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Malignant Skin Lesion Destruction, Face, Small

South Carolina 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?

$186

Typical negotiated rate. In South Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $186 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $170 from a physician practice, and about $525 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 7 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$170$132 to $195
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$525$151 to $1,096

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $525 · 10th to 90th $102 to $1,738Professionalmedian $170 · 10th to 90th $105 to $234
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $525professional $170

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
$128.82
Median
$4,897.79
Typical High
$21,877.62
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$194.98
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$151.36
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$741.31
Typical High
$1,288.25
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$245.47
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$75.86
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$199.53
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$104.71
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$229.09
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$223.87
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$223.87
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$245.47
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$234.42
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$245.47
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$83.18
Median
$446.68
Typical High
$2,238.72
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$275.42
7 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
$64.57
Median
$64.57
Typical High
$97.72
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$25.70
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$38.90
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$95.50
Typical High
$144.54
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$19.05
Median
$19.05
Typical High
$29.51
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$12.88
Median
$12.88
Typical High
$19.50
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$89.13
Median
$89.13
Typical High
$134.90
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
51 · Multiple procedures
Typical Low
$77.62
Median
$104.71
Typical High
$128.82

Where South Carolina 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.

South Carolina· 22nd of 51

$186

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.