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CPT code 17266: Lesion destruction, trunk or extremity, over 4 cm2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Alabama

Reports destruction of a malignant skin lesion larger than 4.0 cm on the trunk, arm, or leg, selected by site and lesion size.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality2.2K Medicare services in 2024

In Alabama, Medicare pays $209.01 for 17266 in the office and $119.00 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$209.01Office (non-facility)
$119.00Hospital or facility
−9.3%vs the national office rate ($230.47)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 17266 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 17266 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Alabama
  2. What 17266 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 17266 covers

This code covers destruction of a malignant skin lesion larger than 4.0 cm on the trunk, an arm, or a leg. Dermatologists and other clinicians who treat skin cancers may use destructive techniques such as electrosurgery, cryosurgery, laser treatment, or curettage with electrosurgical destruction. It is selected for the treated lesion’s anatomic site and size, not simply for the diagnosis or method used.

Document the lesion’s location, measured size, malignant diagnosis, and the destruction performed. Report the code for each treated lesion that meets its site and size criteria. The service has 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. 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 Alabama compares for 17266

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 17266 runs from $206.30 in Arkansas to $299.53 in San Benito County, CA. Alabama pays $209.01. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

17266 in Alabama vs other payment areas
  1. Alabama · this page$209.01
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$257.60+$48.59
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$261.34+$52.33
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$248.16+$39.15
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$241.68+$32.67
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$263.43+$54.42
  7. Alaska · Alaska$275.35+$66.34

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

Every other payment area

17266 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$206.30$117.93
ArizonaArizona$224.87$125.18
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$242.86$130.11
Chico, CACalifornia$242.14$129.39
El Centro, CACalifornia$242.18$129.43
Fresno, CACalifornia$242.14$129.39
Hanford, CACalifornia$242.14$129.39
Madera, CACalifornia$242.14$129.39

17266 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.

$206.30

$275.35

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

View every state and territory as a table
17266 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$275.351
AL$209.011
AR$206.301
AZ$224.871
CA$242.14–$299.5329
CO$239.001
CT$244.801
DC$261.341
DE$228.341
FL$227.95–$248.163
GA$216.29–$234.562
GU$247.091
HI$247.091
IA$213.511
ID$214.821
IL$222.18–$241.684
IN$215.941
KS$212.741
KY$213.721
LA$213.47–$222.962
MA$237.83–$260.932
MD$232.35–$261.343
ME$215.97–$226.332
MI$218.85–$230.662
MN$229.261
MO$210.26–$223.523
MS$208.311
MT$230.451
NC$217.981
ND$225.901
NE$214.531
NH$235.451
NJ$247.66–$259.092
NM$219.981
NV$229.331
NY$220.94–$269.435
OH$217.921
OK$213.241
OR$227.60–$245.842
PA$218.16–$239.292
PR$231.951
RI$235.901
SC$218.301
SD$225.371
TN$213.721
TX$216.87–$238.158
UT$220.991
VA$225.74–$261.342
VI$231.951
VT$225.221
WA$237.32–$265.862
WI$219.061
WV$214.791
WY$228.471

See 17266 in every payment locality

How the 17266 rate is calculated

Each of 17266’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 · 17266

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work2.33

2.33 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense4.34

4.34 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.23

0.23 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

6.9000

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$230.47

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

The exact Alabama inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,633

Code
17266
Physician work
2.33
Practice expense
4.34
Malpractice
0.23

GPCI2026.csv

4

Locality
Alabama
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.875
Malpractice
0.566
Office calculation for 17266 in Alabama
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.33× 1.0002.3300
Practice expense4.34× 0.8753.7975
Malpractice0.23× 0.5660.1302
Total RVUs6.2577
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Alabama$209.01

Office: (2.33 × 1 + 4.34 × 0.875 + 0.23 × 0.566) × $33.4009 = $209.01

Facility: (2.33 × 1 + 1.26 × 0.875 + 0.23 × 0.566) × $33.4009 = $119.00

Open 17266 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 17266

17266 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 17266

Lesion destruction, trunk or extremity, over 4 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 · 17266

Lesion destruction, trunk or extremity, over 4 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

17266 without 51 · national office

$230.47

Lesion destruction, trunk or extremity, over 4 cm

17266-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$115.24

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 17266

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

Codes related to 17266
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Alabama
Same family
17264Skin lesion destruction, trunk, arms, or legs; 3.1–4.0 cmSame trunk, arm, and leg site group for lesions measuring 3.1 to 4.0 cm.$182.95
17260Skin lesion destruction, trunk, arms, legs, 0.5 cm or lessSame trunk, arm, and leg site group for lesions measuring 0.5 cm or less.$87.85
Used instead
17276Skin lesion destruction, specified sites, over 4 cmFor a lesion over 4.0 cm at the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia.$254.05
17286Lesion destruction, facial site, over 4 cmFor a lesion over 4.0 cm at the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membrane.$321.54

How 17266 has changed in Alabama

17266 · Office / nonfacility

$209.01

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $2.25 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $206.76 to $209.01 (1.1%).

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

    $206.76changed to$209.01

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 2.39 changed to 2.33
    • Practice expense RVU 4.44 changed to 4.34
    • Malpractice RVU 0.25 changed to 0.23
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.869 changed to 0.875
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.575 changed to 0.566

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $213.07changed to$206.76

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 4.45 changed to 4.44

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $209.59changed to$213.07

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $219.13changed to$209.59

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 4.43 changed to 4.45
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.878 changed to 0.869
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.748 changed to 0.575

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $223.73changed to$219.13

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 4.34 changed to 4.43
    • Malpractice RVU 0.24 changed to 0.25
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.888 changed to 0.878
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.921 changed to 0.748

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $223.71changed to$223.73

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 4.29 changed to 4.34
    • Malpractice RVU 0.23 changed to 0.24

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $221.67changed to$223.71

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 4.03 changed to 4.29
    • Malpractice RVU 0.24 changed to 0.23
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.889 changed to 0.888
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.707 changed to 0.921

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $218.22changed to$221.67

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 3.93 changed to 4.03
    • Malpractice RVU 0.34 changed to 0.24
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.890 changed to 0.889
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.492 changed to 0.707

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $216.52changed to$218.22

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 3.89 changed to 3.93
    • Malpractice RVU 0.33 changed to 0.34

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. April 1, 2018

    RVU18B

    No ratechanged to$216.52

    Held through RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D, RVU14A, RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D, RVU15A, RVU15B, RVU15C, RVU15D, RVU16A, RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D, RVU17A, RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D, RVU18AR1.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$209.01$119.00RVU26D
2026-07-01$209.01$119.00RVU26C
2026-04-01$209.01$119.00RVU26B
2026-01-01$209.01$119.00RVU26A
2025-10-01$206.76$137.90RVU25D
2025-07-01$206.76$137.90RVU25C
2025-04-01$206.76$137.90RVU25B
2025-01-01$206.76$137.90RVU25A
2024-10-01$213.07$140.46RVU24D
2024-07-01$213.07$140.46RVU24C
2024-04-01$213.07$140.46RVU24B
2024-03-09$213.07$140.46RVU24AR
2024-01-01$209.59$138.17RVU24A
2023-10-01$219.13$144.16RVU23D
2023-07-01$219.13$144.16RVU23C
2023-04-01$219.13$144.16RVU23B
2023-01-01$219.13$144.16RVU23A
2022-10-01$223.73$146.29RVU22D
2022-07-01$223.73$146.29RVU22C
2022-04-01$223.73$146.29RVU22B
2022-01-01$223.73$146.29RVU22A
2021-10-01$223.71$147.18RVU21D
2021-07-01$223.71$147.18RVU21C
2021-04-01$223.71$147.18RVU21B
2021-01-01$223.71$147.18RVU21A
2020-10-01$221.67$151.41RVU20D
2020-07-01$221.67$151.41RVU20C
2020-04-01$221.67$151.41RVU20B
2020-01-01$221.67$151.41RVU20A
2019-10-01$218.22$152.14RVU19D
2019-07-01$218.22$152.14RVU19C
2019-04-01$218.22$152.14RVU19B
2019-01-01$218.22$152.14RVU19A
2018-10-01$216.52$153.08RVU18D
2018-07-01$216.52$153.08RVU18C
2018-04-01$216.52$153.08RVU18B
2018-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU18AR1
2017-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17D
2017-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17C
2017-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17B
2017-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17A
2016-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16D
2016-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16C
2016-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16B
2016-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16A
2015-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15D
2015-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15C
2015-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15B
2015-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15A
2014-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14D
2014-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14C
2014-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14B
2014-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14A
2013-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 17266 for an earlier date of service

Where the Alabama rate applies

Alabama is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 595 cities and communities in Alabama. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Abanda
  • Abbeville
  • Adamsville
  • Addison
  • Akron
  • Alabaster
  • Albertville
  • Alexander City

Browse all communities in Alabama

17266 billing questions

When should I choose this code instead of 17264?

Use 17266 for a malignant lesion on the trunk, arm, or leg that measures more than 4.0 cm. Code 17264 is for the same site group when the lesion measures 3.1 to 4.0 cm.

Does the code depend on the destruction method?

Selection depends on the malignant lesion’s site and size. Document the technique performed, such as cryosurgery or electrosurgical destruction, along with the lesion details.

Can I append modifier 50 for lesions on both sides?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code. Report qualifying lesions according to the applicable site and size criteria.

Are related postoperative visits separately reported?

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

How does Medicare handle multiple procedures in the same session?

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. This code also cannot be reported with an assistant at surgery, co-surgeons, or team surgery.

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 17266PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,633 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for AlabamaGPCI2026.csv, line 4 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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