$158.54
Both codes cover the same anatomic group, but 17270 is for lesions measuring 0.5 cm or less. Use 17271 when the lesion measures 0.6–1.0 cm.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
17271 Lesion destruction Medicare reimbursement rates in Hawaii
Reports destruction of a malignant skin lesion measuring 0.6–1 cm on the scalp, neck, hand, foot, or genitalia using a destructive method. Compare 17271 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in Hawaii.
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 17271 in Hawaii?
Hawaii 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
$174.91
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Hawaii, Guam
One mapped payment locality.
Facility setting
$91.74
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Hawaii, Guam
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 17271: Malignant Lesion Destruction, 0.6–1 cm
Reports destruction of a malignant skin lesion measuring 0.6–1 cm on the scalp, neck, hand, foot, or genitalia using a destructive method.
Code 17271 covers destructive treatment of a malignant cutaneous lesion measuring 0.6–1.0 cm at the scalp, neck, hand, foot, or genitalia. Dermatologists and other qualified physicians may use methods such as electrodesiccation and curettage, cryotherapy, laser, or chemical destruction in an office or facility setting. The service is destruction rather than surgical excision with specimen removal; basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are common examples when destructive treatment is clinically appropriate.
Choose the code by the documented lesion diameter and anatomic group, not by the treatment method. Record the lesion’s location, measurement, malignant diagnosis, and technique. For multiple procedures in one session, Medicare pays the highest-valued procedure in full and reduces the others to 50%. The 10-day global period includes related postoperative visits during those 10 days. Modifier 50 is inappropriate because the service is defined by lesion site and size, rather than as bilateral treatment. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
CMS billing rules for 17271
- 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 RVU1.50 · 31%
- Practice expense (office) RVU3.21 · 66%
- Malpractice RVU0.15 · 3%
42K
Medicare services in 2024 · #851 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.
17271 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Hawaii, from the same CMS release.
$197.04
Use 17272 for a lesion measuring 1.1–2.0 cm in this anatomic group; 17271 covers 0.6–1.0 cm.
$156.38
The size range is the same, but 17261 is for lesions on the trunk, arms, or legs. Use 17271 for the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia.
$188.29
The size range is the same, but 17281 is for lesions on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, or lips. Use 17271 for its specified anatomic group.
Compare 17271 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
Hawaii, Guam →
Office / nonfacility
$174.91
Facility
$91.74
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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 17271 in Hawaii, Guam.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
1,635
- Code
- 17271
- Physician work
- 1.50
- Practice expense
- 3.21
- Malpractice
- 0.15
GPCI2026.csv
46
- Locality
- Hawaii, Guam
- Physician work
- 1.000
- Practice expense
- 1.137
- Malpractice
- 0.579
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 1.50 | × 1.000 | 1.5000 |
| Practice expense | 3.21 | × 1.137 | 3.6498 |
| Malpractice | 0.15 | × 0.579 | 0.0868 |
| Total RVUs | 5.2366 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Office / nonfacility rate, Hawaii, Guam$174.91
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Office / nonfacility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 1.5 | 1 |
| Practice expense | 3.21 | 1.137 |
| Malpractice | 0.15 | 0.579 |
(1.5 × 1 + 3.21 × 1.137 + 0.15 × 0.579) × $33.4009 = $174.91
Facility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 1.5 | 1 |
| Practice expense | 1.02 | 1.137 |
| Malpractice | 0.15 | 0.579 |
(1.5 × 1 + 1.02 × 1.137 + 0.15 × 0.579) × $33.4009 = $91.74
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.
17271 billing questions
When should I choose 17271 over 17270 or 17272?
Use 17271 for a lesion measuring 0.6–1.0 cm in its specified anatomic group. Code 17270 is for a smaller lesion, and 17272 is for a larger one.
How does the site affect code selection?
Code 17271 is for lesions on the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia. A lesion of the same diameter on the trunk, arms, or legs belongs to a different anatomic group.
How should multiple lesions treated in one session be reported?
Select a code for each treated lesion based on its site and diameter. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, Medicare pays the highest-valued procedure in full and reduces the others to 50%.
Should I append modifier 50 for lesions on both sides?
No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this service; code selection is based on each lesion’s site and diameter.
Are related postoperative visits included?
Yes. The code has a 10-day global period, which includes related postoperative visits during that period.
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.
1,63217264,,Dstrj mal les t/a/l 3.1-4.0,A,,1.94,3.92,,1.14,,0.19,6.05,3.27,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,63317266,,Dstrj mal les t/a/l >4.0 cm,A,,2.33,4.34,,1.26,,0.23,6.90,3.82,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,63417270,,Dstr mal les s/n/h/f/g .5 /<,A,,1.34,2.93,,0.96,,0.13,4.40,2.43,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,63517271,,Dstr mal les s/n/h/f/g 0.6-1,A,,1.50,3.21,,1.02,,0.15,4.86,2.67,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,63617272,,Dstr mal les s/n/h/f/g 1.1-2,A,,1.77,3.54,,1.09,,0.18,5.49,3.04,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,63717273,,Dstr mal les s/n/h/f/g 2.1-3,A,,2.05,3.86,,1.18,,0.20,6.11,3.43,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,63817274,,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
4309102,FL,99,REST OF FLORIDA,1.000,0.956,1.503
4410212,GA,01,ATLANTA,1.003,1.016,1.201
4510212,GA,99,REST OF GEORGIA,1.000,0.892,1.192
4601212,HI,01,"HAWAII, GUAM",1.000,1.137,0.579
4702202,ID,00,IDAHO,1.000,0.920,0.473
4806102,IL,16,CHICAGO,1.007,1.005,2.295
4906102,IL,12,EAST ST. LOUIS,1.000,0.920,2.014