Billing code 11308: Shave removalMedicare rate & RVUs

Report this service for shave removal of one superficial skin lesion larger than 2.0 cm on the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities16.3K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $140.62 for 11308 nationally in the office and $59.79 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $125.98–$183.09.

Medicare rate · 11308

Shave removal

Work RVUs
1.42
Total RVUs
4.21
Global days
000

National rate · 2026

$140.62

Office setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 11308 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

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

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 11308 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 11308 covers

A clinician uses a blade or similar instrument to remove a superficial epidermal or dermal lesion at the skin surface. This code covers a single lesion larger than 2.0 cm on the scalp, neck, hand, foot, or genitalia; common office examples include a broad raised lesion on the scalp or hand. Dermatologists and other clinicians who perform skin procedures commonly provide the service in an office setting.

Choose the code by the lesion’s location and documented diameter, not by the amount of tissue submitted or the number of passes. Record the specific site, size, clinical indication, and removal method; report separate lesions individually. CMS assigns a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; co-surgeon and team-surgery payment 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 11308 pays more and less

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

109 payment localities

$125.98 to $183.09

$125.98$154.53$183.09
One dot per payment locality, office / nonfacility. Hover a dot to see the locality; select it to open that rate.

109 of 109 payment localities

11308 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Alabama$127.63$56.90
Alaska*$168.16$82.07
Arizona$137.24$58.91
Arkansas$125.98$56.55
Atlanta$143.05$60.93
Austin$145.37$59.85
Bakersfield$148.35$59.76
Baltimore/Surr. Cntys$148.89$62.16
Beaumont$132.31$58.76
Brazoria$139.24$59.14

11308 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.

$125.98

$168.16

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

View every state and territory as a table
11308 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$168.161
AL$127.631
AR$125.981
AZ$137.241
CA$147.94–$183.0929
CO$145.921
CT$149.321
DC$159.481
DE$139.351
FL$138.89–$150.903
GA$131.86–$143.052
GU$150.961
HI$150.961
IA$130.451
ID$131.221
IL$135.33–$147.024
IN$131.901
KS$129.931
KY$130.391
LA$130.22–$135.972
MA$145.20–$159.322
MD$141.80–$159.483
ME$131.87–$138.222
MI$133.45–$140.492
MN$140.141
MO$128.24–$136.363
MS$127.131
MT$140.611
NC$133.101
ND$138.041
NE$131.081
NH$143.721
NJ$151.11–$158.122
NM$134.121
NV$139.981
NY$134.89–$164.175
OH$132.921
OK$130.141
OR$138.97–$150.132
PA$133.09–$145.952
PR$141.531
RI$143.981
SC$133.211
SD$137.731
TN$130.521
TX$132.31–$145.378
UT$134.841
VA$137.83–$159.482
VI$141.531
VT$137.581
WA$144.91–$162.362
WI$133.881
WV$130.851
WY$139.491

How the 11308 rate is calculated

Each of 11308’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 · 11308

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Work1.42

1.42 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense2.66

2.66 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.13

0.13 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

4.2100

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$140.62

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

Payment rules and modifiers for 11308

The CMS indicators that decide how 11308 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 11308

Shave removal

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)9The concept doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

11308 without 51 · national office

$140.62

Shave removal

11308-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$70.31

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

11308 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

5 codes, side by side

  • 11308

    Shave removal1.42 wRVU

    $140.62

  • 11307

    Shave removal1.17 wRVU

    $132.27−$8.35

  • 11303

    Shave removal1.22 wRVU

    $147.30+$6.68

  • 11313

    Shave removal1.64 wRVU

    $176.69+$36.07

  • 11102

    Tangential skin biopsy0.64 wRVU

    $95.53−$45.09

How to choose

11307Shave removal
Use 11307 for a lesion in the same anatomic group measuring 1.1 to 2.0 cm; use 11308 when it is larger than 2.0 cm.
11303Shave removal
Both codes cover shave removal of a lesion larger than 2.0 cm, but 11303 is for the trunk, arms, or legs rather than the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia.
11313Shave removal
Both codes cover shave removal of a lesion larger than 2.0 cm, but 11313 is for the face, ears, eyelids, nose, or lips.
11102Tangential skin biopsy
11102 describes a tangential skin biopsy of one lesion for diagnostic sampling; 11308 describes shave removal of a lesion over 2.0 cm at the specified sites.

11308 billing questions

Which sites qualify for this code?

Use it for a lesion over 2.0 cm on the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia. For the same size lesion on the trunk, arms, or legs, compare 11303; for the face, ears, eyelids, nose, or lips, compare 11313.

How is the lesion size selected?

Document the lesion’s diameter and select the size level that matches the service performed. This code is for a single lesion larger than 2.0 cm.

Can a shave removal and a skin biopsy be reported for the same lesion?

The distinction is whether the procedure removes the lesion or samples it for diagnosis. Do not report both services for the same lesion when they describe the same work.

How many units should be reported for multiple lesions?

The code describes removal of one lesion, so document each lesion’s location and size when reporting multiple removals. CMS applies the standard multiple-procedure reduction to additional procedures performed in the same session.

Does the 0-day global period include a follow-up visit?

Same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. The code does not include a global period extending to later dates.

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 11308PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,299 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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