CPT code 17284: Malignant lesion destruction, face and related sites, 3.1–4 cm2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
Destruction of a 3.1–4.0 cm malignant lesion on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membrane, selected by site and diameter.
Medicare pays $283.58–$347.47 for 17284 in the office in California, from Chico, CA to San Benito County, CA. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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On this page 9 sections
What 17284 covers
CPT 17284 reports destruction of a malignant lesion on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membrane when its greatest diameter is 3.1 through 4.0 cm. Destruction may use methods such as electrosurgery, cryosurgery, laser, or chemical treatment. Dermatologists and other qualified clinicians commonly perform the procedure in an office setting, with less frequent facility use. This code describes destruction, rather than excision, of the lesion.
Select the code based on both the anatomic group and the lesion’s diameter. Documentation should identify the malignant diagnosis, precise site, measured diameter, and destruction method. The 10-day minor-procedure global period includes related postoperative visits during that 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 multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery; co-surgeon and team-surgery reporting 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.
Where 17284 pays more and less in California
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
29 payment localities
$283.58 to $347.47
29 of 29 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | $284.59 | $167.81 |
| Chico, CA | $283.58 | $166.80 |
| El Centro, CA | $283.63 | $166.86 |
| Fresno, CA | $283.58 | $166.80 |
| Hanford, CA | $283.58 | $166.80 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $301.12 | $175.07 |
| Madera, CA | $283.58 | $166.80 |
| Marin County, CA | $340.05 | $189.81 |
| Merced, CA | $283.58 | $166.80 |
| Modesto, CA | $283.58 | $166.80 |
| Napa, CA | $322.84 | $182.41 |
| Oxnard, CA | $299.16 | $173.22 |
| Redding, CA | $283.58 | $166.80 |
| Rest of California | $283.58 | $166.80 |
| Riverside, CA | $287.18 | $170.40 |
| Sacramento, CA | $296.05 | $172.14 |
| Salinas, CA | $294.91 | $171.42 |
| San Benito County, CA | $347.47 | $193.83 |
| San Diego, CA | $300.66 | $173.23 |
| San Francisco, CA | $339.67 | $189.44 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $290.31 | $168.96 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | $345.94 | $192.30 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $302.64 | $173.18 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $295.69 | $171.45 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $305.61 | $174.77 |
| Stockton, CA | $283.58 | $166.80 |
| Vallejo, CA | $322.30 | $181.87 |
| Visalia, CA | $283.58 | $166.80 |
| Yuba City, CA | $283.58 | $166.80 |
How the 17284 rate is calculated
Each of 17284’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 · 17284
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work3.12
3.12 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense4.69
4.69 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.33
0.33 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
8.1400
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$271.88
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 17284
17284 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 17284
Malignant lesion destruction, face and related sites, 3.1–4 cm
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 010 | Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.80/0.10 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 17284
Malignant lesion destruction, face and related sites, 3.1–4 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.
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
17284 without 51 · national office
$271.88
Malignant lesion destruction, face and related sites, 3.1–4 cm
17284-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$135.94
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%).
17284 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 17283Lesion destructionFace or similar site, 2.1–3.0 cm
- Use 17283 for a malignant lesion in the same anatomic group measuring 2.1–3.0 cm; 17284 covers 3.1–4.0 cm.
- 17286Lesion destructionFacial site, over 4 cm
- Use 17286 for a lesion in the same anatomic group measuring over 4.0 cm; 17284 is for 3.1–4.0 cm.
- 17274Lesion destruction3.1-4 cm, scalp/neck/hands/feet/genitalia
- Both codes cover malignant lesions measuring 3.1–4.0 cm, but 17274 is for the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia rather than the face and related sites.
- 17264Skin lesion destructionTrunk, arms, or legs; 3.1–4.0 cm
- Both codes cover malignant lesions measuring 3.1–4.0 cm, but 17264 is for the trunk, arms, or legs.
17284 billing questions
How does 17284 differ from 17283 and 17286?
All three are for malignant lesions in the same anatomic group. Use 17283 for a 2.1–3.0 cm lesion, 17284 for 3.1–4.0 cm, and 17286 for a lesion over 4.0 cm.
What documentation supports selecting 17284?
Document the malignant diagnosis, exact site, and lesion diameter in the 3.1–4.0 cm range, along with the destruction method.
Does the 10-day global period include related follow-up visits?
Yes. Related postoperative visits during the 10-day period are included.
Should modifier 50 be appended for a lesion on a paired facial structure?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply to this code, and modifier 50 is inappropriate.
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.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported 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
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