CPT code 26115: Hand mass excision, subcutaneous, under 1.5 cm2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Minnesota

Reports surgical removal of a subcutaneous soft-tissue lesion of the hand or finger when the excised lesion measures less than 1.5 cm.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality5.5K Medicare services in 2024

In Minnesota, Medicare pays $583.15 for 26115 in the office and $308.53 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$583.15Office (non-facility)
$308.53Hospital or facility
−0.9%vs the national office rate ($588.19)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 26115 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 26115 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Minnesota
  2. What 26115 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 26115 covers

A surgeon removes a small soft-tissue mass located beneath the skin of the hand or a finger. The code fits a superficial lesion, such as a discrete subcutaneous nodule, rather than a mass extending into deeper structures. Hand and orthopedic surgeons commonly perform the procedure in an operating room or ambulatory surgery setting; the operative report should identify the site, tissue depth, lesion size, and extent of removal.

Select this code when the lesion is subcutaneous and under 1.5 cm; a lesion at least 1.5 cm or one involving deeper tissue belongs to a different code in the excision family. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure 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 Minnesota compares for 26115

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 26115 runs from $514.82 in Arkansas to $782.67 in San Benito County, CA. Minnesota pays $583.15. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

26115 in Minnesota vs other payment areas
  1. Minnesota · this page$583.15
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$664.52+$81.37
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$675.27+$92.12
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$644.30+$61.15
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$623.70+$40.55
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$681.46+$98.31
  7. Alaska · Alaska$669.63+$86.48

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

Every other payment area

26115 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaAlabama$523.04$289.53
ArkansasArkansas$514.82$285.57
ArizonaArizona$571.12$312.52
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$622.53$330.04
Chico, CACalifornia$620.44$327.95
El Centro, CACalifornia$620.57$328.07
Fresno, CACalifornia$620.44$327.95
Hanford, CACalifornia$620.44$327.95

26115 rates by state

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

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.

$514.82

$701.56

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

View every state and territory as a table
26115 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$669.631
AL$523.041
AR$514.821
AZ$571.121
CA$620.44–$782.6729
CO$612.041
CT$629.461
DC$675.271
DE$581.091
FL$581.69–$644.303
GA$546.10–$600.562
GU$637.131
HI$637.131
IA$536.181
ID$540.251
IL$564.52–$623.704
IN$543.621
KS$534.081
KY$537.861
LA$537.20–$565.982
MA$608.18–$674.962
MD$592.64–$675.273
ME$543.98–$575.042
MI$553.64–$590.182
MN$583.151
MO$527.62–$567.403
MS$521.301
MT$588.141
NC$550.051
ND$573.311
NE$539.171
NH$602.861
NJ$635.72–$667.492
NM$557.191
NV$584.441
NY$559.04–$699.985
OH$550.611
OK$536.141
OR$579.01–$632.042
PA$551.21–$613.152
PR$592.591
RI$602.261
SC$551.431
SD$571.561
TN$537.081
TX$547.33–$610.788
UT$559.581
VA$573.44–$675.272
VI$592.591
VT$571.471
WA$606.89–$688.622
WI$552.621
WV$542.101
WY$581.681

See 26115 in every payment locality

How the 26115 rate is calculated

Each of 26115’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 · 26115

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work3.86

3.86 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense13.00

13.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.75

0.75 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

17.6100

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$588.19

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

The exact Minnesota inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

2,547

Code
26115
Physician work
3.86
Practice expense
13.00
Malpractice
0.75

GPCI2026.csv

66

Locality
Minnesota
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
1.029
Malpractice
0.296
Office calculation for 26115 in Minnesota
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work3.86× 1.0003.8600
Practice expense13.00× 1.02913.3770
Malpractice0.75× 0.2960.2220
Total RVUs17.4590
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Minnesota$583.15

Office: (3.86 × 1 + 13 × 1.029 + 0.75 × 0.296) × $33.4009 = $583.15

Facility: (3.86 × 1 + 5.01 × 1.029 + 0.75 × 0.296) × $33.4009 = $308.53

Open 26115 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 26115

26115 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 26115

Hand mass excision, subcutaneous, under 1.5 cm

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period090Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 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)0.10/0.69/0.21Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 26115

Hand mass excision, subcutaneous, under 1.5 cm

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.

  • 24Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78Unplanned return to the operating room for a related complication
SurgeryVisit
Sep 23, 2026Jan 10, 2027

Pre-op dayGlobal period

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

26115 without 51 · national office

$588.19

Hand mass excision, subcutaneous, under 1.5 cm

26115-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$294.10

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

How 26115 has changed in Minnesota

26115 · Office / nonfacility

$583.15

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $54.99 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $528.16 to $583.15 (10.4%).

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

    $528.16changed to$583.15

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 3.96 changed to 3.86
    • Practice expense RVU 11.85 changed to 13.00
    • Malpractice RVU 0.74 changed to 0.75
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.025 changed to 1.029
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.300 changed to 0.296

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $546.70changed to$528.16

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 11.94 changed to 11.85
    • Malpractice RVU 0.75 changed to 0.74

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $537.77changed to$546.70

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $555.59changed to$537.77

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 11.97 changed to 11.94
    • Malpractice RVU 0.73 changed to 0.75
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.019 changed to 1.025
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.326 changed to 0.300
  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $562.42changed to$555.59

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 11.88 changed to 11.97
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.013 changed to 1.019
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.353 changed to 0.326

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $562.95changed to$562.42

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 11.77 changed to 11.88
    • Malpractice RVU 0.71 changed to 0.73

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $538.34changed to$562.95

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 10.58 changed to 11.77
    • Malpractice RVU 0.70 changed to 0.71
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.012 changed to 1.013
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.357 changed to 0.353

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $522.42changed to$538.34

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 10.16 changed to 10.58
    • Malpractice RVU 0.73 changed to 0.70
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.011 changed to 1.012
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.362 changed to 0.357

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $506.56changed to$522.42

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 9.74 changed to 10.16

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $502.92changed to$506.56

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 9.65 changed to 9.74
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.016 changed to 1.011
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.341 changed to 0.362

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $501.93changed to$502.92

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 9.63 changed to 9.65
    • Malpractice RVU 0.74 changed to 0.73
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.020 changed to 1.016
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.319 changed to 0.341

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $504.47changed to$501.93

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 9.65 changed to 9.63

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $501.96changed to$504.47

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $494.95changed to$501.96

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 9.50 changed to 9.65
    • Malpractice RVU 0.68 changed to 0.74
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.016 changed to 1.020
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.301 changed to 0.319

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $504.45changed to$494.95

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 10.54 changed to 9.50
    • Malpractice RVU 0.71 changed to 0.68
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.012 changed to 1.016
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.282 changed to 0.301

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. October 1, 2013

    RVU13D

    No ratechanged to$504.45

  17. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$583.15$308.53RVU26D
2026-07-01$583.15$308.53RVU26C
2026-04-01$583.15$308.53RVU26B
2026-01-01$583.15$308.53RVU26A
2025-10-01$528.16$321.94RVU25D
2025-07-01$528.16$321.94RVU25C
2025-04-01$528.16$321.94RVU25B
2025-01-01$528.16$321.94RVU25A
2024-10-01$546.70$326.63RVU24D
2024-07-01$546.70$326.63RVU24C
2024-04-01$546.70$326.63RVU24B
2024-03-09$546.70$326.63RVU24AR
2024-01-01$537.77$321.29RVU24A
2023-10-01$555.59$327.69RVU23D
2023-07-01$555.59$327.69RVU23C
2023-04-01$555.59$327.69RVU23B
2023-01-01$555.59$327.69RVU23A
2022-10-01$562.42$326.85RVU22D
2022-07-01$562.42$326.85RVU22C
2022-04-01$562.42$326.85RVU22B
2022-01-01$562.42$326.85RVU22A
2021-10-01$562.95$327.54RVU21D
2021-07-01$562.95$327.54RVU21C
2021-04-01$562.95$327.54RVU21B
2021-01-01$562.95$327.54RVU21A
2020-10-01$538.34$329.07RVU20D
2020-07-01$538.34$329.07RVU20C
2020-04-01$538.34$329.07RVU20B
2020-01-01$538.34$329.07RVU20A
2019-10-01$522.42$328.95RVU19D
2019-07-01$522.42$328.95RVU19C
2019-04-01$522.42$328.95RVU19B
2019-01-01$522.42$328.95RVU19A
2018-10-01$506.56$329.68RVU18D
2018-07-01$506.56$329.68RVU18C
2018-04-01$506.56$329.68RVU18B
2018-01-01$506.56$329.68RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$502.92$327.17RVU17D
2017-07-01$502.92$327.17RVU17C
2017-04-01$502.92$327.17RVU17B
2017-01-01$502.92$327.17RVU17A
2016-10-01$501.93$326.27RVU16D
2016-07-01$501.93$326.27RVU16C
2016-04-01$501.93$326.27RVU16B
2016-01-01$501.93$326.27RVU16A
2015-10-01$504.47$327.08RVU15D
2015-07-01$504.47$327.08RVU15C
2015-04-01$501.96$325.45RVU15B
2015-01-01$501.96$325.45RVU15A
2014-10-01$494.95$322.80RVU14D
2014-07-01$494.95$322.80RVU14C
2014-04-01$494.95$322.80RVU14B
2014-01-01$494.95$322.80RVU14A
2013-10-01$504.45$321.27RVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 26115 for an earlier date of service

Where the Minnesota rate applies

Minnesota is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 916 cities and communities in Minnesota. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Ada
  • Adams
  • Adrian
  • Afton
  • Aitkin
  • Akeley
  • Albany
  • Albert Lea

Browse all communities in Minnesota

26115 billing questions

How does this code differ from 26111?

Both describe excision of a subcutaneous hand or finger lesion. Use 26115 when the lesion is under 1.5 cm and 26111 when it is 1.5 cm or larger.

When is 26116 a better fit?

26116 is for a lesion in deeper soft tissue measuring under 1.5 cm. The operative report should support whether the mass was subcutaneous or deep.

Can the related postoperative visits be billed separately?

Related postoperative care during the 90-day global period is included, as is the day-before preoperative visit. Care unrelated to the operation is outside that stated global package.

Should modifier 50 be appended for lesions on both hands?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inapplicable to this code, so modifier 50 is inappropriate.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service. 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
RVUs for 26115PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,547 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for MinnesotaGPCI2026.csv, line 66 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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