Billing code 57511: Cervical ablationMedicare rate & RVUs
Cervical cryocautery freezes targeted abnormal cervical tissue, typically in an office, to ablate a lesion without excising it.
Medicare pays $190.05 for 57511 nationally in the office and $131.60 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $168.30–$242.70.
Medicare rate · 57511
Cervical ablation
- Work RVUs
- 1.9
- Total RVUs
- 5.69
- Global days
- 010
National rate · 2026
$190.05
Office setting, before claim adjustments.
See every locality for 57511 →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 57511 covers
A gynecologist uses a cryoprobe to freeze targeted abnormal tissue on the cervix. The procedure is commonly considered for cervical dysplasia after diagnostic evaluation, when the lesion is suitable for ablation rather than removal for examination. It is often performed in an office setting. Because the tissue is destroyed in place, this treatment does not provide an excised specimen for pathology.
Report this code when cryotherapy is the method used to treat the cervical lesion; do not select it for electrical or thermal cautery, laser treatment, or excisional conization. The record should identify the cervical finding, the treatment method and site, and the procedure performed. A 10-day global period includes related postoperative visits during that period. When multiple procedures subject to the standard reduction are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service, and co-surgeon and team-surgery reporting 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 57511 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
$168.30 to $242.70
109 of 109 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $170.72 | $119.57 |
| Alaska* | $224.17 | $161.92 |
| Arizona | $184.84 | $128.20 |
| Arkansas | $168.30 | $118.09 |
| Atlanta | $194.37 | $134.98 |
| Austin | $195.57 | $133.73 |
| Bakersfield | $197.88 | $133.82 |
| Baltimore/Surr. Cntys | $202.17 | $139.45 |
| Beaumont | $178.87 | $125.68 |
| Brazoria | $187.02 | $129.10 |
| Chicago | $205.78 | $147.03 |
| Chico | $196.92 | $132.86 |
| Colorado | $195.70 | $133.51 |
| Connecticut | $202.58 | $139.63 |
| Dallas | $188.55 | $130.33 |
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $215.27 | $146.42 |
| Delaware | $187.84 | $130.09 |
| Detroit | $193.81 | $137.40 |
| East St. Louis | $192.35 | $138.57 |
| El Centro | $196.98 | $132.92 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $200.73 | $141.51 |
| Fort Worth | $187.54 | $129.91 |
| Fresno | $196.92 | $132.86 |
| Galveston | $187.80 | $129.76 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $196.92 | $132.86 |
| Hawaii, Guam | $201.06 | $134.60 |
| Houston | $194.02 | $135.98 |
| Idaho | $174.85 | $121.07 |
| Indiana | $175.80 | $121.62 |
| Iowa | $173.41 | $119.93 |
| Kansas | $173.36 | $120.52 |
| Kentucky | $176.29 | $124.33 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Los Angeles/Orange Cnty) | $209.92 | $140.78 |
| Madera | $196.92 | $132.86 |
| Manhattan | $219.44 | $151.51 |
| Merced | $196.92 | $132.86 |
| Metropolitan Boston | $213.76 | $143.97 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City | $182.76 | $127.87 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia | $198.11 | $137.26 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis | $184.54 | $128.90 |
| Miami | $212.14 | $151.29 |
| Minnesota | $185.40 | $125.25 |
| Mississippi | $171.07 | $120.74 |
| Modesto | $196.92 | $132.86 |
| Montana** | $190.03 | $131.58 |
| Napa | $225.11 | $148.07 |
| Nebraska | $174.11 | $120.16 |
| Nevada** | $188.27 | $129.76 |
| New Hampshire | $193.36 | $132.51 |
| New Mexico | $182.77 | $129.17 |
| New Orleans | $184.80 | $129.79 |
| North Carolina | $178.23 | $123.70 |
| North Dakota** | $183.31 | $124.85 |
| Northern Nj | $213.26 | $145.45 |
| Nyc Suburbs/Long Island | $225.62 | $156.13 |
| Ohio | $180.12 | $126.75 |
| Oklahoma | $175.19 | $122.99 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $208.52 | $139.43 |
| Portland | $200.95 | $136.01 |
| Poughkpsie/N Nyc Suburbs | $206.24 | $142.23 |
| Puerto Rico | $191.15 | $132.05 |
| Queens | $220.10 | $151.01 |
| Redding | $196.92 | $132.86 |
| Rest Of California | $196.92 | $132.86 |
| Rest Of Florida | $190.69 | $134.81 |
| Rest Of Georgia | $179.79 | $127.65 |
| Rest Of Illinois | $186.42 | $133.05 |
| Rest Of Louisiana | $176.32 | $124.59 |
| Rest Of Maine | $176.54 | $122.76 |
| Rest Of Maryland | $191.14 | $131.98 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $194.87 | $133.32 |
| Rest Of Michigan | $181.49 | $128.12 |
| Rest Of Missouri | $173.85 | $123.47 |
| Rest Of New Jersey | $204.29 | $140.46 |
| Rest Of New York | $180.92 | $125.39 |
| Rest Of Oregon | $186.22 | $128.00 |
| Rest Of Pennsylvania | $179.98 | $126.32 |
| Rest Of Texas | $183.07 | $127.60 |
| Rest Of Washington | $194.27 | $132.72 |
| Rhode Island | $193.83 | $133.45 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $200.59 | $136.52 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $205.85 | $137.87 |
| Salinas | $205.07 | $137.33 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $209.34 | $139.43 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (Marin Cnty) | $237.18 | $154.77 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (San Francisco/San Mateo/Alameda/Contra Costa Cnty) | $236.80 | $154.38 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (San Benito Cnty) | $242.70 | $158.41 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara (Santa Clara Cnty) | $241.12 | $156.83 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $201.88 | $135.30 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $210.89 | $139.87 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $205.69 | $137.53 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $212.96 | $141.18 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $217.30 | $145.58 |
| South Carolina | $179.59 | $125.58 |
| South Dakota** | $182.51 | $124.06 |
| Southern Maine | $184.82 | $126.90 |
| Stockton | $196.92 | $132.86 |
| Suburban Chicago | $202.37 | $142.34 |
| Tennessee | $174.31 | $121.17 |
| Utah | $181.98 | $127.03 |
| Vallejo | $224.55 | $147.51 |
| Vermont | $183.29 | $125.42 |
| Virgin Islands | $191.15 | $132.05 |
| Virginia | $184.75 | $127.30 |
| Visalia | $196.92 | $132.86 |
| West Virginia | $179.85 | $129.06 |
| Wisconsin | $177.35 | $121.36 |
| Wyoming** | $187.10 | $128.65 |
| Yuba City | $196.92 | $132.86 |
57511 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.
$168.30
$224.17
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 | $224.17 | 1 |
| AL | $170.72 | 1 |
| AR | $168.30 | 1 |
| AZ | $184.84 | 1 |
| CA | $196.92–$242.70 | 29 |
| CO | $195.70 | 1 |
| CT | $202.58 | 1 |
| DC | $215.27 | 1 |
| DE | $187.84 | 1 |
| FL | $190.69–$212.14 | 3 |
| GA | $179.79–$194.37 | 2 |
| GU | $201.06 | 1 |
| HI | $201.06 | 1 |
| IA | $173.41 | 1 |
| ID | $174.85 | 1 |
| IL | $186.42–$205.78 | 4 |
| IN | $175.80 | 1 |
| KS | $173.36 | 1 |
| KY | $176.29 | 1 |
| LA | $176.32–$184.80 | 2 |
| MA | $194.87–$213.76 | 2 |
| MD | $191.14–$215.27 | 3 |
| ME | $176.54–$184.82 | 2 |
| MI | $181.49–$193.81 | 2 |
| MN | $185.40 | 1 |
| MO | $173.85–$184.54 | 3 |
| MS | $171.07 | 1 |
| MT | $190.03 | 1 |
| NC | $178.23 | 1 |
| ND | $183.31 | 1 |
| NE | $174.11 | 1 |
| NH | $193.36 | 1 |
| NJ | $204.29–$213.26 | 2 |
| NM | $182.77 | 1 |
| NV | $188.27 | 1 |
| NY | $180.92–$225.62 | 5 |
| OH | $180.12 | 1 |
| OK | $175.19 | 1 |
| OR | $186.22–$200.95 | 2 |
| PA | $179.98–$198.11 | 2 |
| PR | $191.15 | 1 |
| RI | $193.83 | 1 |
| SC | $179.59 | 1 |
| SD | $182.51 | 1 |
| TN | $174.31 | 1 |
| TX | $178.87–$195.57 | 8 |
| UT | $181.98 | 1 |
| VA | $184.75–$215.27 | 2 |
| VI | $191.15 | 1 |
| VT | $183.29 | 1 |
| WA | $194.27–$217.30 | 2 |
| WI | $177.35 | 1 |
| WV | $179.85 | 1 |
| WY | $187.10 | 1 |
How the 57511 rate is calculated
Each of 57511’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 · 57511
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.90
1.90 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense3.45
3.45 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.34
0.34 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
5.6900
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$190.05
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 57511
57511 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 57511
Cervical ablation
| 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 · 57511
Cervical ablation
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
57511 without 51 · national office
$190.05
Cervical ablation
57511-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$95.03
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%).
57511 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 57510Cervical cautery
- This code is for freezing cervical tissue. Code 57510 is used when electrical or thermal cautery is the treatment method.
- 57513Cervical laser
- Choose 57513 when laser surgery is performed on the cervix; choose this code when cryotherapy is performed.
- 57520Cervical cone
- Code 57520 represents excisional conization, which removes cervical tissue; cryocautery ablates targeted tissue in place.
- 57500Cervical biopsy
- Code 57500 is for obtaining a cervical biopsy specimen. Cryocautery treats targeted tissue and does not provide a specimen.
57511 billing questions
How is this code different from 57510?
Use this code when the cervical tissue is treated by freezing. Code 57510 describes electrical or thermal cautery instead.
Does cryocautery produce a specimen?
No. It destroys the targeted tissue rather than removing it for pathology; a separately performed biopsy or endocervical curettage should be documented as its own service.
Should modifier 50 be appended for treatment on both sides of the cervix?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code.
Are related postoperative visits separately reported during the global period?
Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in the procedure.
Can an assistant surgeon or co-surgeon be reported?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service. 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
Fee sheets
Put 57511 and the rest of your codes on one sheet
Build a fee sheet from your own code list at your locality, put your payer contracts beside Medicare, and see what changed each quarter.
Build my fee sheetOr price your code list free →