$261.10
This code is for a facial-group malignant lesion over 4.0 cm; 17284 covers the same sites when the lesion measures 3.1 to 4.0 cm.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
17286 Lesion destruction Medicare reimbursement rates in New Mexico
Reports destruction of a malignant lesion over 4 cm on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, or lips using a destructive treatment method. Compare 17286 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in New Mexico.
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 17286 in New Mexico?
New Mexico 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
$339.30
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: New Mexico
One mapped payment locality.
Facility setting
$222.30
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: New Mexico
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 17286: Large facial malignant lesion destruction
Reports destruction of a malignant lesion over 4 cm on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, or lips using a destructive treatment method.
This service treats a malignant skin lesion in the face, ear, eyelid, nose, or lip region by destroying the lesion rather than removing it as an excision specimen. Methods may include electrosurgery, cryosurgery, laser treatment, or chemical destruction. Dermatologists and other qualified physicians commonly perform it in an office procedure room; it may also be performed in a facility. A biopsy may establish the diagnosis before treatment, since destruction itself does not provide an intact specimen for pathologic examination.
Select the code by the specified anatomic group and the lesion diameter; this code is for a lesion over 4.0 cm. Document the malignant diagnosis, treated site, size, and method. Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is not appropriate for this service. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for it, and co-surgeon and team-surgery billing are not permitted.
CMS billing rules for 17286
- 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 RVU4.37 · 41%
- Practice expense (office) RVU5.71 · 54%
- Malpractice RVU0.46 · 4%
944
Medicare services in 2024 · #3012 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.
17286 compared with similar codes
Office rates for New Mexico, from the same CMS release.
$268.07
The size threshold is the same, but 17276 is for the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia group rather than the face, ears, eyelids, nose, or lips.
$498.52
Use 11646 when a qualifying malignant lesion is excised with margins. Use 17286 when the lesion is destroyed rather than removed as an excision specimen.
Compare 17286 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
New Mexico →
Office / nonfacility
$339.30
Facility
$222.30
Need rates for a whole code list?
Fee-sheet and API access are in early access. Tell us which codes and locations your team needs.
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 17286 in New Mexico.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
1,645
- Code
- 17286
- Physician work
- 4.37
- Practice expense
- 5.71
- Malpractice
- 0.46
GPCI2026.csv
77
- Locality
- New Mexico
- Physician work
- 1.000
- Practice expense
- 0.917
- Malpractice
- 1.201
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 4.37 | × 1.000 | 4.3700 |
| Practice expense | 5.71 | × 0.917 | 5.2361 |
| Malpractice | 0.46 | × 1.201 | 0.5525 |
| Total RVUs | 10.1585 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Office / nonfacility rate, New Mexico$339.30
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Office / nonfacility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 4.37 | 1 |
| Practice expense | 5.71 | 0.917 |
| Malpractice | 0.46 | 1.201 |
(4.37 × 1 + 5.71 × 0.917 + 0.46 × 1.201) × $33.4009 = $339.30
Facility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 4.37 | 1 |
| Practice expense | 1.89 | 0.917 |
| Malpractice | 0.46 | 1.201 |
(4.37 × 1 + 1.89 × 0.917 + 0.46 × 1.201) × $33.4009 = $222.30
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.
17286 billing questions
How is this code distinguished from 17284?
Both codes concern destruction of a malignant lesion in the face, ear, eyelid, nose, or lip group. Use 17286 when the lesion diameter is over 4.0 cm; 17284 is for the 3.1-to-4.0 cm range.
When would 17276 be more appropriate?
17276 is for a malignant lesion over 4.0 cm in its separate anatomic group, including the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia. Choose by the treated site, not size alone.
Can destruction and a biopsy be reported together?
A separately performed diagnostic biopsy may be reported when it is distinct from the destruction and the documentation supports it. Destruction does not itself provide a specimen for histologic examination.
Should modifier 50 be used for lesions on both sides?
No. Modifier 50 is not appropriate for this service. Document each treated site and lesion so the reported service reflects the actual treatment.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
CMS applies the standard multiple-procedure reduction: the highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures performed in that session are paid at 50%.
Are postoperative visits included?
Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in the procedure payment.
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.
1,64217282,,Dstr mal ls f/e/e/n/l/m1.1-2,A,,2.04,3.76,,1.17,,0.20,6.00,3.41,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,64317283,,Dstr mal ls f/e/e/n/l/m2.1-3,A,,2.62,4.24,,1.35,,0.25,7.11,4.22,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,64417284,,Dstr mal ls f/e/e/n/l/m3.1-4,A,,3.12,4.69,,1.50,,0.33,8.14,4.95,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,64517286,,Dstr mal ls f/e/e/n/l/m>4.0,A,,4.37,5.71,,1.89,,0.46,10.54,6.72,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,64617311,,Mohs 1 stage h/n/hf/g,A,,6.05,13.33,,1.95,,0.59,19.97,8.59,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,64717312,,Mohs addl stage,A,,3.22,8.51,,1.03,,0.33,12.06,4.58,0,ZZZ,0.00,0.00,0.00,0,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,64817313,,Mohs 1 stage t/a/l,A,,5.42,12.80,,1.76,,0.53,18.75,7.71,0,000,0.00,0.00,0.00,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
7414312,NH,40,NEW HAMPSHIRE,1.000,1.041,0.875
7512402,NJ,01,NORTHERN NJ,1.063,1.160,1.068
7612402,NJ,99,REST OF NEW JERSEY,1.040,1.092,1.097
7704212,NM,05,NEW MEXICO,1.000,0.917,1.201
7813202,NY,01,MANHATTAN,1.064,1.162,1.586
7913202,NY,02,NYC SUBURBS/LONG ISLAND,1.064,1.189,1.857
8013202,NY,03,POUGHKPSIE/N NYC SUBURBS,1.045,1.095,1.210