$162.93–$179.87
Use 17262 when the malignant lesion on the trunk, arms, or legs falls in the smaller 1.1–2.0 cm size band; 17263 is for 2.1–3.0 cm.
On this page
CMS RVU26D · Effective 2026-10-01
17263 Malignant lesion destruction Medicare reimbursement rates in Texas
Reports definitive destruction of a 2.1–3.0 cm malignant skin lesion on the trunk, an arm, or a leg using an accepted destructive technique. Compare 17263 office and facility rates across CMS payment localities in Texas.
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 17263 in Texas?
Texas has 8 payment localities in this comparison. Use the service location to choose the applicable amount. These are the supported base rates for the 8 payment areas shown below, using the same CMS release.
Office / nonfacility
$176.92–$194.92
8 of 8 localities have a supported rate.
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.
Where 17263 pays more and less in Texas
8 payment localities
$176.92 to $194.92
Dermatology procedure
About 17263: Malignant skin lesion destruction, 2.1–3.0 cm
Reports definitive destruction of a 2.1–3.0 cm malignant skin lesion on the trunk, an arm, or a leg using an accepted destructive technique.
This code covers definitive destruction of a malignant skin lesion measuring 2.1–3.0 cm on the trunk, an arm, or a leg. Techniques include electrosurgery, cryosurgery, laser treatment, chemical treatment, and surgical curettement. Dermatologists commonly perform the service in an office; it may also be performed in an outpatient facility. The record should identify the malignant lesion, its anatomic site and measured size, and the destruction method.
Choose the size and site code that matches the treated lesion; the neighboring size bands and codes for other anatomic groups are distinct. Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included. For multiple procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this lesion-based service. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery, and co-surgeon and team-surgery reporting are not permitted.
CMS billing rules for 17263
- 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 RVU1.79 · 32%
- Practice expense (office) RVU3.67 · 65%
- Malpractice RVU0.18 · 3%
51.1K
Medicare services in 2024 · #773 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.
17263 compared with similar codes
Office rates for Texas, from the same CMS release.
$189.84–$209.08
Use 17264 for the next larger size band, 3.1–4.0 cm, on the trunk, arms, or legs.
$192.00–$210.93
Both codes cover malignant lesion destruction in the 2.1–3.0 cm band, but 17273 is for the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia.
$259.84–$285.21
11603 describes excision of a 2.1–3.0 cm malignant lesion on the trunk, arms, or legs; 17263 is for destruction rather than removal by excision.
Compare 17263 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.
8 of 8 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | Office $194.92 | Facility $104.11 |
| Beaumont | Office $176.92 | Facility $98.81 |
| Brazoria | Office $186.43 | Facility $101.37 |
| Dallas | Office $187.58 | Facility $102.08 |
| Fort Worth | Office $186.43 | Facility $101.79 |
| Galveston | Office $186.97 | Facility $101.73 |
| Houston | Office $190.26 | Facility $105.02 |
| Rest Of Texas | Office $181.55 | Facility $100.08 |
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17263 billing questions
How does this code differ from 17262 and 17264?
Those codes cover smaller and larger size bands, respectively, for malignant lesions on the trunk, arms, or legs. Use 17263 for a lesion measuring 2.1–3.0 cm.
Which sites belong under this code?
It covers the trunk, arms, and legs. Malignant lesions on the scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitalia, or face belong to different site-specific code groups.
Can modifier 50 be used for lesions on both sides?
No. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code; select and report the applicable lesion code based on the treated lesion's site and size.
Are postoperative visits separately reportable?
Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in the procedure.
How does destruction differ from excision?
Destruction eliminates the lesion using a destructive technique; excision removes tissue. For a 2.1–3.0 cm malignant lesion on the trunk, arms, or legs, 11603 is the corresponding excision code.
What should the procedure note document?
Document the malignant lesion, its location, measured size, and the technique used to destroy it. The size and anatomic group support selection of this code over neighboring codes.
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.
1,62817260,,Dstrj mal les t/a/l 0.5 cm/<,A,,0.94,1.88,,0.75,,0.08,2.90,1.77,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,62917261,,Dstrj mal les t/a/l .6-1.0cm,A,,1.19,3.01,,0.92,,0.12,4.32,2.23,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,63017262,,Dstrj mal les t/a/l 1.1-2.0,A,,1.59,3.45,,1.04,,0.16,5.20,2.79,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,63117263,,Dstrj mal les t/a/l 2.1-3.0,A,,1.79,3.67,,1.10,,0.18,5.64,3.07,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,63217264,,Dstrj mal les t/a/l 3.1-4.0,A,,1.94,3.92,,1.14,,0.19,6.05,3.27,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,63317266,,Dstrj mal les t/a/l >4.0 cm,A,,2.33,4.34,,1.26,,0.23,6.90,3.82,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00
1,63417270,,Dstr mal les s/n/h/f/g .5 /<,A,,1.34,2.93,,0.96,,0.13,4.40,2.43,0,010,0.10,0.80,0.10,2,0,1,0,0,9,,33.4009,09,0,99,0.00,0.00,0.00