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CPT code 17270: Lesion destruction, scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitalia2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in New Mexico

Reports destruction of a malignant skin lesion measuring 0.5 cm or less on the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality9.1K Medicare services in 2024

In New Mexico, Medicare pays $139.71 for 17270 in the office and $79.38 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$139.71Office (non-facility)
$79.38Hospital or facility
−4.9%vs the national office rate ($146.96)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 17270 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 17270 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in New Mexico
  2. What 17270 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 17270 covers

This service treats a small malignant skin lesion by destroying the tissue rather than removing it intact. A dermatologist or other qualified clinician may use methods such as cryosurgery, electrosurgery, laser, chemical destruction, or curettage. Common settings include the office and hospital outpatient department. The site must be the scalp, neck, hand, foot, or genitalia, and the lesion must measure 0.5 cm or less.

Select the code for each treated lesion using its anatomic site and diameter; document the malignant diagnosis, site, measurement, and destruction method. Related postoperative visits are included in the 10-day global period. 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 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery, and 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 New Mexico compares for 17270

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 17270 runs from $131.06 in Arkansas to $193.13 in San Benito County, CA. New Mexico pays $139.71. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

17270 in New Mexico vs other payment areas
  1. New Mexico · this page$139.71
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$165.25+$25.54
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$167.29+$27.58
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$157.62+$17.91
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$153.39+$13.68
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$168.23+$28.52
  7. Alaska · Alaska$173.75+$34.04

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

Every other payment area

17270 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$132.85$75.27
ArkansasArkansas$131.06$74.54
ArizonaArizona$143.30$79.54
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$155.51$83.40
Chico, CACalifornia$155.11$82.99
El Centro, CACalifornia$155.13$83.01
Fresno, CACalifornia$155.11$82.99
Hanford, CACalifornia$155.11$82.99

17270 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.

$131.06

$174.12

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

View every state and territory as a table
17270 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$173.751
AL$132.851
AR$131.061
AZ$143.301
CA$155.11–$193.1329
CO$152.811
CT$156.311
DC$167.291
DE$145.571
FL$144.84–$157.623
GA$137.23–$149.542
GU$158.541
HI$158.541
IA$136.031
ID$136.851
IL$140.89–$153.394
IN$137.591
KS$135.421
KY$135.731
LA$135.53–$141.782
MA$151.99–$167.312
MD$148.23–$167.293
ME$137.49–$144.482
MI$139.01–$146.522
MN$146.751
MO$133.35–$142.283
MS$132.231
MT$146.961
NC$138.841
ND$144.381
NE$136.731
NH$150.431
NJ$158.18–$165.742
NM$139.711
NV$146.341
NY$140.78–$172.055
OH$138.481
OK$135.521
OR$145.28–$157.432
PA$138.70–$152.622
PR$147.981
RI$150.571
SC$138.871
SD$144.081
TN$136.051
TX$137.85–$152.238
UT$140.651
VA$144.02–$167.292
VI$147.981
VT$143.841
WA$151.69–$170.622
WI$139.851
WV$136.021
WY$145.841

See 17270 in every payment locality

How the 17270 rate is calculated

Each of 17270’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 · 17270

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.34

1.34 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense2.93

2.93 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.13

0.13 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

4.4000

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$146.96

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

The exact New Mexico inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,634

Code
17270
Physician work
1.34
Practice expense
2.93
Malpractice
0.13

GPCI2026.csv

77

Locality
New Mexico
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.917
Malpractice
1.201
Office calculation for 17270 in New Mexico
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.34× 1.0001.3400
Practice expense2.93× 0.9172.6868
Malpractice0.13× 1.2010.1561
Total RVUs4.1829
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, New Mexico$139.71

Office: (1.34 × 1 + 2.93 × 0.917 + 0.13 × 1.201) × $33.4009 = $139.71

Facility: (1.34 × 1 + 0.96 × 0.917 + 0.13 × 1.201) × $33.4009 = $79.38

Open 17270 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 17270

17270 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 17270

Lesion destruction, scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitalia

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 · 17270

Lesion destruction, scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitalia

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

17270 without 51 · national office

$146.96

Lesion destruction, scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitalia

17270-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$73.48

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 17270

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

Codes related to 17270
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, New Mexico
Same family
17271Lesion destruction, scalp, neck, hand, foot, genitalia; 0.6–1 cmSame anatomic group as 17270, for lesions measuring 0.6–1.0 cm.$154.44
17272Lesion destruction, scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitalia; 1.1–2 cmSame anatomic group, for lesions measuring 1.1–2.0 cm.$174.77
Used instead
17260Skin lesion destruction, trunk, arms, legs, 0.5 cm or lessDestruction code for a lesion 0.5 cm or less on the trunk, arms, or legs.$92.19
17280Lesion destruction, small facial or mucosal lesionDestruction code for a lesion 0.5 cm or less on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membrane.$131.24
11620Skin excision, scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitaliaExcision option for a malignant lesion 0.5 cm or less at the same anatomic group of sites.$188.67

How 17270 has changed in New Mexico

17270 · Office / nonfacility

$139.71

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $1.51 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $138.20 to $139.71 (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

    $138.20changed to$139.71

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.37 changed to 1.34
    • Practice expense RVU 2.99 changed to 2.93
    • Malpractice RVU 0.16 changed to 0.13
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.908 changed to 0.917
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.172 changed to 1.201

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $142.13changed to$138.20

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 3.00 changed to 2.99
    • Malpractice RVU 0.15 changed to 0.16

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $139.81changed to$142.13

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $143.64changed to$139.81

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 2.96 changed to 3.00
    • Malpractice RVU 0.17 changed to 0.15
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.902 changed to 0.908
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.169 changed to 1.172

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $142.48changed to$143.64

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 2.91 changed to 2.96
    • Malpractice RVU 0.12 changed to 0.17
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.896 changed to 0.902
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.166 changed to 1.169

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $143.54changed to$142.48

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 2.88 changed to 2.91
    • Malpractice RVU 0.14 changed to 0.12

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $144.24changed to$143.54

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 2.72 changed to 2.88
    • Malpractice RVU 0.13 changed to 0.14
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.908 changed to 0.896
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.207 changed to 1.166

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $146.98changed to$144.24

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 2.67 changed to 2.72
    • Malpractice RVU 0.20 changed to 0.13
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.921 changed to 0.908
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.247 changed to 1.207

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $149.14changed to$146.98

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 2.74 changed to 2.67

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $146.96changed to$149.14

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 2.70 changed to 2.74
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.920 changed to 0.921
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.204 changed to 1.247

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $145.88changed to$146.96

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 2.69 changed to 2.70
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.919 changed to 0.920
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.161 changed to 1.204

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $145.90changed to$145.88

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 2.70 changed to 2.69
    • Malpractice RVU 0.18 changed to 0.20

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $145.17changed to$145.90

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $142.25changed to$145.17

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 2.61 changed to 2.70
    • Malpractice RVU 0.19 changed to 0.18
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.918 changed to 0.919
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.079 changed to 1.161

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $145.96changed to$142.25

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 2.97 changed to 2.61
    • Malpractice RVU 0.20 changed to 0.19
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.916 changed to 0.918
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.997 changed to 1.079

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $145.96

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$139.71$79.38RVU26D
2026-07-01$139.71$79.38RVU26C
2026-04-01$139.71$79.38RVU26B
2026-01-01$139.71$79.38RVU26A
2025-10-01$138.20$91.21RVU25D
2025-07-01$138.20$91.21RVU25C
2025-04-01$138.20$91.21RVU25B
2025-01-01$138.20$91.21RVU25A
2024-10-01$142.13$92.26RVU24D
2024-07-01$142.13$92.26RVU24C
2024-04-01$142.13$92.26RVU24B
2024-03-09$142.13$92.26RVU24AR
2024-01-01$139.81$90.75RVU24A
2023-10-01$143.64$92.90RVU23D
2023-07-01$143.64$92.90RVU23C
2023-04-01$143.64$92.90RVU23B
2023-01-01$143.64$92.90RVU23A
2022-10-01$142.48$91.01RVU22D
2022-07-01$142.48$91.01RVU22C
2022-04-01$142.48$91.01RVU22B
2022-01-01$142.48$91.01RVU22A
2021-10-01$143.54$92.27RVU21D
2021-07-01$143.54$92.27RVU21C
2021-04-01$143.54$92.27RVU21B
2021-01-01$143.54$92.27RVU21A
2020-10-01$144.24$95.74RVU20D
2020-07-01$144.24$95.74RVU20C
2020-04-01$144.24$95.74RVU20B
2020-01-01$144.24$95.74RVU20A
2019-10-01$146.98$100.52RVU19D
2019-07-01$146.98$100.52RVU19C
2019-04-01$146.98$100.52RVU19B
2019-01-01$146.98$100.52RVU19A
2018-10-01$149.14$101.40RVU18D
2018-07-01$149.14$101.40RVU18C
2018-04-01$149.14$101.40RVU18B
2018-01-01$149.14$101.40RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$146.96$101.06RVU17D
2017-07-01$146.96$101.06RVU17C
2017-04-01$146.96$101.06RVU17B
2017-01-01$146.96$101.06RVU17A
2016-10-01$145.88$99.81RVU16D
2016-07-01$145.88$99.81RVU16C
2016-04-01$145.88$99.81RVU16B
2016-01-01$145.88$99.81RVU16A
2015-10-01$145.90$99.67RVU15D
2015-07-01$145.90$99.67RVU15C
2015-04-01$145.17$99.17RVU15B
2015-01-01$145.17$99.17RVU15A
2014-10-01$142.25$98.19RVU14D
2014-07-01$142.25$98.19RVU14C
2014-04-01$142.25$98.19RVU14B
2014-01-01$142.25$98.19RVU14A
2013-10-01$145.96$97.65RVU13D
2013-07-01$145.96$97.65RVU13C
2013-04-01$145.96$97.65RVU13B
2013-01-01$145.96$97.65RVU13AR

Price 17270 for an earlier date of service

Where the New Mexico rate applies

New Mexico is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 528 cities and communities in New Mexico. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Abeytas
  • Abiquiu
  • Acomita Lake
  • Adelino
  • Agua Fria
  • Alamillo
  • Alamo
  • Alamogordo

Browse all communities in New Mexico

17270 billing questions

How is this code distinguished from 17260?

Both codes cover destruction of a malignant lesion measuring 0.5 cm or less, but 17270 is for the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia. Code 17260 is for the trunk, arms, or legs.

Does the lesion need to be malignant?

Yes. This code is for destruction of a malignant skin lesion, not a benign lesion or granulation tissue.

What documentation supports the code and units?

Document the malignant diagnosis, each lesion’s anatomic site and diameter, and the method used to destroy it. Select the code for each lesion based on its own site and size.

Can modifier 50 be used for lesions on both sides?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code. Code the treated lesions according to their individual sites and sizes.

Are related postoperative visits separately payable?

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

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be paid for this procedure?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. 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 17270PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,634 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for New MexicoGPCI2026.csv, line 77 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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