Billing code 17280: Lesion destructionMedicare rate & RVUs in Virginia
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.
Medicare pays $135.49–$157.70 for 17280 in the office in Virginia, from Virginia to Dc + Md/Va Suburbs. 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 17280 covers
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.
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 17280 pays more and less in Virginia
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $157.70 | $82.55 |
| Virginia | $135.49 | $72.78 |
How the 17280 rate is calculated
Each of 17280’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 · 17280
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work1.19
1.19 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense2.83
2.83 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.12
0.12 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
4.1400
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$138.28
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 17280
17280 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 17280
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 · 17280
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
17280 without 51 · national office
$138.28
Lesion destruction
17280-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$69.14
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%).
17280 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 17281Lesion destruction
- 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.
- 17270Lesion destruction
- 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.
- 17260Skin lesion destruction
- Code 17260 covers malignant lesion destruction on the trunk, arms, or legs. Code 17280 is for the facial and mucosal site group.
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 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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