Billing code 17274: Lesion destructionMedicare rate & RVUs in Illinois
Destruction of a 3.1-4.0 cm malignant skin lesion on the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia, selected by site and diameter.
Medicare pays $231.24–$251.29 for 17274 in the office in Illinois, from Rest Of Illinois to Chicago. 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 17274 covers
Code 17274 represents destruction of a malignant skin lesion measuring 3.1 through 4.0 cm at a site in the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia group. Dermatologists and other clinicians who treat skin cancers may perform the service in an office procedure room using a destructive technique such as curettage with electrosurgery, cryotherapy, laser, or chemical destruction. This code is used when the treatment plan is destruction rather than removal by excision.
Select the code by the documented lesion diameter and anatomic group, not by the method used. Documentation should identify the malignant diagnosis, treated site, lesion size, and technique; report separate lesions individually when appropriate. CMS assigns a 10-day global period, so related postoperative visits during that period are included. When multiple procedures are performed in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this site-based descriptor. CMS does not pay 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.
Where 17274 pays more and less in Illinois
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
4 payment localities
$231.24 to $251.29
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $251.29 | $150.59 |
| East St. Louis | $236.02 | $143.83 |
| Rest Of Illinois | $231.24 | $139.76 |
| Suburban Chicago | $250.11 | $147.20 |
How the 17274 rate is calculated
Each of 17274’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 · 17274
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 2.57Practice expense 4.34Malpractice 0.25
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 17274
17274 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 17274
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 · 17274
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
17274 without 51 · national office
$239.15
Lesion destruction
17274-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$119.58
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%).
17274 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
17274 vs 17273 vs 17276 vs 17264 vs 11624: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 17273Lesion destruction
- Use 17273 for a malignant lesion in the same anatomic group measuring 2.1-3.0 cm; 17274 is for 3.1-4.0 cm.
- 17276Skin lesion destruction
- Use 17276 for a lesion in the same anatomic group measuring more than 4.0 cm.
- 17264Skin lesion destruction
- This code covers a 3.1-4.0 cm malignant lesion on the trunk, arms, or legs, rather than the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia.
- 11624Skin excision
- Use 11624 when a 3.1-4.0 cm malignant lesion in the same anatomic group is excised; 17274 describes destruction.
17274 billing questions
How is 17274 distinguished from the other destruction codes?
The lesion must measure 3.1 through 4.0 cm and be on the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia. Codes for other anatomic groups or size ranges differ.
Is the code selected by the destruction method?
No. Select it by lesion diameter and anatomic group; the code covers destruction by any method.
Can a related postoperative visit be billed separately?
Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included.
Should modifier 50 be used for lesions on both sides?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this site-based descriptor.
How are other procedures performed in the same session paid?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are paid at 50% under the standard multiple procedure reduction.
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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