Billing code 17261: Malignant lesion destructionMedicare rate & RVUs in Texas
Destruction of a malignant skin lesion measuring 0.6–1.0 cm on the trunk, arm, or leg, using an appropriate destructive technique.
Medicare pays $134.96–$149.75 for 17261 in the office in Texas, from Beaumont to Austin. 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 17261 covers
This service destroys a confirmed malignant skin lesion on the trunk, an arm, or a leg. Techniques may include electrosurgery, cryosurgery, laser treatment, chemical destruction, or curettage. Dermatologists commonly perform it in an office for selected skin cancers, such as appropriate superficial basal cell or squamous cell lesions; it may also be performed in a facility setting. The lesion must fit this code’s size range, and the anatomic site must match its trunk-and-limb group.
Select the code using the lesion’s documented size and location, and record the diagnosis, treatment method, and measurements supporting the choice. Report separately for each treated lesion, with documentation identifying each site and size. Medicare assigns a 10-day global period, so related postoperative visits during that 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 multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate; assistant-at-surgery payment is restricted, 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 17261 pays more and less in Texas
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
8 payment localities
$134.96 to $149.75
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | $149.75 | $75.89 |
| Beaumont | $134.96 | $71.43 |
| Brazoria | $142.82 | $73.64 |
| Dallas | $143.68 | $74.15 |
| Fort Worth | $142.73 | $73.89 |
| Galveston | $143.22 | $73.90 |
| Houston | $145.41 | $76.09 |
| Rest Of Texas | $138.78 | $72.53 |
How the 17261 rate is calculated
Each of 17261’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 · 17261
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 1.19Practice expense 3.01Malpractice 0.12
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 17261
17261 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 17261
Malignant 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 · 17261
Malignant 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
17261 without 51 · national office
$144.29
Malignant lesion destruction
17261-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$72.15
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%).
17261 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
17261 vs 17260 vs 17262 vs 17271 vs 17250: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 17260Skin lesion destruction
- Both cover malignant lesions on the trunk, arms, or legs, but 17260 is for lesions in the smaller size tier. Use 17261 when the measured lesion is 0.6–1.0 cm.
- 17262Lesion destruction
- This code covers the 0.6–1.0 cm tier; 17262 is for a larger lesion on the same anatomic sites.
- 17271Lesion destruction
- The size tier is the same, but 17271 is for the head, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia rather than the trunk, arms, or legs.
- 17250Granulation cautery
- 17250 is chemical cautery of granulation tissue, not treatment of a malignant skin lesion.
17261 billing questions
How is this code distinguished from 17260 and 17262?
Use this code for a trunk, arm, or leg lesion measuring 0.6–1.0 cm. Code 17260 is for a smaller lesion, while 17262 is for a larger one.
Can this code be used for a lesion on the face or hand?
No. This code is for the trunk, arms, or legs; a lesion on the head, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia belongs to the corresponding site-specific code group.
How should multiple lesions treated at the same session be reported?
Report each treated lesion separately and document its site and size. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction.
Are related postoperative visits separately reportable?
Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in this procedure.
Can modifier 50 or an assistant-at-surgery claim be used?
Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery, and co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
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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