go back

Malignant Skin Lesion Destruction, Face, Small

Louisiana rates for HCPCS 17281

This procedure destroys a cancerous skin growth on the face or another sensitive facial area, such as the ears, eyelids, nose, or lips, using a method such as freezing, burning, or chemical treatment, for a smaller-sized growth. It is a quick office procedure that does not involve cutting out the lesion.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Malignant Skin Lesion Destruction, Face, Small cost?

$158

Typical negotiated rate. In Louisiana, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $158 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $151 from a physician practice, and about $191 from a hospital or other facility.

These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$151$129 to $195
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$191$135 to $537

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $191 · 10th to 90th $120 to $1,122Professionalmedian $151 · 10th to 90th $110 to $209
$100$200$500$1K$2Kfacility $191professional $151

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$288.40
Median
$1,288.25
Typical High
$3,467.37
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$125.89
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$229.09
BCBS Louisiana
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$275.42
Typical High
$676.08
BCBS Louisiana
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$199.53
Christus
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$134.90
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$75.86
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$186.21
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$97.72
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$213.80
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$91.20
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$1,202.26
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$245.47
6 more rates with less common billing modifiers

A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$63.10
Median
$87.10
Typical High
$104.71
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$34.67
Typical High
$41.69
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$158.49
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$19.05
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$31.62
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$12.88
Median
$17.38
Typical High
$20.89
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$89.13
Median
$120.23
Typical High
$147.91

Where Louisiana sits

The same service costs 3.5 times more in Alaska than in Kentucky. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Touch or drag across it to read any state, then open that state for its carriers and full range.

Louisiana· 42nd of 51

$158

AK $479KY $138

Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.