Paring or trimming of a single benign thickened skin lesion, such as a corn or callus.
- Medicare
- $70.14
- Work RVU
- 0.34
- Global, days
- 0
- Region
- Foot & ankle
Documentation requirements
What must appear in the operative or office note to support the claim.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in 3 cited references ↓
- Number and exact location of lesions
- Qualifying systemic condition (for example, diabetes with neuropathy)
- Class findings supporting the Q modifier
- Treating physician for the systemic condition and date last seen, when required
- Method of paring and patient response
- Symptoms such as pain with walking
Applicable modifiers
Modifiers commonly billed with this code.
Source · AMA CPT modifier descriptors · CMS NCCI Policy Manual
What this code covers
Source · Editorial summary grounded in 3 cited references ↓
11055 covers paring or cutting a single hyperkeratotic lesion like a corn or callus. 11056 is two to four lesions and 11057 is more than four. The code is based on the total count of lesions, not per foot.
Podiatrists and foot and ankle surgeons bill this most. Medicare treats corn and callus care as routine foot care, which is excluded unless the patient has a qualifying systemic condition (diabetes with neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease, and similar) and documented class findings. That is why the status indicator shows restricted coverage.
To get paid by Medicare, the note needs the qualifying diagnosis, the class findings that support it, and, when a non-podiatrist physician manages the systemic condition, the name of that physician and the date last seen. Use the Q7, Q8, or Q9 modifier that matches the findings. Frequency limits apply under many LCDs. GY marks a statutorily excluded service, such as routine foot care with no qualifying condition. Nail debridement (11720, 11721) is a separate service, so document which toes got nail care and which lesions were pared.
RVU & reimbursement
Component RVUs and Medicare national rate. Actual payment varies by GPCI locality.
Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026
Work RVU vs. total RVU
The work RVU (0.34) is the surgeon's own effort — the figure physician pay and productivity targets are built on. The total RVU (2.1) adds practice overhead and malpractice, and is what drives the Medicare payment below.
| Work RVU | 0.34 |
| Practice expense RVU | 1.73 |
| Malpractice RVU | 0.03 |
| Total RVU | 2.1 |
| Medicare national rate | $70.14 |
| Global period | 0 days |
Payment by site of service
Medicare pays different rates by setting. HOPD typically pays substantially more than ASC for the same procedure.
Source · CMS OPPS Addendum B·ASC HCPCS payment rates·2026
| Setting | Medicare rate (national) |
|---|---|
Office (PFS non-facility) Procedure performed in physician's office | $70.14 |
HOPD (APC 5051) Hospital outpatient department | $204.98 |
Common denial reasons
The recurring reasons claims for CPT 11055 get rejected.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓
- Routine foot care without a qualifying condition
- Missing Q modifier or class findings
- Lesions counted per foot instead of in total
- Visit frequency exceeds the LCD limit
- Missing treating physician information
Frequently asked questions
Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 3 cited references ↓
01Does Medicare cover corn and callus trimming?
02Is 11055 per foot?
03Which modifiers go on 11055?
04Is nail debridement part of 11055?
Sources & references
Editorial content was developed using the following public sources.
Mira Scribe
Mira Scribe lists each lesion, the qualifying condition, and the class findings, so routine foot care claims are supported for Medicare.
See how Mira captures CPT 11055 documentation