Billing code 11442: Facial lesion excisionMedicare rate & RVUs in Alaska
Reports excision of a benign lesion from the face or specified facial sites when the lesion plus necessary margins measures 1.1 to 2.0 cm.
Medicare pays $228.03 for 11442 in the office in Alaska (Alaska*). 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 11442 covers
Code 11442 reports surgical removal of a benign skin lesion from the face, ear, eyelid, nose, or lip when the excised diameter, including the lesion and necessary margins, is 1.1–2.0 cm. Common examples include removal of a benign nevus or epidermal inclusion cyst from the cheek or external ear. A physician or other qualified practitioner typically performs the procedure in an office procedure room or outpatient surgical setting. Simple wound closure is included; an intermediate or complex repair may be reported separately when performed and documented.
Select the code using the greatest diameter of the lesion plus the margins needed for complete removal, not the incision length. Document the site, benign diagnosis, measured excised diameter, and procedure performed. CMS assigns a 10-day global period, so related postoperative visits during that period are included. When multiple procedures occur in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted, 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.
11442 in Alaska*
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska* | $228.03 | $161.87 |
How the 11442 rate is calculated
Each of 11442’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 · 11442
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.73
1.73 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense3.86
3.86 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.22
0.22 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
5.8100
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$194.06
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 11442
11442 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 11442
Facial lesion excision
| 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 · 11442
Facial lesion excision
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
11442 without 51 · national office
$194.06
Facial lesion excision
11442-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$97.03
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%).
11442 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 11441Benign lesion excision
- Use 11441 for a facial excised diameter of 0.6–1.0 cm; 11442 begins at 1.1 cm.
- 11443Skin excision
- Use 11443 when the facial excised diameter is 2.1–3.0 cm, rather than 1.1–2.0 cm.
- 11422Skin lesion excision
- The size range is the same, but 11422 applies to scalp, neck, hands, or feet rather than facial sites.
- 11642Skin lesion excision
- Use 11642 for excision of a malignant lesion at these sites and in this size range; 11442 is for benign lesions.
11442 billing questions
How is the diameter measured for 11442?
Use the lesion’s greatest diameter plus the narrowest margins needed for complete excision. Do not use the incision length.
When should 11441 or 11443 be used instead?
Use 11441 for an excised diameter of 0.6–1.0 cm and 11443 for 2.1–3.0 cm at the same facial sites. Code 11442 covers 1.1–2.0 cm.
Can simple closure be billed separately?
No. Simple closure is included in the excision service. A separately reportable intermediate or complex repair may be coded when supported by the procedure and documentation.
Is modifier 50 appropriate for lesions on both sides of the face?
No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code under the CMS bilateral rule.
How does CMS pay when other procedures are performed in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and the other procedures are paid at 50%. Related postoperative visits within the 10-day global period are included.
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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