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CPT code 56606: Vulvar biopsy, each additional lesion2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Los Angeles, CA

Reports biopsy sampling of each additional vulvar or perineal lesion after the primary lesion biopsy, such as when several distinct lesions require tissue diagnosis.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality5K Medicare services in 2024

In Los Angeles, CA, Medicare pays $42.11 for 56606 in the office and $25.91 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$42.11Office (non-facility)
$25.91Hospital or facility
+7.8%vs the national office rate ($39.08)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 56606 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 56606 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Los Angeles, CA
  2. What 56606 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 56606 covers

This add-on represents tissue sampling from an additional, distinct lesion of the vulva or perineum after the primary lesion has been biopsied. A gynecologist or another clinician performing vulvar evaluation may obtain the specimen in an office, procedure room, or operating room. The tissue is typically submitted for histopathologic examination to investigate findings such as a persistent lesion or an area of abnormal vulvar tissue.

Report 56606 with the primary biopsy code 56605, not by itself, when a separate additional lesion is sampled. The record should identify the lesions and support that more than one distinct site was biopsied; repeated sampling of the same lesion is not an additional lesion. CMS classifies 56606 as an add-on code: it is billed only with a primary procedure and paid within that procedure's global period. The code does not represent a vulvectomy or removal of a larger area of vulvar tissue.

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 Los Angeles, CA compares for 56606

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 56606 runs from $35.08 in Arkansas to $47.92 in Alaska. Los Angeles, CA pays $42.11. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

56606 in Los Angeles, CA vs other payment areas
  1. Los Angeles, CA · this page$42.11
  2. Bakersfield, CA · California$39.98−$2.13
  3. Chico, CA · California$39.72−$2.39
  4. El Centro, CA · California$39.74−$2.37
  5. Fresno, CA · California$39.72−$2.39
  6. Hanford, CA · California$39.72−$2.39
  7. Madera, CA · California$39.72−$2.39

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

Every other payment area

56606 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Merced, CACalifornia$39.72$24.71
Modesto, CACalifornia$39.72$24.71
Napa, CACalifornia$44.47$26.42
Oxnard, CACalifornia$41.73$25.55
Redding, CACalifornia$39.72$24.71
Rest of CaliforniaCalifornia$39.72$24.71
Riverside, CACalifornia$40.69$25.68
Sacramento, CACalifornia$41.27$25.35

56606 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.

$35.08

$47.92

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

View every state and territory as a table
56606 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$47.921
AL$35.521
AR$35.081
AZ$38.091
CA$39.72–$47.6429
CO$39.791
CT$41.461
DC$43.601
DE$38.651
FL$39.80–$44.413
GA$37.71–$40.032
GU$40.281
HI$40.281
IA$35.731
ID$36.051
IL$39.20–$43.194
IN$36.221
KS$35.861
KY$36.821
LA$36.88–$38.422
MA$39.71–$42.992
MD$39.23–$43.603
ME$36.50–$37.812
MI$37.90–$40.512
MN$37.491
MO$36.51–$38.223
MS$35.791
MT$39.071
NC$36.791
ND$37.291
NE$35.821
NH$39.441
NJ$41.75–$43.312
NM$38.191
NV$38.601
NY$37.28–$46.225
OH$37.531
OK$36.481
OR$38.11–$40.602
PA$37.43–$40.722
PR$39.231
RI$39.691
SC$37.261
SD$37.081
TN$36.051
TX$37.24–$40.238
UT$37.691
VA$37.89–$43.602
VI$39.231
VT$37.411
WA$39.55–$43.532
WI$36.241
WV$38.011
WY$38.301

See 56606 in every payment locality

How the 56606 rate is calculated

Each of 56606’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 · 56606

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.54

0.54 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.54

0.54 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.09

0.09 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

1.1700

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$39.08

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

The exact Los Angeles, CA inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

6,411

Code
56606
Physician work
0.54
Practice expense
0.54
Malpractice
0.09

GPCI2026.csv

13

Locality
Los Angeles, CA
Physician work
1.041
Practice expense
1.183
Malpractice
0.664
Office calculation for 56606 in Los Angeles, CA
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.54× 1.0410.5621
Practice expense0.54× 1.1830.6388
Malpractice0.09× 0.6640.0598
Total RVUs1.2607
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Los Angeles, CA$42.11

Office: (0.54 × 1.041 + 0.54 × 1.183 + 0.09 × 0.664) × $33.4009 = $42.11

Facility: (0.54 × 1.041 + 0.13 × 1.183 + 0.09 × 0.664) × $33.4009 = $25.91

Open 56606 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 56606

The CMS indicators that decide how 56606 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 56606

Vulvar biopsy, each additional lesion

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodZZZAdd-on code: falls within the primary procedure’s global period.
Multiple procedures0No multiple-procedure reduction.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)2Permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

Codes related to 56606

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

Codes related to 56606
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Los Angeles, CA
Primary code
56605Vulvar biopsy, first lesion sampledPrimary vulvar or perineal lesion biopsy that must accompany this additional-lesion code.$102.27
Often billed with
88305Tissue pathology exam, level IV specimenMay represent histopathologic examination of submitted biopsy tissue.$79.17
Used instead
11104Punch biopsy, single skin lesionPunch biopsy code for a skin lesion outside the vulva or perineum.$138.03

How 56606 has changed in Los Angeles, CA

56606 · Office / nonfacility

$42.11

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $2.48 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $39.63 to $42.11 (6.3%).

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

    $39.63changed to$42.11

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.55 changed to 0.54
    • Practice expense RVU 0.50 changed to 0.54
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.09
    • Work GPCI 1.042 changed to 1.041
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.194 changed to 1.183
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.690 changed to 0.664

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $41.02changed to$39.63

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.08

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $40.35changed to$41.02

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $42.41changed to$40.35

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 0.51 changed to 0.50
    • Malpractice RVU 0.10 changed to 0.09
    • Work GPCI 1.045 changed to 1.042
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.185 changed to 1.194
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.724 changed to 0.690

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $42.64changed to$42.41

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 0.50 changed to 0.51
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.10
    • Work GPCI 1.048 changed to 1.045
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.175 changed to 1.185
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.757 changed to 0.724

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $42.99changed to$42.64

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $43.08changed to$42.99

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 0.47 changed to 0.50
    • Work GPCI 1.047 changed to 1.048
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.176 changed to 1.175
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.725 changed to 0.757

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $42.25changed to$43.08

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 0.46 changed to 0.47
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.09
    • Work GPCI 1.046 changed to 1.047
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.177 changed to 1.176
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.694 changed to 0.725

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $41.78changed to$42.25

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 0.45 changed to 0.46

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $41.85changed to$41.78

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Work GPCI 1.047 changed to 1.046
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.169 changed to 1.177
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.801 changed to 0.694

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $41.51changed to$41.85

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 0.44 changed to 0.45
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.161 changed to 1.169
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.908 changed to 0.801

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $41.75changed to$41.51

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 0.45 changed to 0.44
    • Malpractice RVU 0.07 changed to 0.08

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $41.54changed to$41.75

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $41.00changed to$41.54

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 0.44 changed to 0.45
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.07
    • Work GPCI 1.042 changed to 1.047
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.158 changed to 1.161
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.775 changed to 0.908

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $39.98changed to$41.00

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 0.48 changed to 0.44
    • Work GPCI 1.036 changed to 1.042
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.154 changed to 1.158
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.642 changed to 0.775

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. October 1, 2013

    RVU13D

    No ratechanged to$39.98

  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$42.11$25.91RVU26D
2026-07-01$42.11$25.91RVU26C
2026-04-01$42.11$25.91RVU26B
2026-01-01$42.11$25.91RVU26A
2025-10-01$39.63$29.21RVU25D
2025-07-01$39.63$29.21RVU25C
2025-04-01$39.63$29.21RVU25B
2025-01-01$39.63$29.21RVU25A
2024-10-01$41.02$30.29RVU24D
2024-07-01$41.02$30.29RVU24C
2024-04-01$41.02$30.29RVU24B
2024-03-09$41.02$30.29RVU24AR
2024-01-01$40.35$29.79RVU24A
2023-10-01$42.41$31.17RVU23D
2023-07-01$42.41$31.17RVU23C
2023-04-01$42.41$31.17RVU23B
2023-01-01$42.41$31.17RVU23A
2022-10-01$42.64$31.25RVU22D
2022-07-01$42.64$31.25RVU22C
2022-04-01$42.64$31.25RVU22B
2022-01-01$42.64$31.25RVU22A
2021-10-01$42.99$31.51RVU21D
2021-07-01$42.99$31.51RVU21C
2021-04-01$42.99$31.51RVU21B
2021-01-01$42.99$31.51RVU21A
2020-10-01$43.08$32.47RVU20D
2020-07-01$43.08$32.47RVU20C
2020-04-01$43.08$32.47RVU20B
2020-01-01$43.08$32.47RVU20A
2019-10-01$42.25$32.07RVU19D
2019-07-01$42.25$32.07RVU19C
2019-04-01$42.25$32.07RVU19B
2019-01-01$42.25$32.07RVU19A
2018-10-01$41.78$32.03RVU18D
2018-07-01$41.78$32.03RVU18C
2018-04-01$41.78$32.03RVU18B
2018-01-01$41.78$32.03RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$41.85$32.62RVU17D
2017-07-01$41.85$32.62RVU17C
2017-04-01$41.85$32.62RVU17B
2017-01-01$41.85$32.62RVU17A
2016-10-01$41.51$32.36RVU16D
2016-07-01$41.51$32.36RVU16C
2016-04-01$41.51$32.36RVU16B
2016-01-01$41.51$32.36RVU16A
2015-10-01$41.75$32.15RVU15D
2015-07-01$41.75$32.15RVU15C
2015-04-01$41.54$31.99RVU15B
2015-01-01$41.54$31.99RVU15A
2014-10-01$41.00$31.88RVU14D
2014-07-01$41.00$31.88RVU14C
2014-04-01$41.00$31.88RVU14B
2014-01-01$41.00$31.88RVU14A
2013-10-01$39.98$30.56RVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 56606 for an earlier date of service

Where the Los Angeles, CA rate applies

Los Angeles, CA is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 189 cities and communities in California. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Anaheim
  • Long Beach
  • Los Angeles
  • Orange
  • Acton
  • Agoura Hills
  • Agua Dulce
  • Alhambra

Browse all communities in California

56606 billing questions

When should 56606 be used instead of 56605?

Use 56605 for the primary lesion biopsy. Use 56606 for each additional distinct vulvar or perineal lesion biopsied during the service.

Can 56606 be reported by itself?

No. It is an add-on code and must be reported with the primary biopsy procedure, 56605.

What documentation supports an additional lesion?

Document the distinct lesion sites or describe how the sampled areas differ, along with the biopsy performed at each site.

How should units be determined?

Count additional distinct lesions biopsied beyond the primary lesion. Do not count multiple samples from one lesion as additional lesions.

Is a pathology examination included in 56606?

56606 describes the biopsy procedure. Histopathology of submitted tissue is a separate service when performed and reportable by the responsible pathology provider.

Does the add-on code have its own global period?

CMS pays 56606 within the primary procedure's global period; report it only with that primary procedure.

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 56606PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,411 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Los Angeles, CAGPCI2026.csv, line 13 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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