Billing code 56501: Vulvar lesion destructionMedicare rate & RVUs in Alabama
Destruction of one or more simple vulvar lesions, such as external genital warts, by an appropriate method in an office or outpatient setting.
Medicare pays $165.76 for 56501 in the office in Alabama (Alabama). Which amount applies depends on the service address.
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 9 sections
What 56501 covers
Report 56501 for destruction of one or more simple vulvar lesions, commonly external genital warts (condylomata), using a method such as cryotherapy, electrosurgery, laser, or chemical treatment. A gynecologist or other clinician may perform the procedure in an office or outpatient facility. The service treats the lesion rather than obtaining tissue for histologic diagnosis; when a lesion needs diagnostic sampling, a vulvar biopsy may be appropriate instead.
Choose this code for simple destruction; 56515 is the related code for extensive or complicated destruction. Document the lesion site, the method used, and the clinical basis for treatment. Medicare assigns a 10-day minor-procedure global period, so related postoperative visits during those 10 days are included. When another procedure subject to multiple-procedure rules is performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Report without modifier 50. Medicare does not pay for an assistant at surgery, and co-surgeon and team-surgery billing 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.
56501 in Alabama
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $165.76 | $108.77 |
How the 56501 rate is calculated
Each of 56501’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 · 56501
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 1.54Practice expense 3.75Malpractice 0.25
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 56501
56501 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 56501
Vulvar 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 · 56501
Vulvar 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
56501 without 51 · national office
$185.04
Vulvar lesion destruction
56501-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$92.52
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%).
56501 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
56501 vs 56515 vs 56605 vs 17110: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 56515Vulvar lesion destruction
- Both codes describe vulvar lesion destruction. Choose 56501 for simple lesions and 56515 for extensive or complicated destruction.
- 56605Vulvar biopsy
- 56605 obtains tissue from a vulvar or perineal lesion for diagnosis; 56501 destroys the lesion without describing diagnostic sampling.
- 17110Benign lesion destruction
- 17110 is for qualifying benign lesions outside the vulvar-specific code family. For simple vulvar lesion destruction, use 56501.
56501 billing questions
How do I choose between 56501 and 56515?
Use 56501 for simple vulvar lesion destruction. Use 56515 when the destruction is extensive or complicated; document the circumstances supporting that distinction.
Is 56501 reported once for multiple simple lesions?
The code describes destruction of lesion or lesions, so it is not reported once per lesion. Document the treated sites and the work performed.
Can I report a biopsy with 56501?
A biopsy is a diagnostic sampling service, while 56501 destroys the lesion. Report a biopsy only when tissue is separately sampled and the documentation supports that distinct service.
Should modifier 50 be appended for lesions on both sides?
No. Report the vulvar destruction without modifier 50.
What postoperative care is included?
Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in the procedure's Medicare payment.
How does Medicare handle another procedure performed in the same session?
Under the standard multiple-procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Medicare does not pay for an assistant at surgery, and co-surgeon or team-surgery billing is 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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