CPT code 17264: Skin lesion destruction, trunk, arms, or legs; 3.1–4.0 cm2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Maryland
Destruction of a malignant skin lesion measuring 3.1–4.0 cm on the trunk, an arm, or a leg, selected by site and lesion diameter.
Medicare pays $203.77–$229.60 for 17264 in the office in Maryland, from Rest of Maryland to Washington, DC area. 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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On this page 9 sections
What 17264 covers
This service treats a malignant skin lesion on the trunk, an arm, or a leg by destroying the lesion rather than removing it as an intact excision specimen. A dermatologist or other physician may perform the treatment in an office or facility using a destructive technique appropriate to the lesion. The measurement and location determine the code family level; this code is for a lesion measuring 3.1–4.0 cm in the specified anatomic group.
Report the documented malignant diagnosis, exact site, pretreatment lesion diameter, and treatment performed. Use the neighboring size level when the measurement falls outside this range, and use a different site group for lesions on the scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitalia, face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membranes. 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 other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted; 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.
Where 17264 pays more and less in Maryland
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
3 payment localities
$203.77 to $229.60
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore area, MD | $214.17 | $114.54 |
| Rest of Maryland | $203.77 | $109.81 |
| Washington, DC area | $229.60 | $120.21 |
How the 17264 rate is calculated
Each of 17264’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 · 17264
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.94
1.94 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense3.92
3.92 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.19
0.19 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
6.0500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$202.08
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 17264
17264 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 17264
Skin lesion destruction, trunk, arms, or legs; 3.1–4.0 cm
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 010 | Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| 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. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.80/0.10 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 17264
Skin lesion destruction, trunk, arms, or legs; 3.1–4.0 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.
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
17264 without 51 · national office
$202.08
Skin lesion destruction, trunk, arms, or legs; 3.1–4.0 cm
17264-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$101.04
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%).
17264 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 17263Malignant lesion destructionTrunk, arms, or legs, 2.1–3.0 cm
- Use 17263 for a malignant lesion on the trunk, arm, or leg measuring 2.1–3.0 cm; use this code for 3.1–4.0 cm.
- 17266Lesion destructionTrunk or extremity, over 4 cm
- Use 17266 for a lesion on the same anatomic group when its diameter is greater than 4.0 cm.
- 17274Lesion destruction3.1-4 cm, scalp/neck/hands/feet/genitalia
- Use 17274 for a 3.1–4.0 cm lesion on the scalp, neck, hand, foot, or genitalia; this code is for the trunk, arms, or legs.
17264 billing questions
How is this code distinguished from 17263 or 17266?
The anatomic group is the same, but this code is for a lesion measuring 3.1–4.0 cm. Code 17263 is for the next smaller size range, and 17266 is for a lesion larger than 4.0 cm.
Can this code be used for a lesion on the face or hand?
No. This code is limited to lesions on the trunk, arms, or legs; other anatomic groups have separate codes even when the lesion diameter is the same.
What documentation supports the size selection?
Record the malignant diagnosis, precise anatomic site, pretreatment lesion diameter, and the destructive treatment performed. The documented diameter must fall within the 3.1–4.0 cm range.
Are related postoperative visits separately reported?
Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in this procedure's payment.
How does CMS treat other procedures performed in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures performed in that session are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted, 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
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