FeeBase
Log inGet started
Menu

Billing code 60280: Duct lesion excisionMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports surgical removal of a thyroglossal duct cyst or sinus, a midline neck remnant that may be excised with or without part of the hyoid bone.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities314 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $409.83 for 60280 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 60280

Duct lesion excision

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
6.01
Total RVUs
12.27
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$409.83

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 60280 → · 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 60280 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 60280 covers

This operation removes a thyroglossal duct cyst or sinus, typically a congenital midline neck lesion that may become infected or form a draining tract. The surgeon follows and excises the duct remnant; the procedure may include removal of the central portion of the hyoid bone. Otolaryngologists and head and neck surgeons commonly perform it in a hospital operating room, with general surgeons also performing the operation.

Select this code when the operative diagnosis and findings identify a thyroglossal duct remnant, rather than a lesion arising in the thyroid gland. The operative report should support the lesion’s location and the excision performed, including whether the hyoid was removed. This major surgery has a 90-day global period that includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Bilateral adjustment is inappropriate for this midline structure. An assistant may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is 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 60280 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

60280 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$374.09
Alaska*Unavailable$507.82
ArizonaUnavailable$399.84
ArkansasUnavailable$369.66
AtlantaUnavailable$419.52
AustinUnavailable$417.01
BakersfieldUnavailable$418.59
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$433.40
BeaumontUnavailable$391.60
BrazoriaUnavailable$403.00

60280 rates by state

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

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

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.

View every state and territory as a table
60280 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 60280 rate is calculated

Each of 60280’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 · 60280

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 6.01Practice expense 5.33Malpractice 0.93

12.2700 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$409.83

All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 60280

60280 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 60280

Duct lesion excision

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period090Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.09/0.82/0.09Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 60280

Duct lesion excision

90-day global period ends

Dec 30, 2026

Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).

Visit on Oct 31, 2026

Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.

  • 24 Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79 Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58 Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78 Unplanned return to the operating room for a related complication
SurgeryVisit
Sep 23, 2026Jan 10, 2027

Pre-op dayGlobal period

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

60280 without 51 · national facility

$409.83

Duct lesion excision

60280-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$204.92

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

60280 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

60280 vs 60281 vs 60200 vs 42810: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 60280
    Duct lesion excision · 6.01 wRVU
    —
  • 60281
    Duct lesion excision · 8.6 wRVU
    —
  • 60200
    Thyroid surgery · 9.77 wRVU
    —
  • 42810
    Neck cyst excision · 3.3 wRVU
    $386.11

How to choose

60281Duct lesion excision
This code describes excision of a thyroglossal duct lesion; 60281 is the corresponding code when the lesion is recurrent.
60200Thyroid surgery
Use 60280 for a thyroglossal duct remnant in the neck. Use 60200 for a cyst or adenoma of the thyroid or transection of its isthmus.
42810Neck cyst excision
60280 is for a thyroglossal duct cyst or sinus; 42810 describes excision of a branchial cleft lesion.

Codes related to 60280

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

Codes related to 60280
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
60281Duct lesion excisionUsed for excision of a recurrent thyroglossal duct cyst or sinus.No office rate
Used instead
60200Thyroid surgeryFor a cyst or adenoma arising in the thyroid, not a thyroglossal duct remnant.No office rate
42810Neck cyst excisionFor excision of a branchial cleft cyst, vestige, or fistula.$341.81–$505.96

60280 billing questions

How is this code different from 60281?

60280 describes excision of a thyroglossal duct cyst or sinus. Use 60281 when the lesion is recurrent.

How can I distinguish this from 60200?

60280 is for a thyroglossal duct remnant in the neck. 60200 is for a cyst or adenoma arising in the thyroid or for transection of the thyroid isthmus.

Does removing the hyoid change the code?

No. The code covers excision with or without removal of the hyoid bone; the operative report should document what was removed.

Can modifier 50 be reported for bilateral surgery?

No. The lesion is associated with a midline duct remnant, and CMS bilateral adjustment is inappropriate for this code.

How are assistant and co-surgeon claims handled?

An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, while team surgery is not permitted.

What postoperative care is included?

The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.

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 60280PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,708 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

Did this answer your question about what 60280 pays?

Tell us what you were actually trying to work out. We’ll answer you directly, or build the page that does.

Fee sheets

Put 60280 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 →