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CPT code 17311: Mohs surgery, first stage, head/neck/hands/feet/genitalia2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Report the first Mohs stage, including up to five tissue blocks, for tumors at specified sites or surgery directly involving specified deep structures.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality934.9K Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $759.41 for 17311 in the office and $311.65 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$759.41Office (non-facility)
$311.65Hospital or facility
+13.9%vs the national office rate ($667.02)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 17311 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 17311 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 17311 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 17311 covers

Mohs micrographic surgery removes a skin cancer, usually basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma, in mapped stages. The Mohs surgeon excises the tumor, maps and color-codes the tissue, oversees frozen-section processing, and personally examines slides for peripheral and deep margins. Code 17311 covers the first stage and up to five tissue blocks for a tumor on the head, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia. It also covers tumors at other sites when surgery directly involves muscle, cartilage, bone, tendon, major nerves, or vessels. Mohs-trained dermatologic surgeons usually perform this work in an office.

Report one unit per distinct tumor’s first stage. Document the tumor site, biopsy diagnosis, stage maps, block count, and surgeon’s slide interpretation. Report additional stages with 17312 and each block beyond five in a stage with 17315; report qualifying defect repairs separately. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. For multiple procedures in one session, CMS pays the highest-valued procedure in full and reduces other procedures subject to the multiple-procedure rule to 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for 17311; assistant-at-surgery payment is prohibited, and co-surgeon and team-surgery arrangements 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 17311

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 17311 runs from $594.68 in Arkansas to $876.89 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $759.41. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

17311 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$759.41
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$750.16−$9.25
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$715.40−$44.01
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$696.18−$63.23
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$763.62+$4.21
  6. Alaska · Alaska$788.15+$28.74
  7. Alabama · Alabama$602.81−$156.60

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

Every other payment area

17311 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$594.68$268.17
ArizonaArizona$650.38$282.06
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$705.89$289.30
Chico, CACalifornia$704.05$287.46
El Centro, CACalifornia$704.15$287.56
Fresno, CACalifornia$704.05$287.46
Hanford, CACalifornia$704.05$287.46
Madera, CACalifornia$704.05$287.46

17311 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.

$594.68

$790.47

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

View every state and territory as a table
17311 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$788.151
AL$602.811
AR$594.681
AZ$650.381
CA$704.05–$876.8929
CO$693.621
CT$709.481
DC$759.411
DE$660.691
FL$657.34–$715.403
GA$622.71–$678.712
GU$719.721
HI$719.721
IA$617.291
ID$621.011
IL$639.38–$696.184
IN$624.381
KS$614.501
KY$615.921
LA$614.99–$643.432
MA$689.85–$759.512
MD$672.76–$759.413
ME$623.95–$655.742
MI$630.82–$664.952
MN$666.051
MO$605.06–$645.683
MS$599.991
MT$666.981
NC$630.071
ND$655.311
NE$620.481
NH$682.811
NJ$717.97–$752.322
NM$634.021
NV$664.171
NY$638.90–$780.995
OH$628.441
OK$614.981
OR$659.38–$714.632
PA$629.42–$692.712
PR$671.621
RI$683.421
SC$630.221
SD$653.931
TN$617.381
TX$625.55–$691.008
UT$638.291
VA$653.65–$759.412
VI$671.621
VT$652.831
WA$688.53–$774.582
WI$634.681
WV$617.181
WY$661.891

See 17311 in every payment locality

How the 17311 rate is calculated

Each of 17311’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 · 17311

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work6.05

6.05 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense13.33

13.33 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.59

0.59 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

19.9700

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$667.02

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

1,646

Code
17311
Physician work
6.05
Practice expense
13.33
Malpractice
0.59

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 17311 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work6.05× 1.0546.3767
Practice expense13.33× 1.17815.7027
Malpractice0.59× 1.1130.6567
Total RVUs22.7361
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$759.41

Office: (6.05 × 1.054 + 13.33 × 1.178 + 0.59 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $759.41

Facility: (6.05 × 1.054 + 1.95 × 1.178 + 0.59 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $311.65

Open 17311 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 17311

The CMS indicators that decide how 17311 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 17311

Mohs surgery, first stage, head/neck/hands/feet/genitalia

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is 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.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

17311 without 51 · national office

$667.02

Mohs surgery, first stage, head/neck/hands/feet/genitalia

17311-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$333.51

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 17311

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

Codes related to 17311
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Add-on codes
17312Mohs surgery, additional stage, specified sitesAdd-on for each additional stage of a Mohs procedure begun with 17311.$460.46
17315Mohs block, beyond first five blocksAdd-on for each tissue block beyond five in a Mohs stage.$89.58
Same family
17313Mohs surgery, first stage, trunk or extremityFirst Mohs stage for trunk, arms, or legs without qualifying deep-structure involvement.$714.14
17314Mohs stage, additional stage, trunk or limbAdditional Mohs stage for a procedure begun with 17313, rather than 17311.$441.08
Often billed with
13132Complex wound repair, 2.6–7.5 cm, specified sitesComplex repair of a qualifying forehead, cheek, or neck defect measuring 2.6–7.5 cm.$524.14
14040Tissue rearrangement, defined sites, 10 cm² or lessAdjacent tissue transfer for qualifying forehead, cheek, neck, hand, or foot defects of 10 sq cm or less.$866.71
Used instead
11642Skin lesion excision, face, ears, eyelids, nose, lipsConventional excision of a qualifying facial malignancy, 1.1–2.0 cm in excised diameter, without Mohs.$303.16

How 17311 has changed in Washington, DC area

17311 · Office / nonfacility

$759.41

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $1.12 lower than on 2025-10-01, moving from $760.53 to $759.41 (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

    $760.53changed to$759.41

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 6.20 changed to 6.05
    • Practice expense RVU 13.60 changed to 13.33
    • Malpractice RVU 0.64 changed to 0.59
    • 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

    $783.06changed to$760.53

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 13.61 changed to 13.60

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $770.28changed to$783.06

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $803.12changed to$770.28

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 13.47 changed to 13.61
    • Malpractice RVU 0.65 changed to 0.64
    • 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

    $812.06changed to$803.12

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 13.07 changed to 13.47
    • Malpractice RVU 0.60 changed to 0.65
    • 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

    $814.89changed to$812.06

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 12.99 changed to 13.07
    • Malpractice RVU 0.59 changed to 0.60

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $792.86changed to$814.89

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 12.07 changed to 12.99
    • Malpractice RVU 0.57 changed to 0.59
    • 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

    $790.37changed to$792.86

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 11.85 changed to 12.07
    • Malpractice RVU 0.93 changed to 0.57
    • 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

    $782.55changed to$790.37

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 11.70 changed to 11.85
    • Malpractice RVU 0.92 changed to 0.93

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $779.86changed to$782.55

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 11.66 changed to 11.70
    • Malpractice RVU 0.93 changed to 0.92
    • 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

    $776.00changed to$779.86

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 11.58 changed to 11.66
    • Malpractice RVU 0.94 changed to 0.93
    • 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

    $774.63changed to$776.00

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 11.59 changed to 11.58
    • Malpractice RVU 0.84 changed to 0.94

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $770.78changed to$774.63

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $755.17changed to$770.78

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 11.29 changed to 11.59
    • Malpractice RVU 0.83 changed to 0.84
    • 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

    $762.59changed to$755.17

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 12.46 changed to 11.29
    • Malpractice RVU 0.87 changed to 0.83
    • 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: $762.59

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$759.41$311.65RVU26D
2026-07-01$759.41$311.65RVU26C
2026-04-01$759.41$311.65RVU26B
2026-01-01$759.41$311.65RVU26A
2025-10-01$760.53$381.13RVU25D
2025-07-01$760.53$381.13RVU25C
2025-04-01$760.53$381.13RVU25B
2025-01-01$760.53$381.13RVU25A
2024-10-01$783.06$389.05RVU24D
2024-07-01$783.06$389.05RVU24C
2024-04-01$783.06$389.05RVU24B
2024-03-09$783.06$389.05RVU24AR
2024-01-01$770.28$382.70RVU24A
2023-10-01$803.12$399.55RVU23D
2023-07-01$803.12$399.55RVU23C
2023-04-01$803.12$399.55RVU23B
2023-01-01$803.12$399.55RVU23A
2022-10-01$812.06$404.43RVU22D
2022-07-01$812.06$404.43RVU22C
2022-04-01$812.06$404.43RVU22B
2022-01-01$812.06$404.43RVU22A
2021-10-01$814.89$408.63RVU21D
2021-07-01$814.89$408.63RVU21C
2021-04-01$814.89$408.63RVU21B
2021-01-01$814.89$408.63RVU21A
2020-10-01$792.86$421.39RVU20D
2020-07-01$792.86$421.39RVU20C
2020-04-01$792.86$421.39RVU20B
2020-01-01$792.86$421.39RVU20A
2019-10-01$790.37$436.01RVU19D
2019-07-01$790.37$436.01RVU19C
2019-04-01$790.37$436.01RVU19B
2019-01-01$790.37$436.01RVU19A
2018-10-01$782.55$438.55RVU18D
2018-07-01$782.55$438.55RVU18C
2018-04-01$782.55$438.55RVU18B
2018-01-01$782.55$438.55RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$779.86$440.38RVU17D
2017-07-01$779.86$440.38RVU17C
2017-04-01$779.86$440.38RVU17B
2017-01-01$779.86$440.38RVU17A
2016-10-01$776.00$439.04RVU16D
2016-07-01$776.00$439.04RVU16C
2016-04-01$776.00$439.04RVU16B
2016-01-01$776.00$439.04RVU16A
2015-10-01$774.63$435.16RVU15D
2015-07-01$774.63$435.16RVU15C
2015-04-01$770.78$432.99RVU15B
2015-01-01$770.78$432.99RVU15A
2014-10-01$755.17$427.92RVU14D
2014-07-01$755.17$427.92RVU14C
2014-04-01$755.17$427.92RVU14B
2014-01-01$755.17$427.92RVU14A
2013-10-01$762.59$421.43RVU13D
2013-07-01$762.59$421.43RVU13C
2013-04-01$762.59$421.43RVU13B
2013-01-01$762.59$421.43RVU13AR

Price 17311 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

17311 billing questions

When should 17311 be chosen over 17313?

Use 17311 when the tumor is on the head, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia, or when surgery at any site directly involves muscle, cartilage, bone, tendon, major nerves, or vessels. Use 17313 for trunk, arm, or leg tumors without that deep-structure involvement.

How are two separate tumors treated by Mohs on the same day reported?

Report the appropriate first-stage code once for each distinct tumor. Use modifier 59 when needed to identify a separate lesion, or XS when the lesions are on separate anatomical structures; the lower-valued procedure is subject to CMS’s multiple-procedure reduction.

Can the Mohs surgeon bill 88305 or 88331 for the frozen sections?

No. The Mohs code includes the surgeon’s pathology work on the Mohs sections. Pathology may be separately reportable for a distinct diagnostic specimen, such as a same-day biopsy needed to establish the diagnosis before Mohs surgery.

Is repair of the Mohs defect included?

No. A qualifying layered or complex closure, adjacent tissue transfer, flap, or graft may be reported separately. A separately reported repair may be subject to CMS’s multiple-procedure reduction.

What if the first stage requires more than five tissue blocks?

Report add-on code 17315 for each block beyond five in the stage. The first five blocks are included in 17311.

Can an E/M be billed on the day of Mohs surgery?

Yes, when the E/M is significant and separately identifiable from the routine same-day preoperative and postoperative care included in 17311. Append modifier 25 to the E/M code.

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 17311PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,646 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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