Billing code 17270: Lesion destructionMedicare rate & RVUs
Reports destruction of a malignant skin lesion measuring 0.5 cm or less on the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia.
Medicare pays $146.96 for 17270 nationally in the office and $81.16 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $131.06–$193.13.
Medicare rate · 17270
Lesion destruction
- Work RVUs
- 1.34
- Total RVUs
- 4.40
- Global days
- 010
National rate · 2026
$146.96
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 17270 →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
What 17270 covers
This service treats a small malignant skin lesion by destroying the tissue rather than removing it intact. A dermatologist or other qualified clinician may use methods such as cryosurgery, electrosurgery, laser, chemical destruction, or curettage. Common settings include the office and hospital outpatient department. The site must be the scalp, neck, hand, foot, or genitalia, and the lesion must measure 0.5 cm or less.
Select the code for each treated lesion using its anatomic site and diameter; document the malignant diagnosis, site, measurement, and destruction method. Related postoperative visits are included in the 10-day global period. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery, 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.
Where 17270 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
$131.06 to $193.13
109 of 109 payment localities
17270 rates by state
Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.
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Local rates. Clear comparisons.
Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.
$131.06
$174.12
Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.
View every state and territory as a table
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | $173.75 | 1 |
| AL | $132.85 | 1 |
| AR | $131.06 | 1 |
| AZ | $143.30 | 1 |
| CA | $155.11–$193.13 | 29 |
| CO | $152.81 | 1 |
| CT | $156.31 | 1 |
| DC | $167.29 | 1 |
| DE | $145.57 | 1 |
| FL | $144.84–$157.62 | 3 |
| GA | $137.23–$149.54 | 2 |
| GU | $158.54 | 1 |
| HI | $158.54 | 1 |
| IA | $136.03 | 1 |
| ID | $136.85 | 1 |
| IL | $140.89–$153.39 | 4 |
| IN | $137.59 | 1 |
| KS | $135.42 | 1 |
| KY | $135.73 | 1 |
| LA | $135.53–$141.78 | 2 |
| MA | $151.99–$167.31 | 2 |
| MD | $148.23–$167.29 | 3 |
| ME | $137.49–$144.48 | 2 |
| MI | $139.01–$146.52 | 2 |
| MN | $146.75 | 1 |
| MO | $133.35–$142.28 | 3 |
| MS | $132.23 | 1 |
| MT | $146.96 | 1 |
| NC | $138.84 | 1 |
| ND | $144.38 | 1 |
| NE | $136.73 | 1 |
| NH | $150.43 | 1 |
| NJ | $158.18–$165.74 | 2 |
| NM | $139.71 | 1 |
| NV | $146.34 | 1 |
| NY | $140.78–$172.05 | 5 |
| OH | $138.48 | 1 |
| OK | $135.52 | 1 |
| OR | $145.28–$157.43 | 2 |
| PA | $138.70–$152.62 | 2 |
| PR | $147.98 | 1 |
| RI | $150.57 | 1 |
| SC | $138.87 | 1 |
| SD | $144.08 | 1 |
| TN | $136.05 | 1 |
| TX | $137.85–$152.23 | 8 |
| UT | $140.65 | 1 |
| VA | $144.02–$167.29 | 2 |
| VI | $147.98 | 1 |
| VT | $143.84 | 1 |
| WA | $151.69–$170.62 | 2 |
| WI | $139.85 | 1 |
| WV | $136.02 | 1 |
| WY | $145.84 | 1 |
How the 17270 rate is calculated
Each of 17270’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 · 17270
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.34
1.34 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense2.93
2.93 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.13
0.13 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
4.4000
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$146.96
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 17270
17270 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 17270
Lesion destruction
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 010 | Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 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) | 0.10/0.80/0.10 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 17270
Lesion destruction
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.
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
17270 without 51 · national office
$146.96
Lesion destruction
17270-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$73.48
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%).
17270 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 17260Skin lesion destruction
- Both cover malignant lesions 0.5 cm or less, but 17260 applies to the trunk, arms, or legs; 17270 applies to the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia.
- 17271Lesion destruction
- Use 17271 for a lesion in the same anatomic group when its diameter is 0.6–1.0 cm. Code 17270 is limited to 0.5 cm or less.
- 17280Lesion destruction
- 17280 covers destruction of lesions 0.5 cm or less on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membrane, rather than the sites assigned to 17270.
- 11620Skin excision
- Both address small malignant lesions at the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia. Use 11620 when the lesion is excised; use 17270 when it is destroyed.
17270 billing questions
How is this code distinguished from 17260?
Both codes cover destruction of a malignant lesion measuring 0.5 cm or less, but 17270 is for the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia. Code 17260 is for the trunk, arms, or legs.
Does the lesion need to be malignant?
Yes. This code is for destruction of a malignant skin lesion, not a benign lesion or granulation tissue.
What documentation supports the code and units?
Document the malignant diagnosis, each lesion’s anatomic site and diameter, and the method used to destroy it. Select the code for each lesion based on its own site and size.
Can modifier 50 be used for lesions on both sides?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code. Code the treated lesions according to their individual sites and sizes.
Are related postoperative visits separately payable?
Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in this minor procedure’s payment.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be paid for this procedure?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this code. 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
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