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CPT code 17281: Lesion destruction, face and related sites, 0.6–1.0 cm2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in North Carolina

Reports destruction by any method of a malignant lesion measuring 0.6–1.0 cm on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membrane.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality57.9K Medicare services in 2024

In North Carolina, Medicare pays $165.81 for 17281 in the office and $95.07 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$165.81Office (non-facility)
$95.07Hospital or facility
−5.4%vs the national office rate ($175.35)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 17281 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 17281 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in North Carolina
  2. What 17281 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 17281 covers

This code describes destruction of a malignant skin lesion by a method such as electrodesiccation, cryosurgery, laser treatment, or chemical treatment. It applies to a lesion on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membrane when its diameter falls in the 0.6–1.0 cm range. Dermatologists commonly perform the service in an office; surgeons may also perform it in office or facility settings. The diagnosis and treated site should support malignant-lesion treatment rather than destruction of a benign or premalignant lesion.

Choose the code by the lesion’s anatomic site and documented diameter, not by the destruction method. Record the site, size, malignant diagnosis, and method in the procedure note; report each treated lesion according to applicable CPT instructions. Medicare assigns a 10-day global period, so related postoperative visits during that period are included. For multiple procedures in one 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 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 North Carolina compares for 17281

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 17281 runs from $156.82 in Arkansas to $228.53 in San Benito County, CA. North Carolina pays $165.81. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

17281 in North Carolina vs other payment areas
  1. North Carolina · this page$165.81
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$196.29+$30.48
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$199.03+$33.22
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$188.62+$22.81
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$183.67+$17.86
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$200.51+$34.70
  7. Alaska · Alaska$208.97+$43.16

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

Every other payment area

17281 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$158.90$92.56
ArkansasArkansas$156.82$91.69
ArizonaArizona$171.07$97.60
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$184.97$101.88
Chico, CACalifornia$184.44$101.35
El Centro, CACalifornia$184.47$101.37
Fresno, CACalifornia$184.44$101.35
Hanford, CACalifornia$184.44$101.35

17281 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.

$156.82

$208.97

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

View every state and territory as a table
17281 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$208.971
AL$158.901
AR$156.821
AZ$171.071
CA$184.44–$228.5329
CO$181.971
CT$186.321
DC$199.031
DE$173.731
FL$173.29–$188.623
GA$164.36–$178.462
GU$188.291
HI$188.291
IA$162.421
ID$163.411
IL$168.82–$183.674
IN$164.271
KS$161.801
KY$162.451
LA$162.25–$169.532
MA$181.06–$198.812
MD$176.81–$199.033
ME$164.26–$172.252
MI$166.35–$175.332
MN$174.601
MO$159.77–$170.003
MS$158.321
MT$175.341
NC$165.811
ND$171.981
NE$163.211
NH$179.231
NJ$188.51–$197.282
NM$167.211
NV$174.521
NY$168.07–$205.075
OH$165.671
OK$162.121
OR$173.22–$187.252
PA$165.87–$182.082
PR$176.501
RI$179.531
SC$166.001
SD$171.581
TN$162.541
TX$164.88–$181.318
UT$168.061
VA$171.78–$199.032
VI$176.501
VT$171.431
WA$180.68–$202.602
WI$166.731
WV$163.141
WY$173.881

See 17281 in every payment locality

How the 17281 rate is calculated

Each of 17281’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 · 17281

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.73

1.73 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense3.35

3.35 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.17

0.17 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

5.2500

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$175.35

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

The exact North Carolina inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,641

Code
17281
Physician work
1.73
Practice expense
3.35
Malpractice
0.17

GPCI2026.csv

83

Locality
North Carolina
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.933
Malpractice
0.639
Office calculation for 17281 in North Carolina
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.73× 1.0001.7300
Practice expense3.35× 0.9333.1256
Malpractice0.17× 0.6390.1086
Total RVUs4.9642
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, North Carolina$165.81

Office: (1.73 × 1 + 3.35 × 0.933 + 0.17 × 0.639) × $33.4009 = $165.81

Facility: (1.73 × 1 + 1.08 × 0.933 + 0.17 × 0.639) × $33.4009 = $95.07

Open 17281 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 17281

17281 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 17281

Lesion destruction, face and related sites, 0.6–1.0 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 · 17281

Lesion destruction, face and related sites, 0.6–1.0 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.

SurgeryVisit
Sep 28, 2026Oct 14, 2026

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

17281 without 51 · national office

$175.35

Lesion destruction, face and related sites, 0.6–1.0 cm

17281-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$87.68

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 17281

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

Codes related to 17281
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, North Carolina
Same family
17280Lesion destruction, small facial or mucosal lesionSame sites and treatment type; covers malignant lesions measuring 0.5 cm or less.$130.50
17282Lesion destruction, face and related sites, 1.1–2.0 cmSame sites and treatment type; covers malignant lesions measuring 1.1–2.0 cm.$189.58
17271Lesion destruction, scalp, neck, hand, foot, genitalia; 0.6–1 cmSame size range and destruction method, for scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia.$153.34
17261Malignant lesion destruction, trunk, arms, or legs; 0.6–1.0 cmSame size range and destruction method, for the trunk, arms, or legs.$136.11
Used instead
11641Malignant lesion excision, face, 0.6–1.0 cmExcision may be selected instead of destruction for a malignant lesion at these sites, when clinically appropriate.$223.45

How 17281 has changed in North Carolina

17281 · Office / nonfacility

$165.81

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $1.05 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $164.76 to $165.81 (0.6%).

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

    $164.76changed to$165.81

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.77 changed to 1.73
    • Practice expense RVU 3.46 changed to 3.35
    • Malpractice RVU 0.18 changed to 0.17
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.926 changed to 0.933
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.665 changed to 0.639

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $170.08changed to$164.76

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 3.47 changed to 3.46
    • Malpractice RVU 0.19 changed to 0.18

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $167.31changed to$170.08

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $172.82changed to$167.31

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 3.44 changed to 3.47
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.927 changed to 0.926
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.742 changed to 0.665

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $174.90changed to$172.82

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 3.38 changed to 3.44
    • Malpractice RVU 0.18 changed to 0.19
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.928 changed to 0.927
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.819 changed to 0.742

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $174.16changed to$174.90

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 3.33 changed to 3.38
    • Malpractice RVU 0.16 changed to 0.18

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $173.30changed to$174.16

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 3.13 changed to 3.33
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.930 changed to 0.928
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.757 changed to 0.819

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $172.97changed to$173.30

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 3.06 changed to 3.13
    • Malpractice RVU 0.26 changed to 0.16
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.931 changed to 0.930
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.757

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $172.45changed to$172.97

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 3.05 changed to 3.06

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $171.26changed to$172.45

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 3.02 changed to 3.05
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.732 changed to 0.695

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $170.42changed to$171.26

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 3.00 changed to 3.02
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.930 changed to 0.931
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.768 changed to 0.732

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $170.54changed to$170.42

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 3.01 changed to 3.00
    • Malpractice RVU 0.23 changed to 0.26

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $169.69changed to$170.54

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $167.14changed to$169.69

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 2.92 changed to 3.01
    • Malpractice RVU 0.25 changed to 0.23
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.929 changed to 0.930
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.732 changed to 0.768

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $170.76changed to$167.14

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 3.31 changed to 2.92
    • Malpractice RVU 0.26 changed to 0.25
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.927 changed to 0.929
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.695 changed to 0.732

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $170.76

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$165.81$95.07RVU26D
2026-07-01$165.81$95.07RVU26C
2026-04-01$165.81$95.07RVU26B
2026-01-01$165.81$95.07RVU26A
2025-10-01$164.76$109.95RVU25D
2025-07-01$164.76$109.95RVU25C
2025-04-01$164.76$109.95RVU25B
2025-01-01$164.76$109.95RVU25A
2024-10-01$170.08$111.83RVU24D
2024-07-01$170.08$111.83RVU24C
2024-04-01$170.08$111.83RVU24B
2024-03-09$170.08$111.83RVU24AR
2024-01-01$167.31$110.00RVU24A
2023-10-01$172.82$113.45RVU23D
2023-07-01$172.82$113.45RVU23C
2023-04-01$172.82$113.45RVU23B
2023-01-01$172.82$113.45RVU23A
2022-10-01$174.90$113.88RVU22D
2022-07-01$174.90$113.88RVU22C
2022-04-01$174.90$113.88RVU22B
2022-01-01$174.90$113.88RVU22A
2021-10-01$174.16$114.26RVU21D
2021-07-01$174.16$114.26RVU21C
2021-04-01$174.16$114.26RVU21B
2021-01-01$174.16$114.26RVU21A
2020-10-01$173.30$117.92RVU20D
2020-07-01$173.30$117.92RVU20C
2020-04-01$173.30$117.92RVU20B
2020-01-01$173.30$117.92RVU20A
2019-10-01$172.97$120.97RVU19D
2019-07-01$172.97$120.97RVU19C
2019-04-01$172.97$120.97RVU19B
2019-01-01$172.97$120.97RVU19A
2018-10-01$172.45$122.51RVU18D
2018-07-01$172.45$122.51RVU18C
2018-04-01$172.45$122.51RVU18B
2018-01-01$172.45$122.51RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$171.26$122.81RVU17D
2017-07-01$171.26$122.81RVU17C
2017-04-01$171.26$122.81RVU17B
2017-01-01$171.26$122.81RVU17A
2016-10-01$170.42$122.13RVU16D
2016-07-01$170.42$122.13RVU16C
2016-04-01$170.42$122.13RVU16B
2016-01-01$170.42$122.13RVU16A
2015-10-01$170.54$122.08RVU15D
2015-07-01$170.54$122.08RVU15C
2015-04-01$169.69$121.47RVU15B
2015-01-01$169.69$121.47RVU15A
2014-10-01$167.14$120.55RVU14D
2014-07-01$167.14$120.55RVU14C
2014-04-01$167.14$120.55RVU14B
2014-01-01$167.14$120.55RVU14A
2013-10-01$170.76$119.99RVU13D
2013-07-01$170.76$119.99RVU13C
2013-04-01$170.76$119.99RVU13B
2013-01-01$170.76$119.99RVU13AR

Price 17281 for an earlier date of service

Where the North Carolina rate applies

North Carolina is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 785 cities and communities in North Carolina. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Aberdeen
  • Advance
  • Ahoskie
  • Alamance
  • Albemarle
  • Alexis
  • Alliance
  • Altamahaw

Browse all communities in North Carolina

17281 billing questions

How is this code distinguished from 17280?

Both cover destruction of a malignant lesion at the same group of sites. Use 17280 for a lesion measuring 0.5 cm or less; this code is for 0.6–1.0 cm.

When should 17271 be used instead?

17271 covers a 0.6–1.0 cm malignant lesion on the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia. This code applies to the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membrane.

Can the destruction method change the code?

No. The code selection turns on the lesion’s size and site; the procedure note should identify the method used.

Are related postoperative visits separately reported?

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

Can modifier 50 or an assistant-at-surgery claim be reported?

Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery, and co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

How are other procedures performed in the same session paid?

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full; other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction.

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 17281PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,641 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for North CarolinaGPCI2026.csv, line 83 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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