17A
2016-10-01$129.70$84.99RVU16D
2016-07-01$129.70$84.99RVU16C
2016-04-01$129.70$84.99RVU16B
2016-01-01$129.70$84.99RVU16A
2015-10-01$130.09$85.23RVU15D
2015-07-01$130.09$85.23RVU15C
2015-04-01$129.44$84.80RVU15B
2015-01-01$129.44$84.80RVU15A
2014-10-01$127.05$83.93RVU14D
2014-07-01$127.05$83.93RVU14C
2014-04-01$127.05$83.93RVU14B
2014-01-01$127.05$83.93RVU14A
2013-10-01$130.79$83.70RVU13D
2013-07-01$130.79$83.70RVU13C
2013-04-01$130.79$83.70RVU13B
2013-01-01$130.79$83.70RVU13AR

Price 17261 for an earlier date of service

Where the Arkansas rate applies

Arkansas is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 626 cities and communities in Arkansas. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Acorn
  • Adona
  • Alexander
  • Alicia
  • Alix
  • Alleene
  • Allport
  • Alma

Browse all communities in Arkansas

17261 billing questions

How is this code distinguished from 17260 and 17262?

Use this code for a trunk, arm, or leg lesion measuring 0.6–1.0 cm. Code 17260 is for a smaller lesion, while 17262 is for a larger one.

Can this code be used for a lesion on the face or hand?

No. This code is for the trunk, arms, or legs; a lesion on the head, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia belongs to the corresponding site-specific code group.

How should multiple lesions treated at the same session be reported?

Report each treated lesion separately and document its site and size. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction.

Are related postoperative visits separately reportable?

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

Can modifier 50 or an assistant-at-surgery claim be used?

Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery, and 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 17261PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,629 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for ArkansasGPCI2026.csv, line 7 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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