Billing code 17282: Lesion destructionMedicare rate & RVUs
Destruction of a malignant skin lesion measuring 1.1–2.0 cm on the face, ear, eyelid, nose, lip, or mucous membrane.
Medicare pays $200.41 for 17282 nationally in the office and $113.90 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $179.46–$260.31.
Medicare rate · 17282
Lesion destruction
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
- Work RVUs
- 2.04
- Total RVUs
- 6.00
- Global days
- 010
National rate · 2026
$200.41
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 17282 → · 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 17282 covers
This service covers destruction of a malignant lesion in the specified size range at the face, ear, eyelid, nose, lip, or mucous membrane. A dermatologist or other qualified physician may use electrosurgery, cryosurgery, laser, or another destructive technique for a selected basal or squamous cell carcinoma. The procedure is commonly performed in an office, though facility settings also occur.
Select the code using the lesion’s diameter and anatomic site; document the diagnosis, measured size, location, and method. 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 others are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay for 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 17282 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
$179.46 to $260.31
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $181.81 | $106.11 |
| Alaska* | $239.64 | $147.51 |
| Arizona | $195.55 | $111.72 |
| Arkansas | $179.46 | $105.15 |
| Atlanta | $203.96 | $116.07 |
| Austin | $207.06 | $115.54 |
| Bakersfield | $211.14 | $116.33 |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $212.25 | $119.42 |
| Beaumont | $188.63 | $109.91 |
| Brazoria | $198.35 | $112.62 |
| Chicago | $210.16 | $123.22 |
| Chico | $210.52 | $115.71 |
| Colorado | $207.80 | $115.75 |
| Connecticut | $212.84 | $119.67 |
| Dallas | $199.57 | $113.41 |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $227.19 | $125.29 |
| Delaware | $198.56 | $113.09 |
| Detroit | $200.59 | $117.11 |
| East St. Louis | $197.13 | $117.54 |
| El Centro | $210.55 | $115.74 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $207.44 | $119.80 |
| Fort Worth | $198.40 | $113.10 |
| Fresno | $210.52 | $115.71 |
| Galveston | $198.92 | $113.02 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $210.52 | $115.71 |
| Hawaii, Guam | $214.80 | $116.44 |
| Houston | $202.58 | $116.68 |
| Idaho | $186.84 | $107.25 |
| Indiana | $187.80 | $107.61 |
| Iowa | $185.70 | $106.55 |
| Kansas | $185.04 | $106.83 |
| Kentucky | $185.90 | $108.99 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $223.94 | $121.60 |
| Madera | $210.52 | $115.71 |
| Manhattan | $229.03 | $128.50 |
| Merced | $210.52 | $115.71 |
| Metropolitan Boston | $226.83 | $123.54 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $192.59 | $111.36 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $208.07 | $118.02 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $194.39 | $112.03 |
| Miami | $215.77 | $125.71 |
| Minnesota | $199.34 | $110.33 |
| Mississippi | $181.21 | $106.72 |
| Modesto | $210.52 | $115.71 |
| Montana** | $200.39 | $113.88 |
| Napa | $241.35 | $127.33 |
| Nebraska | $186.58 | $106.73 |
| Nevada** | $199.42 | $112.82 |
| New Hampshire | $204.72 | $114.66 |
| New Mexico | $191.32 | $112.00 |
| New Orleans | $193.90 | $112.50 |
| North Carolina | $189.58 | $108.87 |
| North Dakota** | $196.44 | $109.93 |
| Northern Nj | $225.25 | $124.90 |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $234.23 | $131.37 |
| Ohio | $189.53 | $110.55 |
| Oklahoma | $185.48 | $108.23 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $222.65 | $120.40 |
| Portland | $213.73 | $117.61 |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $216.81 | $122.08 |
| Puerto Rico | $201.69 | $114.23 |
| Queens | $230.58 | $128.32 |
| Redding | $210.52 | $115.71 |
| Rest Of California | $210.52 | $115.71 |
| Rest Of Florida | $198.24 | $115.54 |
| Rest Of Georgia | $188.12 | $110.96 |
| Rest Of Illinois | $193.24 | $114.26 |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $185.68 | $109.12 |
| Rest Of Maine | $187.83 | $108.25 |
| Rest Of Maryland | $202.05 | $114.50 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $206.80 | $115.70 |
| Rest Of Michigan | $190.34 | $111.36 |
| Rest Of Missouri | $182.90 | $108.33 |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $215.33 | $120.87 |
| Rest Of New York | $192.14 | $109.96 |
| Rest Of Oregon | $197.92 | $111.76 |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $189.74 | $110.33 |
| Rest Of Texas | $193.35 | $111.26 |
| Rest Of Washington | $206.35 | $115.26 |
| Rhode Island | $205.12 | $115.76 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $212.71 | $117.89 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $220.23 | $119.62 |
| Salinas | $219.39 | $119.12 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $224.01 | $120.54 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $254.76 | $132.78 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $254.53 | $132.55 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $260.31 | $135.57 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $259.38 | $134.64 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $215.92 | $117.39 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $225.74 | $120.63 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $220.06 | $119.19 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $227.98 | $121.75 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $231.10 | $124.95 |
| South Carolina | $189.86 | $109.93 |
| South Dakota** | $195.97 | $109.46 |
| Southern Maine | $196.81 | $111.08 |
| Stockton | $210.52 | $115.71 |
| Suburban Chicago | $209.43 | $120.59 |
| Tennessee | $185.88 | $107.25 |
| Utah | $192.19 | $110.87 |
| Vallejo | $241.02 | $127.00 |
| Vermont | $195.85 | $110.21 |
| Virgin Islands | $201.69 | $114.23 |
| Virginia | $196.31 | $111.27 |
| Visalia | $210.52 | $115.71 |
| West Virginia | $186.83 | $111.66 |
| Wisconsin | $190.51 | $107.63 |
| Wyoming** | $198.67 | $112.16 |
| Yuba City | $210.52 | $115.71 |
17282 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.
$179.46
$239.64
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 | $239.64 | 1 |
| AL | $181.81 | 1 |
| AR | $179.46 | 1 |
| AZ | $195.55 | 1 |
| CA | $210.52–$260.31 | 29 |
| CO | $207.80 | 1 |
| CT | $212.84 | 1 |
| DC | $227.19 | 1 |
| DE | $198.56 | 1 |
| FL | $198.24–$215.77 | 3 |
| GA | $188.12–$203.96 | 2 |
| GU | $214.80 | 1 |
| HI | $214.80 | 1 |
| IA | $185.70 | 1 |
| ID | $186.84 | 1 |
| IL | $193.24–$210.16 | 4 |
| IN | $187.80 | 1 |
| KS | $185.04 | 1 |
| KY | $185.90 | 1 |
| LA | $185.68–$193.90 | 2 |
| MA | $206.80–$226.83 | 2 |
| MD | $202.05–$227.19 | 3 |
| ME | $187.83–$196.81 | 2 |
| MI | $190.34–$200.59 | 2 |
| MN | $199.34 | 1 |
| MO | $182.90–$194.39 | 3 |
| MS | $181.21 | 1 |
| MT | $200.39 | 1 |
| NC | $189.58 | 1 |
| ND | $196.44 | 1 |
| NE | $186.58 | 1 |
| NH | $204.72 | 1 |
| NJ | $215.33–$225.25 | 2 |
| NM | $191.32 | 1 |
| NV | $199.42 | 1 |
| NY | $192.14–$234.23 | 5 |
| OH | $189.53 | 1 |
| OK | $185.48 | 1 |
| OR | $197.92–$213.73 | 2 |
| PA | $189.74–$208.07 | 2 |
| PR | $201.69 | 1 |
| RI | $205.12 | 1 |
| SC | $189.86 | 1 |
| SD | $195.97 | 1 |
| TN | $185.88 | 1 |
| TX | $188.63–$207.06 | 8 |
| UT | $192.19 | 1 |
| VA | $196.31–$227.19 | 2 |
| VI | $201.69 | 1 |
| VT | $195.85 | 1 |
| WA | $206.35–$231.10 | 2 |
| WI | $190.51 | 1 |
| WV | $186.83 | 1 |
| WY | $198.67 | 1 |
How the 17282 rate is calculated
Each of 17282’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 · 17282
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 2.04Practice expense 3.76Malpractice 0.20
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 17282
17282 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 17282
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 · 17282
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
17282 without 51 · national office
$200.41
Lesion destruction
17282-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$100.21
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%).
17282 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
17282 vs 17281 vs 17283 vs 17272 vs 11642: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 17281Lesion destruction
- Use 17281 for malignant lesion destruction at the same sites when the lesion falls in the smaller adjacent size range; 17282 is for 1.1–2.0 cm.
- 17283Lesion destruction
- Use 17283 for a lesion in the next larger size range at the same sites. The method and anatomic group are otherwise similar.
- 17272Lesion destruction
- 17272 covers malignant lesion destruction in the 1.1–2.0 cm range on the trunk, arms, or legs; 17282 is for the face and related sites.
- 11642Skin lesion excision
- 11642 describes excision of a malignant lesion at these sites and within this size range. Choose it when the lesion is excised rather than destroyed.
17282 billing questions
How is this code distinguished from 17281 and 17283?
All three cover malignant lesion destruction at the same anatomic sites. Choose 17282 for a lesion measuring 1.1–2.0 cm; 17281 and 17283 represent the smaller and larger adjacent size ranges.
When should 17272 be used instead?
17272 is for a lesion in the 1.1–2.0 cm range on the trunk, arms, or legs. Use 17282 for the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membrane.
What documentation supports reporting 17282?
Document the malignant diagnosis, exact site, lesion diameter, and destructive method. The recorded size and site should support the code’s size range and anatomic group.
Are postoperative visits separately reported during the global period?
Related postoperative visits for 10 days are included in the procedure’s global period.
Can modifier 50 be used for lesions on both sides?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply to this code, and modifier 50 is inappropriate.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, while other procedures in the session are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction.
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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