Billing code 30118: Nasal lesion removalMedicare rate & RVUs in Georgia
Reports surgical removal or destruction of a lesion inside the nose when the surgeon reaches it through an external approach.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 30118 in Georgia.
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 30118 covers
An otolaryngologist uses an external surgical approach to remove or destroy a lesion located within the nasal cavity. The approach distinguishes this service from treatment performed entirely through the nostril. It may be performed in an office procedure setting or a facility, depending on the lesion and operative plan. The operative report should identify the intranasal location, describe the approach and technique, and document the work performed.
Choose this code for an intranasal lesion treated through an external approach, not for a biopsy alone or routine nasal polyp removal. CMS assigns a 90-day global period: the related preoperative visit on the day before surgery and related postoperative care during the following 90 days are included. When multiple procedures occur in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery; 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 30118 pays more and less in Georgia
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | Unavailable | $650.04 |
| Rest Of Georgia | Unavailable | $605.96 |
How the 30118 rate is calculated
Each of 30118’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 · 30118
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work7.56
7.56 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense10.38
10.38 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.11
1.11 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
19.0500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$636.29
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 30118
30118 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 30118
Nasal lesion removal
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 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) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.76/0.14 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 30118
Nasal lesion removal
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.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
30118 without 51 · national facility
$636.29
Nasal lesion removal
30118-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$318.15
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%).
30118 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 30117Intranasal lesion removal
- Both address intranasal lesions. Choose 30118 when the lesion is reached through an external approach; choose 30117 for an internal approach.
- 30110Nasal polypectomy
- 30110 is for simple removal of nasal polyp(s). Use 30118 for an intranasal lesion treated through an external approach, not routine polypectomy.
- 30115Nasal polypectomy
- 30115 describes extensive nasal polyp removal. 30118 concerns an intranasal lesion approached externally, rather than polyp-removal extent.
- 30100Nasal biopsy
- 30100 is for biopsy of an intranasal lesion. Use 30118 when the service removes or destroys the lesion rather than sampling it alone.
30118 billing questions
How does 30118 differ from 30117?
Both concern an intranasal lesion, but 30118 is for an external approach; 30117 is for an internal approach through the nose.
Can 30118 be used for a nasal polyp?
Use the nasal polyp removal code that matches the documented service rather than 30118. Codes 30110 and 30115 distinguish polyp removal by extent.
Is a biopsy reported with 30118?
30118 represents removal or destruction, not sampling alone. For an intranasal biopsy without removal, consider 30100.
Does 30118 include postoperative visits?
Yes. Its 90-day global period includes the related preoperative visit on the day before surgery and related postoperative care during the 90 days after surgery.
Should modifier 50 be appended for both sides?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code; modifier 50 should not be used.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, with the other procedures subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction. An assistant at surgery is not paid; co-surgeons require supporting documentation.
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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