Billing code 17271: Lesion destructionMedicare rate & RVUs in Massachusetts
Reports destruction of a malignant skin lesion measuring 0.6–1 cm on the scalp, neck, hand, foot, or genitalia using a destructive method.
Medicare pays $167.80–$184.63 for 17271 in the office in Massachusetts, from Rest Of Massachusetts to Metropolitan Boston. 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 17271 covers
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.
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 17271 pays more and less in Massachusetts
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Boston | $184.63 | $97.29 |
| Rest Of Massachusetts | $167.80 | $90.77 |
How the 17271 rate is calculated
Each of 17271’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 · 17271
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 1.50Practice expense 3.21Malpractice 0.15
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 17271
17271 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 17271
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 · 17271
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
17271 without 51 · national office
$162.33
Lesion destruction
17271-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$81.17
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%).
17271 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
17271 vs 17270 vs 17272 vs 17261 vs 17281: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 17270Lesion destruction
- 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.
- 17272Lesion destruction
- Use 17272 for a lesion measuring 1.1–2.0 cm in this anatomic group; 17271 covers 0.6–1.0 cm.
- 17261Malignant lesion destruction
- 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.
- 17281Lesion destruction
- 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.
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 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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