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CPT code 20550: Tendon sheath injection, single tendon sheath, ligament, or aponeurosis2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Chicago, IL

Medication injection into one tendon sheath, ligament, or aponeurosis is reported for conditions such as trigger finger, de Quervain tenosynovitis, or plantar fasciitis.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality795K Medicare services in 2024

In Chicago, IL, Medicare pays $64.68 for 20550 in the office and $37.49 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$64.68Office (non-facility)
$37.49Hospital or facility
+7.0%vs the national office rate ($60.46)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 20550 nationwide

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

We’ll open 20550 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Chicago, IL
  2. What 20550 covers
  3. Compared with other areas
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Related codes
  8. Rate history
  9. Where it applies
  10. Billing questions
  11. Sources

What 20550 covers

This service delivers medication into a single tendon sheath, ligament, or aponeurosis, commonly a corticosteroid with local anesthetic. Typical targets include the flexor tendon sheath in trigger finger, the first dorsal wrist compartment in de Quervain tenosynovitis, and the plantar fascia in plantar fasciitis. Orthopedists, hand surgeons, podiatrists, rheumatologists, sports medicine clinicians, and primary care clinicians perform these injections in offices and facility settings.

Report one unit for injection(s) into one identified sheath, ligament, or aponeurosis; document each distinct target and side, technique, medication, and dose. Ultrasound needle guidance, when performed, requires separately documented guidance, retained images, and a report. Report practice-supplied medication with the appropriate HCPCS drug code and dose-based units. Medicare assigns a 0-day global period that includes routine same-day pre- and postoperative care; a separately identifiable E/M requires modifier 25. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued is paid in full and others at 50%. Bilateral services with modifier 50 pay at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery services are not paid; 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.

How Chicago, IL compares for 20550

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 20550 runs from $54.34 in Arkansas to $76.36 in San Benito County, CA. Chicago, IL pays $64.68. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

20550 in Chicago, IL vs other payment areas
  1. Chicago, IL · this page$64.68
  2. East St. Louis, IL · Illinois$60.86−$3.82
  3. Rest of Illinois · Illinois$59.27−$5.41
  4. Suburban Chicago, IL · Illinois$63.84−$0.84
  5. Los Angeles, CA · California$66.50+$1.82
  6. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$68.00+$3.32
  7. Miami, FL · Florida$66.41+$1.73

Other areas in Illinois first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

20550 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
Manhattan, NYNew York$69.13$37.70
AlaskaAlaska$73.45$44.63
AlabamaAlabama$55.02$31.34
ArkansasArkansas$54.34$31.10
ArizonaArizona$59.00$32.78
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$62.92$33.27
Chico, CACalifornia$62.65$33.00
El Centro, CACalifornia$62.66$33.01

20550 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

$54.34

$73.45

Color shows the midpoint of each state’s locality range.

View every state and territory as a table
20550 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$73.451
AL$55.021
AR$54.341
AZ$59.001
CA$62.65–$76.3629
CO$62.211
CT$64.121
DC$68.001
DE$59.881
FL$60.51–$66.413
GA$57.46–$61.662
GU$63.721
HI$63.721
IA$55.831
ID$56.231
IL$59.27–$64.684
IN$56.501
KS$55.791
KY$56.531
LA$56.53–$58.912
MA$61.99–$67.542
MD$60.85–$68.003
ME$56.67–$59.052
MI$57.97–$61.362
MN$59.301
MO$55.81–$58.873
MS$55.071
MT$60.451
NC$57.151
ND$58.671
NE$56.041
NH$61.441
NJ$64.76–$67.492
NM$58.321
NV$59.991
NY$57.91–$70.845
OH$57.601
OK$56.251
OR$59.43–$63.752
PA$57.58–$62.832
PR$60.771
RI$61.691
SC$57.491
SD$58.461
TN$56.051
TX$57.27–$62.088
UT$58.161
VA$59.01–$68.002
VI$60.771
VT$58.641
WA$61.81–$68.632
WI$56.991
WV$57.421
WY$59.671

See 20550 in every payment locality

How the 20550 rate is calculated

Each of 20550’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 · 20550

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.73

0.73 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.99

0.99 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.09

0.09 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

1.8100

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$60.46

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

The exact Chicago, IL inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

1,759

Code
20550
Physician work
0.73
Practice expense
0.99
Malpractice
0.09

GPCI2026.csv

48

Locality
Chicago, IL
Physician work
1.007
Practice expense
1.005
Malpractice
2.295
Office calculation for 20550 in Chicago, IL
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work0.73× 1.0070.7351
Practice expense0.99× 1.0050.9949
Malpractice0.09× 2.2950.2065
Total RVUs1.9366
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Chicago, IL$64.68

Office: (0.73 × 1.007 + 0.99 × 1.005 + 0.09 × 2.295) × $33.4009 = $64.68

Facility: (0.73 × 1.007 + 0.18 × 1.005 + 0.09 × 2.295) × $33.4009 = $37.49

Open 20550 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 20550

The CMS indicators that decide how 20550 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 20550

Tendon sheath injection, single tendon sheath, ligament, or aponeurosis

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period000Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)1Not paid (statutory restriction).
Co-surgeons (62)0Not permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

20550 without 50 · national office

$60.46

Tendon sheath injection, single tendon sheath, ligament, or aponeurosis

20550-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$90.69

Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).

When to use modifier 50

Codes related to 20550

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 20550
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Chicago, IL
Used instead
20551Tendon injection, tendon origin or insertionUse instead when a therapeutic tendon injection targets its origin or insertion rather than its sheath.$64.25
Often billed with
76942Ultrasound needle guidance, biopsy, aspiration, injection, or localizationUltrasound needle guidance, separately reportable when performed with retained images and a report.$66.22
J3301Triamcinolone injection, per 10 mgTriamcinolone acetonide supply, measured in 10 mg units when supplied by the practice.No office rate
J1010Methylprednisolone acetate, per 1 mgMethylprednisolone acetate supply, measured in 1 mg units when supplied by the practice.No office rate

How 20550 has changed in Chicago, IL

20550 · Office / nonfacility

$64.68

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $3.94 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $60.74 to $64.68 (6.5%).

It is unchanged from the immediately preceding available release, effective 2026-07-01.

Base rate by release · bars start at $0 · select a bar to compare

One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.

What changed, release by release

  1. January 1, 2026

    RVU26A

    $60.74changed to$64.68

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 0.75 changed to 0.73
    • Practice expense RVU 0.90 changed to 0.99
    • Malpractice RVU 0.10 changed to 0.09
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.023 changed to 1.005
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.018 changed to 2.295

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $62.17changed to$60.74

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 0.89 changed to 0.90

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $61.15changed to$62.17

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $63.04changed to$61.15

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 0.88 changed to 0.89
    • Work GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.007
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.033 changed to 1.023
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.945 changed to 2.018

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $63.42changed to$63.04

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 0.85 changed to 0.88
    • Work GPCI 1.011 changed to 1.009
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.044 changed to 1.033
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.871 changed to 1.945

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $61.48changed to$63.42

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 0.80 changed to 0.85
    • Malpractice RVU 0.09 changed to 0.10

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $60.47changed to$61.48

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 0.72 changed to 0.80
    • Work GPCI 1.009 changed to 1.011
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.039 changed to 1.044
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.898 changed to 1.871

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $58.46changed to$60.47

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 0.67 changed to 0.72
    • Work GPCI 1.008 changed to 1.009
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.034 changed to 1.039
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.925 changed to 1.898

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $58.39changed to$58.46

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $58.15changed to$58.39

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 0.66 changed to 0.67
    • Work GPCI 1.012 changed to 1.008
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.036 changed to 1.034
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.972 changed to 1.925

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $64.61changed to$58.15

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 0.83 changed to 0.66
    • Work GPCI 1.016 changed to 1.012
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.037 changed to 1.036
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.019 changed to 1.972

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $65.21changed to$64.61

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 0.84 changed to 0.83

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $64.89changed to$65.21

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $64.02changed to$64.89

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 0.82 changed to 0.84
    • Malpractice RVU 0.08 changed to 0.09
    • Work GPCI 1.023 changed to 1.016
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.044 changed to 1.037
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.048 changed to 2.019

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $63.76changed to$64.02

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 0.89 changed to 0.82
    • Work GPCI 1.030 changed to 1.023
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.051 changed to 1.044
    • Malpractice GPCI 2.077 changed to 2.048

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. October 1, 2013

    RVU13D

    No ratechanged to$63.76

  17. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$64.68$37.49RVU26D
2026-07-01$64.68$37.49RVU26C
2026-04-01$64.68$37.49RVU26B
2026-01-01$64.68$37.49RVU26A
2025-10-01$60.74$41.55RVU25D
2025-07-01$60.74$41.55RVU25C
2025-04-01$60.74$41.55RVU25B
2025-01-01$60.74$41.55RVU25A
2024-10-01$62.17$42.41RVU24D
2024-07-01$62.17$42.41RVU24C
2024-04-01$62.17$42.41RVU24B
2024-03-09$62.17$42.41RVU24AR
2024-01-01$61.15$41.72RVU24A
2023-10-01$63.04$43.09RVU23D
2023-07-01$63.04$43.09RVU23C
2023-04-01$63.04$43.09RVU23B
2023-01-01$63.04$43.09RVU23A
2022-10-01$63.42$43.55RVU22D
2022-07-01$63.42$43.55RVU22C
2022-04-01$63.42$43.55RVU22B
2022-01-01$63.42$43.55RVU22A
2021-10-01$61.48$43.26RVU21D
2021-07-01$61.48$43.26RVU21C
2021-04-01$61.48$43.26RVU21B
2021-01-01$61.48$43.26RVU21A
2020-10-01$60.47$44.35RVU20D
2020-07-01$60.47$44.35RVU20C
2020-04-01$60.47$44.35RVU20B
2020-01-01$60.47$44.35RVU20A
2019-10-01$58.46$44.30RVU19D
2019-07-01$58.46$44.30RVU19C
2019-04-01$58.46$44.30RVU19B
2019-01-01$58.46$44.30RVU19A
2018-10-01$58.39$44.25RVU18D
2018-07-01$58.39$44.25RVU18C
2018-04-01$58.39$44.25RVU18B
2018-01-01$58.39$44.25RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$58.15$44.39RVU17D
2017-07-01$58.15$44.39RVU17C
2017-04-01$58.15$44.39RVU17B
2017-01-01$58.15$44.39RVU17A
2016-10-01$64.61$47.16RVU16D
2016-07-01$64.61$47.16RVU16C
2016-04-01$64.61$47.16RVU16B
2016-01-01$64.61$47.16RVU16A
2015-10-01$65.21$47.33RVU15D
2015-07-01$65.21$47.33RVU15C
2015-04-01$64.89$47.09RVU15B
2015-01-01$64.89$47.09RVU15A
2014-10-01$64.02$46.82RVU14D
2014-07-01$64.02$46.82RVU14C
2014-04-01$64.02$46.82RVU14B
2014-01-01$64.02$46.82RVU14A
2013-10-01$63.76$45.52RVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 20550 for an earlier date of service

Where the Chicago, IL rate applies

Chicago, IL is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 137 cities and communities in Illinois. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

Browse all communities in Illinois

20550 billing questions

Should a lateral epicondylitis injection be coded here or with 20551?

Injection at a tendon origin or insertion, such as the common extensor origin at the lateral epicondyle, is reported with 20551. Use 20550 when the target is a tendon sheath, ligament, or aponeurosis such as the plantar fascia.

How are injections of two different trigger fingers on the same hand reported?

Report each distinct tendon sheath separately and identify the injected digits. Append a distinct-site modifier when required to distinguish the services; Medicare's same-session multiple procedure reduction applies.

Can ultrasound guidance be billed with 20550?

Yes. Ultrasound needle guidance may be reported with 76942 when performed, with retained images and a separate guidance report.

Is the corticosteroid separately billable?

When the practice supplies it, report an eligible drug with its HCPCS code and documented dose-based units. For J3301, one unit represents 10 mg of triamcinolone acetonide, so 40 mg is four units.

Can an office visit be billed on the same day?

A significant, separately identifiable E/M service beyond the usual pre-injection assessment may be reported with modifier 25. The routine decision to inject is included in the 0-day global care.

When is modifier 50 appropriate?

For corresponding structures injected on both sides in one session, such as bilateral plantar fascia injections, report 20550 with modifier 50 on one line with one unit. Medicare pays the bilateral service at 150%.

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
RVUs for 20550PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 1,759 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Chicago, ILGPCI2026.csv, line 48 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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