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CPT code 46220: Anal tag excision, single external tag2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Alabama

Reports excision of one external anal skin tag or papilla when the treated tissue is a tag rather than hemorrhoidal disease.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality991 Medicare services in 2024

In Alabama, Medicare pays $244.67 for 46220 in the office and $108.19 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$244.67Office (non-facility)
$108.19Hospital or facility
−11.2%vs the national office rate ($275.56)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 46220 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 46220 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Alabama
  2. What 46220 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 46220 covers

A clinician removes one external anal skin tag or hypertrophied anal papilla, typically to address irritation, hygiene difficulty, or discomfort. Colorectal and general surgeons commonly perform the procedure in an office or outpatient setting, with the site examined and the lesion excised. The operative note should identify the external lesion and document that one tag or papilla was removed, rather than describing treatment of hemorrhoids or an anal fissure.

Report this code for a single external tag; use the multiple-tag code when more than one is excised. Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included. 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 multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service, 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 Alabama compares for 46220

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 46220 runs from $240.77 in Arkansas to $371.17 in San Benito County, CA. Alabama pays $244.67. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

46220 in Alabama vs other payment areas
  1. Alabama · this page$244.67
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$313.51+$68.84
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$317.47+$72.80
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$299.12+$54.45
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$289.54+$44.87
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$319.17+$74.50
  7. Alaska · Alaska$311.30+$66.63

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

Every other payment area

46220 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$240.77$106.78
ArizonaArizona$267.55$116.40
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$293.26$122.30
Chico, CACalifornia$292.44$121.49
El Centro, CACalifornia$292.49$121.54
Fresno, CACalifornia$292.44$121.49
Hanford, CACalifornia$292.44$121.49
Madera, CACalifornia$292.44$121.49

46220 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.

$240.77

$331.81

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

View every state and territory as a table
46220 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$311.301
AL$244.671
AR$240.771
AZ$267.551
CA$292.44–$371.1729
CO$287.731
CT$295.071
DC$317.471
DE$272.281
FL$271.04–$299.123
GA$254.37–$281.082
GU$300.721
HI$300.721
IA$251.571
ID$253.381
IL$262.44–$289.544
IN$255.001
KS$250.261
KY$251.041
LA$250.61–$264.282
MA$285.74–$318.052
MD$277.85–$317.473
ME$254.82–$270.062
MI$258.24–$274.732
MN$274.931
MO$245.85–$265.333
MS$243.361
MT$275.541
NC$257.761
ND$269.801
NE$253.101
NH$283.101
NJ$298.23–$313.672
NM$259.791
NV$274.151
NY$262.01–$327.555
OH$257.071
OK$250.561
OR$271.83–$297.612
PA$257.52–$287.122
PR$277.761
RI$282.551
SC$257.881
SD$269.131
TN$251.651
TX$255.66–$286.948
UT$261.761
VA$269.08–$317.472
VI$277.761
VT$268.641
WA$285.24–$324.862
WI$259.891
WV$251.771
WY$273.041

See 46220 in every payment locality

How the 46220 rate is calculated

Each of 46220’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 · 46220

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work1.57

1.57 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense6.39

6.39 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.29

0.29 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

8.2500

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$275.56

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

The exact Alabama inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

5,580

Code
46220
Physician work
1.57
Practice expense
6.39
Malpractice
0.29

GPCI2026.csv

4

Locality
Alabama
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.875
Malpractice
0.566
Office calculation for 46220 in Alabama
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work1.57× 1.0001.5700
Practice expense6.39× 0.8755.5912
Malpractice0.29× 0.5660.1641
Total RVUs7.3254
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Alabama$244.67

Office: (1.57 × 1 + 6.39 × 0.875 + 0.29 × 0.566) × $33.4009 = $244.67

Facility: (1.57 × 1 + 1.72 × 0.875 + 0.29 × 0.566) × $33.4009 = $108.19

Open 46220 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 46220

46220 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 46220

Anal tag excision, single external tag

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period010Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 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)0.10/0.80/0.10Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 46220

Anal tag excision, single external tag

10-day global period ends

Oct 11, 2026

Covers Oct 1, 2026 through Oct 11, 2026 (11 days).

Visit on Oct 31, 2026

After the global period ends: visits and procedures are billed normally.

SurgeryVisit
Sep 28, 2026Oct 14, 2026

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

46220 without 51 · national office

$275.56

Anal tag excision, single external tag

46220-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$137.78

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 46220

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

Codes related to 46220
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Alabama
Same family
46230Anal tag excision, multiple tagsUsed for excision of multiple external anal tags rather than a single tag.$305.26
Used instead
46250Hemorrhoidectomy, external, two or more groupsUse for excision of multiple external hemorrhoid groups, not isolated skin tags.$478.27
46255Hemorrhoidectomy, one internal and external groupUse when the operative target is one internal or external hemorrhoid group.$519.05

How 46220 has changed in Alabama

46220 · Office / nonfacility

$244.67

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $30.63 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $214.04 to $244.67 (14.3%).

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

    $214.04changed to$244.67

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 1.61 changed to 1.57
    • Practice expense RVU 5.57 changed to 6.39
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.869 changed to 0.875
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.575 changed to 0.566

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $222.77changed to$214.04

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 5.65 changed to 5.57
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.29

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $219.14changed to$222.77

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $230.91changed to$219.14

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 5.68 changed to 5.65
    • Malpractice RVU 0.29 changed to 0.30
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.878 changed to 0.869
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.748 changed to 0.575

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $240.74changed to$230.91

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 5.72 changed to 5.68
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.888 changed to 0.878
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.921 changed to 0.748

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $235.28changed to$240.74

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 5.49 changed to 5.72
    • Malpractice RVU 0.28 changed to 0.29

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $214.44changed to$235.28

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 4.65 changed to 5.49
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.889 changed to 0.888
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.707 changed to 0.921

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $201.44changed to$214.44

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 4.30 changed to 4.65
    • Malpractice RVU 0.31 changed to 0.28
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.890 changed to 0.889
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.492 changed to 0.707

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $192.39changed to$201.44

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 4.03 changed to 4.30
    • Malpractice RVU 0.30 changed to 0.31

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. April 1, 2018

    RVU18B

    No ratechanged to$192.39

    Held through RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D, RVU14A, RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D, RVU15A, RVU15B, RVU15C, RVU15D, RVU16A, RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D, RVU17A, RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D, RVU18AR1.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$244.67$108.19RVU26D
2026-07-01$244.67$108.19RVU26C
2026-04-01$244.67$108.19RVU26B
2026-01-01$244.67$108.19RVU26A
2025-10-01$214.04$108.07RVU25D
2025-07-01$214.04$108.07RVU25C
2025-04-01$214.04$108.07RVU25B
2025-01-01$214.04$108.07RVU25A
2024-10-01$222.77$110.54RVU24D
2024-07-01$222.77$110.54RVU24C
2024-04-01$222.77$110.54RVU24B
2024-03-09$222.77$110.54RVU24AR
2024-01-01$219.14$108.73RVU24A
2023-10-01$230.91$113.68RVU23D
2023-07-01$230.91$113.68RVU23C
2023-04-01$230.91$113.68RVU23B
2023-01-01$230.91$113.68RVU23A
2022-10-01$240.74$116.89RVU22D
2022-07-01$240.74$116.89RVU22C
2022-04-01$240.74$116.89RVU22B
2022-01-01$240.74$116.89RVU22A
2021-10-01$235.28$116.30RVU21D
2021-07-01$235.28$116.30RVU21C
2021-04-01$235.28$116.30RVU21B
2021-01-01$235.28$116.30RVU21A
2020-10-01$214.44$114.66RVU20D
2020-07-01$214.44$114.66RVU20C
2020-04-01$214.44$114.66RVU20B
2020-01-01$214.44$114.66RVU20A
2019-10-01$201.44$112.27RVU19D
2019-07-01$201.44$112.27RVU19C
2019-04-01$201.44$112.27RVU19B
2019-01-01$201.44$112.27RVU19A
2018-10-01$192.39$111.65RVU18D
2018-07-01$192.39$111.65RVU18C
2018-04-01$192.39$111.65RVU18B
2018-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU18AR1
2017-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17D
2017-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17C
2017-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17B
2017-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17A
2016-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16D
2016-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16C
2016-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16B
2016-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16A
2015-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15D
2015-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15C
2015-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15B
2015-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15A
2014-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14D
2014-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14C
2014-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14B
2014-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14A
2013-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 46220 for an earlier date of service

Where the Alabama rate applies

Alabama is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 595 cities and communities in Alabama. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Abanda
  • Abbeville
  • Adamsville
  • Addison
  • Akron
  • Alabaster
  • Albertville
  • Alexander City

Browse all communities in Alabama

46220 billing questions

When should this code be chosen over 46230?

Use this code when one external anal tag or papilla is excised. Use 46230 when multiple external tags are removed.

Can this code be reported for hemorrhoid removal?

No. It describes excision of an external tag or papilla, not hemorrhoidal tissue. Select the hemorrhoid procedure that matches the documented disease and operative treatment.

Are related postoperative visits separately reported?

Visits related to the procedure during its 10-day global period are included.

Should modifier 50 be appended for tags on both sides?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.

How does Medicare handle another procedure performed in the same session?

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service, and 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 46220PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,580 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for AlabamaGPCI2026.csv, line 4 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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