CPT code 24071: Soft-tissue excision, subcutaneous, 3 cm or larger2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $391.79 for 24071 nationally in a facility.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 24071 covers

A surgeon removes a soft-tissue mass located beneath the skin in the upper arm or elbow area. A typical example is excision of a subcutaneous lipoma; the service involves removing the mass itself, rather than taking a sample for diagnosis. The procedure may be performed in an operating room or another setting appropriate to the patient and mass. The code is specific to the upper arm or elbow region and the subcutaneous depth.

Choose this code when documentation supports a mass at least 3 cm in size and located in subcutaneous tissue. A smaller subcutaneous mass belongs to the sibling code for lesions under 3 cm; a mass beneath the fascia is coded by its deep location and applicable size threshold. The operative report should identify the site, size, depth, and whether the mass was excised or only biopsied. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day before surgery and 90 days of related postoperative care. In a same-session multiple-procedure case, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are reduced. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%; assistant-at-surgery payment may be made. 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.

Where 24071 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

24071 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

How the 24071 rate is calculated

Each of 24071’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 24071

24071 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 50

24071 compared with similar codes

How to choose

24075Soft-tissue excisionSubcutaneous, under 3 cm

Both describe subcutaneous masses in the upper arm or elbow area. The size threshold is the distinction: 24071 is for 3 cm or larger, while 24075 is for under 3 cm.

24073Tumor excisionDeep, 5 cm or larger

24073 is for a deep soft-tissue mass measuring 5 cm or larger. Choose 24071 for a subcutaneous mass measuring at least 3 cm.

24076Tumor excisionDeep, under 5 cm

24076 describes a deep mass under 5 cm. A subcutaneous mass at least 3 cm is reported with 24071 instead.

24065Soft-tissue biopsySuperficial upper arm or elbow

24065 is for superficial soft-tissue biopsy, where tissue is sampled rather than the mass excised. Use 24071 for excision of a qualifying subcutaneous mass.

Codes related to 24071

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

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates