$124.72
The site group and destruction approach are the same, but 17280 is for a lesion measuring 0.5 cm or less.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
17281 Lesion destruction Medicare reimbursement rates in Alabama
Reports destruction by any method of a malignant lesion measuring 0.6–1.0 cm on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membrane. Compare 17281 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in Alabama.
Amounts below use the non-QP conversion factor for participating physicians. These are base physician payments before claim-level adjustments, not patient costs or total hospital charges.
What does Medicare pay for 17281 in Alabama?
Alabama has 1 payment locality in this comparison. Use the service location to choose the applicable amount. These are the supported base rates for the payment area shown below, using the same CMS release.
Office / nonfacility
$158.90
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Alabama
One mapped payment locality.
Facility setting
$92.56
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Alabama
One mapped payment locality.
These are locality ranges, not averages or address-specific quotes. A facility-setting amount covers the physician service; it does not include a hospital’s separate bill. Choose a locality below to inspect its calculation, compare other payment areas, or price a percentage of Medicare.
Dermatology procedure
About 17281: Destruction of facial malignant lesion
Reports destruction by any method of a malignant lesion measuring 0.6–1.0 cm on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membrane.
This code describes destruction of a malignant skin lesion by a method such as electrodesiccation, cryosurgery, laser treatment, or chemical treatment. It applies to a lesion on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membrane when its diameter falls in the 0.6–1.0 cm range. Dermatologists commonly perform the service in an office; surgeons may also perform it in office or facility settings. The diagnosis and treated site should support malignant-lesion treatment rather than destruction of a benign or premalignant lesion.
Choose the code by the lesion’s anatomic site and documented diameter, not by the destruction method. Record the site, size, malignant diagnosis, and method in the procedure note; report each treated lesion according to applicable CPT instructions. Medicare assigns a 10-day global period, so related postoperative visits during that period are included. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures 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.
CMS billing rules for 17281
- Global period
- Minor procedure with a 10-day global period: related postoperative visits for 10 days are included.
- Multiple procedures
- Standard multiple procedure reduction: the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50% when performed in the same session.
- Bilateral procedures
- Bilateral adjustment does not apply; the descriptor or anatomy makes modifier 50 inappropriate.
- Assistant at surgery
- Statutory restriction: assistant at surgery is not paid.
- Co-surgeons
- Co-surgeons not permitted.
- Team surgery
- Team surgery not permitted.
Where the value comes from
- Work RVU1.73 · 33%
- Practice expense (office) RVU3.35 · 64%
- Malpractice RVU0.17 · 3%
57.9K
Medicare services in 2024 · #725 by national volume
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.
17281 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Alabama, from the same CMS release.
$181.81
The site group and destruction approach are the same, but 17282 is for a lesion measuring 1.1–2.0 cm.
$146.75
The size range is the same, but 17271 applies to the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia rather than the face and related sites.
$213.67
11641 describes excision of a malignant lesion at the face and related sites in the corresponding size range; this code describes destruction instead.
Compare 17281 by payment locality
Find the payment area for your service address, then open its rate page for calculation inputs, release history and the percentage-of-Medicare tool. A city may cross payment-area boundaries; the ZIP lookup above helps resolve the location.
1 of 1 payment localities
Alabama →
Office / nonfacility
$158.90
Facility
$92.56
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How this local rate is calculated
Each RVU component is multiplied by its own geographic practice cost index (GPCI). The three adjusted components are added, then multiplied by the conversion factor. These are the inputs used for 17281 in Alabama.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
1,641
- Code
- 17281
- Physician work
- 1.73
- Practice expense
- 3.35
- Malpractice
- 0.17
GPCI2026.csv
4
- Locality
- Alabama
- Physician work
- 1.000
- Practice expense
- 0.875
- Malpractice
- 0.566
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 1.73 | × 1.000 | 1.7300 |
| Practice expense | 3.35 | × 0.875 | 2.9312 |
| Malpractice | 0.17 | × 0.566 | 0.0962 |
| Total RVUs | 4.7575 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Office / nonfacility rate, Alabama$158.90
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Office / nonfacility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 1.73 | 1 |
| Practice expense | 3.35 | 0.875 |
| Malpractice | 0.17 | 0.566 |
(1.73 × 1 + 3.35 × 0.875 + 0.17 × 0.566) × $33.4009 = $158.90
Facility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 1.73 | 1 |
| Practice expense | 1.08 | 0.875 |
| Malpractice | 0.17 | 0.566 |
(1.73 × 1 + 1.08 × 0.875 + 0.17 × 0.566) × $33.4009 = $92.56
The office and facility calculations use their respective practice-expense RVUs. The facility amount here is the physician fee, not a separate hospital or facility bill.
17281 billing questions
How is this code distinguished from 17280?
Both cover destruction of a malignant lesion at the same group of sites. Use 17280 for a lesion measuring 0.5 cm or less; this code is for 0.6–1.0 cm.
When should 17271 be used instead?
17271 covers a 0.6–1.0 cm malignant lesion on the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia. This code applies to the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membrane.
Can the destruction method change the code?
No. The code selection turns on the lesion’s size and site; the procedure note should identify the method used.
Are related postoperative visits separately reported?
Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in the procedure.
Can modifier 50 or an assistant-at-surgery claim be reported?
Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery, and co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
How are other procedures performed in the same session paid?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full; other procedures 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 indices and the applicable conversion factor. Unavailable or separately priced services are labeled rather than assigned a made-up amount.
Source: RVU26D. Effective 2026-10-01 through the day before 2027-01-01.
1,63817274,,Dstr mal les s/n/h/f/g 3.1-4,A,,2.57,4.34,,1.34,,0.25,7.16,4.16,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,63917276,,Dstr mal les s/n/h/f/g >4.0,A,,3.17,4.85,,1.51,,0.34,8.36,5.02,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,64017280,,Dstr mal ls f/e/e/n/l/m .5/<,A,,1.19,2.83,,0.92,,0.12,4.14,2.23,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,64117281,,Dstr mal ls f/e/e/n/l/m .6-1,A,,1.73,3.35,,1.08,,0.17,5.25,2.98,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,64217282,,Dstr mal ls f/e/e/n/l/m1.1-2,A,,2.04,3.76,,1.17,,0.20,6.00,3.41,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,64317283,,Dstr mal ls f/e/e/n/l/m2.1-3,A,,2.62,4.24,,1.35,,0.25,7.11,4.22,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,64417284,,Dstr mal ls f/e/e/n/l/m3.1-4,A,,3.12,4.69,,1.50,,0.33,8.14,4.95,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1ADDENDUM E. FINAL CY 2026 GEOGRAPHIC PRACTICE COST INDICES (GPCIs) BY STATE AND MEDICARE LOCALITY,,,,,,
2,,,,,,
3Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC),State,Locality Number,Locality Name,2026 PW GPCI (with 1.0 Floor)***,2026 PE GPCI,2026 MP GPCI
410112,AL,00,ALABAMA,1.000,0.875,0.566
502102,AK,01,ALASKA*,1.500,1.065,0.551
603102,AZ,00,ARIZONA,1.000,0.969,0.856
707102,AR,13,ARKANSAS,1.000,0.859,0.515