CPT code 26111: Hand mass excision, subcutaneous, 1.5 cm or larger2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Reports removal of a subcutaneous soft-tissue mass of the hand or finger measuring at least 1.5 cm, with code selection based on size and depth.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 26111 in Texas.
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 26111 covers
A hand or finger surgeon excises a discrete soft-tissue mass located in the subcutaneous plane and measuring 1.5 cm or larger. Orthopedic hand, plastic, and other surgeons who treat hand masses may perform the procedure in an operating room or, when appropriate, an office procedure setting. The removed tissue may be submitted for pathologic examination.
Choose this code when the operative findings establish both the qualifying size and the subcutaneous location. The note should identify the hand or finger site, mass size, tissue plane, and work performed; a deeper mass or a more extensive radical resection points to a different code. The service has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When multiple procedures occur 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. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; 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 26111 pays more and less in Texas
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | Unavailable | $400.08 |
| Beaumont, TX | Unavailable | $374.28 |
| Brazoria, TX | Unavailable | $385.26 |
| Dallas, TX | Unavailable | $389.06 |
| Fort Worth, TX | Unavailable | $387.69 |
| Galveston, TX | Unavailable | $387.29 |
| Houston, TX | Unavailable | $406.33 |
| Rest of Texas | Unavailable | $380.48 |
How the 26111 rate is calculated
Each of 26111’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 · 26111
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work5.28
5.28 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense5.45
5.45 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.04
1.04 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
11.7700
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$393.13
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 26111
26111 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 26111
Hand mass excision, subcutaneous, 1.5 cm or larger
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 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) | 2 | Paid. |
| 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) | 0.10/0.69/0.21 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 26111
Hand mass excision, subcutaneous, 1.5 cm or larger
90-day global period ends
Dec 30, 2026
Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
26111 without 51 · national facility
$393.13
Hand mass excision, subcutaneous, 1.5 cm or larger
26111-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$196.57
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%).
26111 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 26115Hand mass excisionSubcutaneous, under 1.5 cm
- Both describe subcutaneous hand or finger mass excision; choose 26111 for a mass 1.5 cm or larger and 26115 for the smaller size category.
- 26113Hand tumor excisionDeep, 1.5 cm or larger
- This code is for a deep hand or finger mass 1.5 cm or larger. Use 26111 when the mass is subcutaneous.
- 26117Hand tumor resectionTumor under 3 cm
- 26117 describes radical resection of a hand tumor under 3 cm. Use 26111 for a qualifying-size subcutaneous mass excision that is not a radical resection.
- 26160Tendon sheath excisionHand or finger lesion
- 26160 is for a lesion arising from a tendon sheath; 26111 is for a subcutaneous soft-tissue mass of the hand or finger.
26111 billing questions
When should 26111 be selected instead of 26115?
Use 26111 for a subcutaneous hand or finger mass measuring 1.5 cm or larger. Code 26115 is the corresponding smaller-size service.
How does 26111 differ from 26113?
The key distinction is the tissue plane: 26111 describes a subcutaneous mass, while 26113 is for a deep mass of the qualifying size. The operative report should support the location relative to deeper tissues.
What documentation supports reporting 26111?
Document the hand or finger site, the mass size, its subcutaneous location, and the excision performed. Include the operative findings that distinguish it from a deeper lesion or a radical resection.
Can modifier 50 be reported for bilateral hand masses?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply to this code, and modifier 50 is inappropriate. Apply the multiple-procedure rule when qualifying procedures are performed in the same session.
What is included in the global period?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during the 90 days after surgery.
May an assistant or another surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted for this 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
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