CPT code 17263: Malignant lesion destruction2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Georgia
Reports definitive destruction of a 2.1–3.0 cm malignant skin lesion on the trunk, an arm, or a leg using an accepted destructive technique.
Medicare pays $176.30–$191.73 for 17263 in the office in Georgia, from Rest Of Georgia to Atlanta. 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 17263 covers
This code covers definitive destruction of a malignant skin lesion measuring 2.1–3.0 cm on the trunk, an arm, or a leg. Techniques include electrosurgery, cryosurgery, laser treatment, chemical treatment, and surgical curettement. Dermatologists commonly perform the service in an office; it may also be performed in an outpatient facility. The record should identify the malignant lesion, its anatomic site and measured size, and the destruction method.
Choose the size and site code that matches the treated lesion; the neighboring size bands and codes for other anatomic groups are distinct. Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included. For multiple procedures in the same 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 lesion-based service. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery, 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 17263 pays more and less in Georgia
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $191.73 | $104.52 |
| Rest Of Georgia | $176.30 | $99.73 |
How the 17263 rate is calculated
Each of 17263’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 · 17263
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.79
1.79 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense3.67
3.67 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.18
0.18 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
5.6400
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$188.38
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 17263
17263 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 17263
Malignant 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 · 17263
Malignant 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
17263 without 51 · national office
$188.38
Malignant lesion destruction
17263-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$94.19
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%).
17263 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 17262Lesion destruction
- Use 17262 when the malignant lesion on the trunk, arms, or legs falls in the smaller 1.1–2.0 cm size band; 17263 is for 2.1–3.0 cm.
- 17264Skin lesion destruction
- Use 17264 for the next larger size band, 3.1–4.0 cm, on the trunk, arms, or legs.
- 17273Lesion destruction
- Both codes cover malignant lesion destruction in the 2.1–3.0 cm band, but 17273 is for the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia.
- 11603Lesion excision
- 11603 describes excision of a 2.1–3.0 cm malignant lesion on the trunk, arms, or legs; 17263 is for destruction rather than removal by excision.
17263 billing questions
How does this code differ from 17262 and 17264?
Those codes cover smaller and larger size bands, respectively, for malignant lesions on the trunk, arms, or legs. Use 17263 for a lesion measuring 2.1–3.0 cm.
Which sites belong under this code?
It covers the trunk, arms, and legs. Malignant lesions on the scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitalia, or face belong to different site-specific code groups.
Can modifier 50 be used for lesions on both sides?
No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code; select and report the applicable lesion code based on the treated lesion's site and size.
Are postoperative visits separately reportable?
Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in the procedure.
How does destruction differ from excision?
Destruction eliminates the lesion using a destructive technique; excision removes tissue. For a 2.1–3.0 cm malignant lesion on the trunk, arms, or legs, 11603 is the corresponding excision code.
What should the procedure note document?
Document the malignant lesion, its location, measured size, and the technique used to destroy it. The size and anatomic group support selection of this code over neighboring codes.
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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