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

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 Delaware, Medicare pays $228.34 for 17266 in the office and $126.70 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$228.34Office (non-facility)
$126.70Hospital or facility
−0.9%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 Delaware
  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 Delaware 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. Delaware pays $228.34. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

17266 in Delaware vs other payment areas
  1. Delaware · this page$228.34
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$257.60+$29.26
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$261.34+$33.00
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$248.16+$19.82
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$241.68+$13.34
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$263.43+$35.09
  7. Alaska · Alaska$275.35+$47.01

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

Every other payment area

17266 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$209.01$119.00
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

17266 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.

$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 Delaware 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

40

Locality
Delaware
Physician work
1.005
Practice expense
0.988
Malpractice
0.899
Office calculation for 17266 in Delaware
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.33× 1.0052.3417
Practice expense4.34× 0.9884.2879
Malpractice0.23× 0.8990.2068
Total RVUs6.8363
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Delaware$228.34

Office: (2.33 × 1.005 + 4.34 × 0.988 + 0.23 × 0.899) × $33.4009 = $228.34

Facility: (2.33 × 1.005 + 1.26 × 0.988 + 0.23 × 0.899) × $33.4009 = $126.70

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

How 17266 has changed in Delaware

17266 · Office / nonfacility

$228.34

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $0.19 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $228.15 to $228.34 (0.1%).

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

    $228.15changed to$228.34

    • 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
    • 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

    $235.11changed to$228.15

    • 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

    $231.28changed to$235.11

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $240.68changed to$231.28

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 4.43 changed to 4.45
    • 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

    $244.32changed to$240.68

    • 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
    • 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

    $244.24changed to$244.32

    • 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

    $244.13changed to$244.24

    • 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
    • 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

    $244.77changed to$244.13

    • 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
    • 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

    $242.63changed to$244.77

    • 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. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $242.43changed to$242.63

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 3.87 changed to 3.89
    • Malpractice RVU 0.34 changed to 0.33
    • 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

    $241.90changed to$242.43

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 3.85 changed to 3.87
    • 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

    $241.61changed to$241.90

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Malpractice RVU 0.31 changed to 0.34

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $240.41changed to$241.61

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $236.46changed to$240.41

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 3.75 changed to 3.85
    • Malpractice RVU 0.33 changed to 0.31
    • 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

    $240.31changed to$236.46

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 4.23 changed to 3.75
    • Malpractice RVU 0.34 changed to 0.33
    • 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: $240.31

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$228.34$126.70RVU26D
2026-07-01$228.34$126.70RVU26C
2026-04-01$228.34$126.70RVU26B
2026-01-01$228.34$126.70RVU26A
2025-10-01$228.15$149.53RVU25D
2025-07-01$228.15$149.53RVU25C
2025-04-01$228.15$149.53RVU25B
2025-01-01$228.15$149.53RVU25A
2024-10-01$235.11$152.23RVU24D
2024-07-01$235.11$152.23RVU24C
2024-04-01$235.11$152.23RVU24B
2024-03-09$235.11$152.23RVU24AR
2024-01-01$231.28$149.75RVU24A
2023-10-01$240.68$154.68RVU23D
2023-07-01$240.68$154.68RVU23C
2023-04-01$240.68$154.68RVU23B
2023-01-01$240.68$154.68RVU23A
2022-10-01$244.32$155.19RVU22D
2022-07-01$244.32$155.19RVU22C
2022-04-01$244.32$155.19RVU22B
2022-01-01$244.32$155.19RVU22A
2021-10-01$244.24$156.15RVU21D
2021-07-01$244.24$156.15RVU21C
2021-04-01$244.24$156.15RVU21B
2021-01-01$244.24$156.15RVU21A
2020-10-01$244.13$163.43RVU20D
2020-07-01$244.13$163.43RVU20C
2020-04-01$244.13$163.43RVU20B
2020-01-01$244.13$163.43RVU20A
2019-10-01$244.77$169.12RVU19D
2019-07-01$244.77$169.12RVU19C
2019-04-01$244.77$169.12RVU19B
2019-01-01$244.77$169.12RVU19A
2018-10-01$242.63$170.00RVU18D
2018-07-01$242.63$170.00RVU18C
2018-04-01$242.63$170.00RVU18B
2018-01-01$242.63$170.00RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$242.43$170.70RVU17D
2017-07-01$242.43$170.70RVU17C
2017-04-01$242.43$170.70RVU17B
2017-01-01$242.43$170.70RVU17A
2016-10-01$241.90$169.92RVU16D
2016-07-01$241.90$169.92RVU16C
2016-04-01$241.90$169.92RVU16B
2016-01-01$241.90$169.92RVU16A
2015-10-01$241.61$170.11RVU15D
2015-07-01$241.61$170.11RVU15C
2015-04-01$240.41$169.26RVU15B
2015-01-01$240.41$169.26RVU15A
2014-10-01$236.46$166.19RVU14D
2014-07-01$236.46$166.19RVU14C
2014-04-01$236.46$166.19RVU14B
2014-01-01$236.46$166.19RVU14A
2013-10-01$240.31$163.24RVU13D
2013-07-01$240.31$163.24RVU13C
2013-04-01$240.31$163.24RVU13B
2013-01-01$240.31$163.24RVU13AR

Price 17266 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

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 DelawareGPCI2026.csv, line 40 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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