CPT 17110: destruction of benign skin lesions such as warts (up to 14). What Medicare pays and what to ask
Wart treatment is billed by the group of lesions, not by each one. Here is what 17110 means and the Medicare rate.
What this code means
CPT 17110 is the removal or destruction of benign skin lesions, such as warts or molluscum, by freezing, chemicals or other methods. It covers up to 14 lesions.
Skin tags and some other lesions use different codes.
Why the bill can be much higher than the Medicare rate
It is billed once for up to 14 lesions, not once per lesion.
A separate visit charge on the same day is only appropriate if there was a separate reason for the visit.
| If a line is billed at | It would be |
|---|---|
| 5x the Medicare rate | $556.10 |
| 10x the Medicare rate | $1,112.20 |
| 20x the Medicare rate | $2,224.40 |
The Medicare rate is a published benchmark, not a legal ceiling on what a provider may charge. Our free scan flags a line as worth a closer look when it is billed at more than 10 times the Medicare rate.
Questions worth asking before you pay
- How many lesions were treated, and is the code billed once?
- Was an office visit billed on the same day, and for what reason?
Check every line against the official Medicare rates in about a minute. The scan is free.
Related codes
Source: Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (CMS, July 2026 release), national payment amount, non-facility setting. Last updated October 2026. This page is general information, not legal or medical advice. Rates change each year and a hospital bill can include charges that the benchmark does not cover.