CPT code 57522: LEEP conization, loop electrode excision2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $300.61 for 57522 nationally in the office and $231.47 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $267.73–$374.41.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 57522 covers

A gynecologist uses an electrically energized wire loop to remove a cone-shaped section of cervical tissue. The specimen allows histologic evaluation while removing the targeted abnormal area. This procedure is commonly performed for high-grade cervical dysplasia, such as biopsy-confirmed CIN 2 or CIN 3, in an office procedure room, ambulatory surgery center, or hospital outpatient setting. The excised tissue is submitted for examination.

Select this code when the documented excision uses a loop electrode; a cold-knife or laser cone is reported differently. The operative note should support the indication, loop-electrode method, and tissue removed. The 90-day global period includes 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 others are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery; 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 57522 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

57522 rates by state

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

How the 57522 rate is calculated

Each of 57522’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 57522

57522 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 51

57522 compared with similar codes

How to choose

57520Cervical coneNon-loop excision

Both describe cervical conization, but 57522 is selected for loop-electrode excision; 57520 represents a different conization method.

57500Cervical biopsyTissue sampling or lesion excision

A cervical biopsy samples tissue; 57522 removes a cone-shaped section using a loop electrode.

57513Cervical laserLaser ablation

Code 57513 describes laser surgery of the cervix, a different technique from loop-electrode excision.

Codes related to 57522

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

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates