CPT code 30124: Nasal lesion removal, external approach2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Removal of a lesion on the external nose through an operative approach, reported for excision rather than intranasal treatment or biopsy alone.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 30124 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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What 30124 covers
This service removes a lesion arising on the external nose, such as one on the nasal dorsum or ala. Otolaryngologists and facial plastic surgeons commonly perform it in an office procedure room or operating room, depending on the lesion and planned anesthesia. It is distinct from treatment directed into the nasal cavity, including removal of intranasal lesions or nasal polyps.
Select this code when the operative record supports excision of an external nasal lesion rather than biopsy alone or intranasal treatment. Document the lesion’s location, the approach, and the work performed to distinguish it from a more involved external-lesion procedure. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment is barred by statutory restriction; 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 30124 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 | $287.36 |
| Beaumont, TX | Unavailable | $264.07 |
| Brazoria, TX | Unavailable | $275.65 |
| Dallas, TX | Unavailable | $277.73 |
| Fort Worth, TX | Unavailable | $276.32 |
| Galveston, TX | Unavailable | $276.69 |
| Houston, TX | Unavailable | $284.93 |
| Rest of Texas | Unavailable | $269.93 |
How the 30124 rate is calculated
Each of 30124’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 · 30124
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work3.12
3.12 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense4.80
4.80 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.45
0.45 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
8.3700
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$279.57
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 30124
30124 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 30124
Nasal lesion removal, external approach
| 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) | 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) | 0.10/0.76/0.14 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 30124
Nasal lesion removal, external approach
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
30124 without 51 · national facility
$279.57
Nasal lesion removal, external approach
30124-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$139.79
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%).
30124 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 30125Nasal lesion excisionExtensive, involving cartilage or bone
- Both address external nasal lesions. Choose 30125 when the documented procedure meets its criteria for a more complicated excision; use 30124 for the less complicated service.
- 30117Intranasal lesion removalInternal approach
- 30117 addresses an intranasal lesion approached internally. Use 30124 for a lesion on the external nose.
- 30118Nasal lesion removalExternal approach
- 30118 treats a lesion located within the nasal cavity through an external approach. In 30124, the lesion itself is external.
- 30100Nasal biopsyIntranasal tissue sampling
- 30100 is for biopsy of an intranasal lesion. Use 30124 when an external nasal lesion is excised rather than sampled for diagnosis.
30124 billing questions
How does this differ from 30125?
Both concern external nasal lesion removal. Use 30125 when the documented procedure meets that code’s criteria for a more complicated excision.
Can this code report removal of a lesion inside the nasal cavity?
No. It describes an external nasal lesion; codes such as 30117 or 30118 address intranasal lesions, with the approach helping distinguish those services.
Should modifier 50 be added when lesions are removed from both sides of the nose?
No. CMS identifies modifier 50 as inappropriate for this code.
How does the multiple-procedure reduction affect payment?
When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the remaining procedures are paid at 50%.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is barred by statutory restriction. 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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