Billing code 26115: Hand mass excisionMedicare rate & RVUs in Washington
Reports surgical removal of a subcutaneous soft-tissue lesion of the hand or finger when the excised lesion measures less than 1.5 cm.
Medicare pays $606.89–$688.62 for 26115 in the office in Washington, from Rest Of Washington to Seattle (King Cnty). 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 26115 covers
A surgeon removes a small soft-tissue mass located beneath the skin of the hand or a finger. The code fits a superficial lesion, such as a discrete subcutaneous nodule, rather than a mass extending into deeper structures. Hand and orthopedic surgeons commonly perform the procedure in an operating room or ambulatory surgery setting; the operative report should identify the site, tissue depth, lesion size, and extent of removal.
Select this code when the lesion is subcutaneous and under 1.5 cm; a lesion at least 1.5 cm or one involving deeper tissue belongs to a different code in the excision family. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. 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 inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery, and 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 26115 pays more and less in Washington
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Of Washington | $606.89 | $325.87 |
| Seattle (King Cnty) | $688.62 | $361.16 |
How the 26115 rate is calculated
Each of 26115’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 · 26115
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
Work 3.86Practice expense 13.00Malpractice 0.75
All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 26115
26115 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 26115
Hand mass excision
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 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) | 0.10/0.69/0.21 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 26115
Hand mass excision
90-day global period ends
Dec 30, 2026
Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
26115 without 51 · national office
$588.19
Hand mass excision
26115-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$294.10
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%).
26115 compared with similar codes
Compare codes
26115 vs 26111 vs 26116 vs 26160 vs 26117: national Medicare rates
Swap in your local Medicare rate.
How to choose
- 26111Hand mass excision
- Use 26111 for a subcutaneous hand or finger lesion measuring 1.5 cm or larger; 26115 is for one under 1.5 cm.
- 26116Hand tumor excision
- Use 26116 when the lesion is deep rather than subcutaneous, even if it is under 1.5 cm.
- 26160Tendon sheath excision
- Use 26160 for a lesion of a tendon sheath or joint capsule. This code describes a subcutaneous soft-tissue lesion.
- 26117Hand tumor resection
- 26117 describes radical resection of a hand tumor, not routine excision of a small subcutaneous mass.
26115 billing questions
How does this code differ from 26111?
Both describe excision of a subcutaneous hand or finger lesion. Use 26115 when the lesion is under 1.5 cm and 26111 when it is 1.5 cm or larger.
When is 26116 a better fit?
26116 is for a lesion in deeper soft tissue measuring under 1.5 cm. The operative report should support whether the mass was subcutaneous or deep.
Can the related postoperative visits be billed separately?
Related postoperative care during the 90-day global period is included, as is the day-before preoperative visit. Care unrelated to the operation is outside that stated global package.
Should modifier 50 be appended for lesions on both hands?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inapplicable to this code, so modifier 50 is inappropriate.
Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?
Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery for this service. 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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