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CPT code 17272: Lesion destruction, scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitalia; 1.1–2 cm2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Destruction of a 1.1–2 cm malignant skin lesion on the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia, reported according to lesion size and site.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality74.6K Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $208.29 for 17272 in the office and $111.89 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$208.29Office (non-facility)
$111.89Hospital or facility
+13.6%vs the national office rate ($183.37)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 17272 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 17272 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 17272 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 17272 covers

This code covers destruction of a malignant skin lesion in the 1.1–2 cm size range on the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia. Destruction may use an appropriate technique such as cryosurgery, electrosurgery, laser, or curettage. Dermatologists commonly perform the procedure in an office; surgeons and other qualified clinicians may perform it in office or facility settings. Examples include treating a confirmed basal cell carcinoma on the scalp or a squamous cell carcinoma on a hand when destruction is selected rather than excision.

Select the code for each lesion using its documented diameter and anatomic site; do not combine the diameters of separate lesions. Documentation should identify the malignant lesion, its location and size, and the destruction performed. The procedure 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 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay for an assistant at surgery, and co-surgery 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 Washington, DC area compares for 17272

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 17272 runs from $163.78 in Arkansas to $239.35 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $208.29. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

17272 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$208.29
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$205.41−$2.88
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$197.41−$10.88
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$192.16−$16.13
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$209.83+$1.54
  6. Alaska · Alaska$217.92+$9.63
  7. Alabama · Alabama$165.98−$42.31

Other areas in District of Columbia first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

17272 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$163.78$93.49
ArizonaArizona$178.84$99.54
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$193.49$103.81
Chico, CACalifornia$192.94$103.25
El Centro, CACalifornia$192.97$103.28
Fresno, CACalifornia$192.94$103.25
Hanford, CACalifornia$192.94$103.25
Madera, CACalifornia$192.94$103.25

17272 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.

$163.78

$217.92

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

View every state and territory as a table
17272 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$217.921
AL$165.981
AR$163.781
AZ$178.841
CA$192.94–$239.3529
CO$190.331
CT$194.921
DC$208.291
DE$181.641
FL$181.19–$197.413
GA$171.76–$186.652
GU$197.041
HI$197.041
IA$169.701
ID$170.741
IL$176.47–$192.164
IN$171.651
KS$169.041
KY$169.741
LA$169.52–$177.212
MA$189.36–$208.072
MD$184.89–$208.293
ME$171.64–$180.092
MI$173.86–$183.362
MN$182.571
MO$166.90–$177.713
MS$165.371
MT$183.361
NC$173.281
ND$179.801
NE$170.531
NH$187.471
NJ$197.20–$206.422
NM$174.771
NV$182.491
NY$175.67–$214.655
OH$173.131
OK$169.381
OR$181.11–$195.902
PA$173.34–$190.442
PR$184.581
RI$187.751
SC$173.481
SD$179.381
TN$169.831
TX$172.30–$189.668
UT$175.661
VA$179.59–$208.292
VI$184.581
VT$179.221
WA$188.97–$212.072
WI$174.241
WV$170.471
WY$181.811

See 17272 in every payment locality

How the 17272 rate is calculated

Each of 17272’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 · 17272

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.77

1.77 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense3.54

3.54 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.18

0.18 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

5.4900

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$183.37

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

The exact Washington, DC area inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,636

Code
17272
Physician work
1.77
Practice expense
3.54
Malpractice
0.18

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 17272 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.77× 1.0541.8656
Practice expense3.54× 1.1784.1701
Malpractice0.18× 1.1130.2003
Total RVUs6.2360
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$208.29

Office: (1.77 × 1.054 + 3.54 × 1.178 + 0.18 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $208.29

Facility: (1.77 × 1.054 + 1.09 × 1.178 + 0.18 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $111.89

Open 17272 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 17272

17272 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 17272

Lesion destruction, scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitalia; 1.1–2 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 · 17272

Lesion destruction, scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitalia; 1.1–2 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

17272 without 51 · national office

$183.37

Lesion destruction, scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitalia; 1.1–2 cm

17272-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$91.69

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 17272

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

Codes related to 17272
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Same family
17271Lesion destruction, scalp, neck, hand, foot, genitalia; 0.6–1 cmSame anatomic group; covers the smaller 0.6–1 cm lesion range.$184.68
17273Lesion destruction, scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitaliaSame anatomic group; covers the next larger 2.1–3 cm lesion range.$231.48
Used instead
17262Lesion destruction, trunk, arms, or legs; 1.1–2.0 cmDestruction in the same size range on the trunk, arms, or legs.$197.67
17282Lesion destruction, face and related sites, 1.1–2.0 cmDestruction in the same size range on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membranes.$227.19

How 17272 has changed in Washington, DC area

17272 · Office / nonfacility

$208.29

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $1.86 lower than on 2025-10-01, moving from $210.15 to $208.29 (0.9%).

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

    $210.15changed to$208.29

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.82 changed to 1.77
    • Practice expense RVU 3.66 changed to 3.54
    • Work GPCI 1.057 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.192 changed to 1.178
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.168 changed to 1.113

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $217.44changed to$210.15

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 3.68 changed to 3.66
    • Malpractice RVU 0.19 changed to 0.18

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $213.89changed to$217.44

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $223.21changed to$213.89

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 3.65 changed to 3.68
    • Work GPCI 1.056 changed to 1.057
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.214 changed to 1.192
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.231 changed to 1.168

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $228.45changed to$223.21

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 3.59 changed to 3.65
    • Work GPCI 1.054 changed to 1.056
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.236 changed to 1.214
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.294 changed to 1.231

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $227.28changed to$228.45

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 3.54 changed to 3.59
    • Malpractice RVU 0.17 changed to 0.19

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $223.49changed to$227.28

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 3.32 changed to 3.54
    • Malpractice RVU 0.18 changed to 0.17
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.221 changed to 1.236
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.277 changed to 1.294

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $221.50changed to$223.49

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 3.25 changed to 3.32
    • Malpractice RVU 0.26 changed to 0.18
    • Work GPCI 1.045 changed to 1.049
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.221
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.261 changed to 1.277

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $220.82changed to$221.50

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 3.24 changed to 3.25

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $218.70changed to$220.82

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 3.20 changed to 3.24
    • Work GPCI 1.048 changed to 1.045
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.271 changed to 1.261

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $218.06changed to$218.70

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 3.18 changed to 3.20
    • Malpractice RVU 0.27 changed to 0.26
    • Work GPCI 1.051 changed to 1.048
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.280 changed to 1.271

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $217.47changed to$218.06

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Malpractice RVU 0.24 changed to 0.27

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $216.38changed to$217.47

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $212.73changed to$216.38

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 3.10 changed to 3.18
    • Malpractice RVU 0.25 changed to 0.24
    • Work GPCI 1.050 changed to 1.051
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.202 changed to 1.205
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.280

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $218.02changed to$212.73

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 3.51 changed to 3.10
    • Malpractice RVU 0.26 changed to 0.25
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.050
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.198 changed to 1.202
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.130 changed to 1.205

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $218.02

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$208.29$111.89RVU26D
2026-07-01$208.29$111.89RVU26C
2026-04-01$208.29$111.89RVU26B
2026-01-01$208.29$111.89RVU26A
2025-10-01$210.15$133.03RVU25D
2025-07-01$210.15$133.03RVU25C
2025-04-01$210.15$133.03RVU25B
2025-01-01$210.15$133.03RVU25A
2024-10-01$217.44$135.70RVU24D
2024-07-01$217.44$135.70RVU24C
2024-04-01$217.44$135.70RVU24B
2024-03-09$217.44$135.70RVU24AR
2024-01-01$213.89$133.49RVU24A
2023-10-01$223.21$138.05RVU23D
2023-07-01$223.21$138.05RVU23C
2023-04-01$223.21$138.05RVU23B
2023-01-01$223.21$138.05RVU23A
2022-10-01$228.45$139.48RVU22D
2022-07-01$228.45$139.48RVU22C
2022-04-01$228.45$139.48RVU22B
2022-01-01$228.45$139.48RVU22A
2021-10-01$227.28$139.73RVU21D
2021-07-01$227.28$139.73RVU21C
2021-04-01$227.28$139.73RVU21B
2021-01-01$227.28$139.73RVU21A
2020-10-01$223.49$144.18RVU20D
2020-07-01$223.49$144.18RVU20C
2020-04-01$223.49$144.18RVU20B
2020-01-01$223.49$144.18RVU20A
2019-10-01$221.50$147.67RVU19D
2019-07-01$221.50$147.67RVU19C
2019-04-01$221.50$147.67RVU19B
2019-01-01$221.50$147.67RVU19A
2018-10-01$220.82$149.24RVU18D
2018-07-01$220.82$149.24RVU18C
2018-04-01$220.82$149.24RVU18B
2018-01-01$220.82$149.24RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$218.70$149.07RVU17D
2017-07-01$218.70$149.07RVU17C
2017-04-01$218.70$149.07RVU17B
2017-01-01$218.70$149.07RVU17A
2016-10-01$218.06$149.46RVU16D
2016-07-01$218.06$149.46RVU16C
2016-04-01$218.06$149.46RVU16B
2016-01-01$218.06$149.46RVU16A
2015-10-01$217.47$148.62RVU15D
2015-07-01$217.47$148.62RVU15C
2015-04-01$216.38$147.88RVU15B
2015-01-01$216.38$147.88RVU15A
2014-10-01$212.73$145.99RVU14D
2014-07-01$212.73$145.99RVU14C
2014-04-01$212.73$145.99RVU14B
2014-01-01$212.73$145.99RVU14A
2013-10-01$218.02$145.47RVU13D
2013-07-01$218.02$145.47RVU13C
2013-04-01$218.02$145.47RVU13B
2013-01-01$218.02$145.47RVU13AR

Price 17272 for an earlier date of service

Where the Washington, DC area rate applies

Washington, DC area is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1 cities and communities in District of Columbia. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Washington

Browse all communities in District of Columbia

17272 billing questions

How is 17272 distinguished from 17271 or 17273?

Use 17272 for a lesion measuring 1.1–2 cm at the specified scalp, neck, hand, foot, or genital site. Code 17271 is for the smaller size range, and 17273 is for the next larger range.

Can separate lesions be reported individually?

Yes. Select a code for each malignant lesion based on that lesion’s own size and site; do not add lesion diameters together. Same-session multiple-procedure payment rules may reduce payment for additional procedures.

Are related postoperative visits separately reported during the global period?

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

Should modifier 50 be used for lesions on both sides?

No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Medicare does not pay for an assistant at surgery for this code. Co-surgery 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 17272PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,636 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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