$162.54
Both codes cover destruction at the same facial, ear, eyelid, nose, lip, or mucosal sites. Choose 17281 when the lesion measures 0.6 to 1.0 cm rather than 0.5 cm or less.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
17280 Lesion destruction Medicare reimbursement rates in Tennessee
Destruction of a malignant lesion no larger than 0.5 cm on the face, ear, eyelid, nose, lip, or mucous membrane using a destructive technique. Compare 17280 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in Tennessee.
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 17280 in Tennessee?
Tennessee 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
$127.82
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Tennessee
One mapped payment locality.
Facility setting
$69.83
1 of 1 localities have a supported rate.
Payment area: Tennessee
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 17280: Small facial malignant lesion destruction
Destruction of a malignant lesion no larger than 0.5 cm on the face, ear, eyelid, nose, lip, or mucous membrane using a destructive technique.
Code 17280 covers destruction of a malignant lesion measuring 0.5 cm or less on the face, ear, eyelid, nose, lip, or mucous membrane. The physician destroys the lesion rather than removing it by excision; techniques may include electrosurgery, cryotherapy, or laser treatment. Dermatologists and other physicians treating skin cancers commonly perform this service in an office or facility setting.
Select the code using the lesion’s anatomic site and greatest diameter before treatment, not the treatment field or resulting defect. Documentation should identify the site, measurement, malignant diagnosis, and technique. This minor procedure has a 10-day global period, which includes related postoperative visits during that period. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
CMS billing rules for 17280
- 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 RVU1.19 · 29%
- Practice expense (office) RVU2.83 · 68%
- Malpractice RVU0.12 · 3%
18K
Medicare services in 2024 · #1190 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.
17280 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Tennessee, from the same CMS release.
$136.05
The size level is comparable, but 17270 is for the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia. Use 17280 for the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membrane.
$89.91
Code 17260 covers malignant lesion destruction on the trunk, arms, or legs. Code 17280 is for the facial and mucosal site group.
Compare 17280 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
Tennessee →
Office / nonfacility
$127.82
Facility
$69.83
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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 17280 in Tennessee.
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
1,640
- Code
- 17280
- Physician work
- 1.19
- Practice expense
- 2.83
- Malpractice
- 0.12
GPCI2026.csv
95
- Locality
- Tennessee
- Physician work
- 1.000
- Practice expense
- 0.909
- Malpractice
- 0.537
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 1.19 | × 1.000 | 1.1900 |
| Practice expense | 2.83 | × 0.909 | 2.5725 |
| Malpractice | 0.12 | × 0.537 | 0.0644 |
| Total RVUs | 3.8269 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Office / nonfacility rate, Tennessee$127.82
Explore RVUs, geographic factors and the full formula
Office / nonfacility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 1.19 | 1 |
| Practice expense | 2.83 | 0.909 |
| Malpractice | 0.12 | 0.537 |
(1.19 × 1 + 2.83 × 0.909 + 0.12 × 0.537) × $33.4009 = $127.82
Facility
| Component | RVU | Local GPCI |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 1.19 | 1 |
| Practice expense | 0.92 | 0.909 |
| Malpractice | 0.12 | 0.537 |
(1.19 × 1 + 0.92 × 0.909 + 0.12 × 0.537) × $33.4009 = $69.83
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.
17280 billing questions
When should 17280 be chosen instead of 17281?
Use 17280 for a qualifying facial or mucosal malignant lesion measuring 0.5 cm or less. Code 17281 covers the same site group when the lesion measures 0.6 to 1.0 cm.
How does 17280 differ from 17270?
The site determines the code. Code 17280 is for the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mucous membrane; 17270 is for the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia at the corresponding size level.
Does 17280 describe excision of a skin cancer?
No. It describes destruction of the malignant lesion. Choose an excision service when the lesion is removed by excision rather than destroyed.
What measurement should the record support?
Document the lesion’s greatest diameter before treatment and its precise site. The 0.5 cm threshold is based on the lesion, not the treatment area or post-treatment defect.
Can modifier 50 be used for lesions on both sides?
No. The CMS bilateral adjustment does not apply, and modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code.
Are related postoperative visits separately reported during the global period?
Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included. If multiple procedures are performed in the same session, CMS pays the highest-valued procedure in full and the others at 50%.
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.
1,63717273,,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
1,63917276,,Dstr mal les s/n/h/f/g >4.0,A,,3.17,4.85,,1.51,,0.34,8.36,5.02,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,64017280,,Dstr mal ls f/e/e/n/l/m .5/<,A,,1.19,2.83,,0.92,,0.12,4.14,2.23,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,64117281,,Dstr mal ls f/e/e/n/l/m .6-1,A,,1.73,3.35,,1.08,,0.17,5.25,2.98,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,64217282,,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
9214412,RI,01,RHODE ISLAND,1.019,1.033,0.892
9311202,SC,01,SOUTH CAROLINA,1.000,0.924,0.850
9403402,SD,02,SOUTH DAKOTA**,1.000,1.000,0.336
9510312,TN,35,TENNESSEE,1.000,0.909,0.537
9604412,TX,31,AUSTIN,1.002,1.058,0.886
9704412,TX,20,BEAUMONT,1.000,0.910,0.929
9804412,TX,09,BRAZORIA,1.008,0.991,0.780