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CPT code 26011: Finger abscess drainage, complicated abscess2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Alabama

Drainage of a complicated finger abscess, including a felon, is reported when the collection requires more involved treatment than a simple abscess.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality2.2K Medicare services in 2024

In Alabama, Medicare pays $457.08 for 26011 in the office and $164.24 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$457.08Office (non-facility)
$164.24Hospital or facility
−11.6%vs the national office rate ($517.05)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 26011 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 26011 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Alabama
  2. What 26011 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 26011 covers

This service involves opening and draining a complicated abscess in a finger. A typical example is a felon, a purulent collection in the fingertip pulp. A hand surgeon or other qualified clinician may perform the procedure in an office, emergency department, or operating room, depending on the clinical circumstances.

Select this code when the documented finger abscess is complicated; a simple finger abscess is represented by 26010. The note should identify the affected finger, abscess location and complexity, and the drainage performed. CMS assigns a 10-day global period, so related postoperative visits during that period are included. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are reduced to 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this descriptor. Assistant-at-surgery services are not paid, and co-surgeon and team-surgery reporting 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 Alabama compares for 26011

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 26011 runs from $449.47 in Arkansas to $708.39 in San Benito County, CA. Alabama pays $457.08. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

26011 in Alabama vs other payment areas
  1. Alabama · this page$457.08
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$593.87+$136.79
  3. Washington, DC area · District of Columbia$599.12+$142.04
  4. Miami, FL · Florida$556.63+$99.55
  5. Chicago, IL · Illinois$538.30+$81.22
  6. Manhattan, NY · New York$599.76+$142.68
  7. Alaska · Alaska$574.95+$117.87

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

Every other payment area

26011 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$449.47$161.98
ArizonaArizona$501.65$177.35
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$554.08$187.28
Chico, CACalifornia$552.89$186.08
El Centro, CACalifornia$552.96$186.15
Fresno, CACalifornia$552.89$186.08
Hanford, CACalifornia$552.89$186.08
Madera, CACalifornia$552.89$186.08

26011 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.

$449.47

$630.64

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

View every state and territory as a table
26011 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$574.951
AL$457.081
AR$449.471
AZ$501.651
CA$552.89–$708.3929
CO$542.291
CT$554.621
DC$599.121
DE$510.801
FL$505.36–$556.633
GA$473.38–$527.032
GU$569.891
HI$569.891
IA$471.851
ID$475.091
IL$487.73–$540.254
IN$478.281
KS$468.651
KY$468.111
LA$467.01–$493.642
MA$538.08–$601.852
MD$521.75–$599.123
ME$477.23–$507.882
MI$481.50–$511.852
MN$519.401
MO$457.35–$496.443
MS$453.551
MT$517.021
NC$483.061
ND$508.511
NE$475.011
NH$532.881
NJ$560.90–$591.392
NM$484.251
NV$515.081
NY$491.29–$615.265
OH$479.761
OK$467.851
OR$511.06–$562.252
PA$481.01–$538.752
PR$521.561
RI$531.061
SC$482.221
SD$507.511
TN$471.281
TX$477.34–$540.498
UT$489.791
VA$505.52–$599.122
VI$521.561
VT$505.651
WA$537.34–$615.642
WI$489.051
WV$466.921
WY$513.311

See 26011 in every payment locality

How the 26011 rate is calculated

Each of 26011’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 · 26011

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work2.18

2.18 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense12.87

12.87 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.43

0.43 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

15.4800

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$517.05

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

The exact Alabama inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

2,528

Code
26011
Physician work
2.18
Practice expense
12.87
Malpractice
0.43

GPCI2026.csv

4

Locality
Alabama
Physician work
1.000
Practice expense
0.875
Malpractice
0.566
Office calculation for 26011 in Alabama
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work2.18× 1.0002.1800
Practice expense12.87× 0.87511.2612
Malpractice0.43× 0.5660.2434
Total RVUs13.6846
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Alabama$457.08

Office: (2.18 × 1 + 12.87 × 0.875 + 0.43 × 0.566) × $33.4009 = $457.08

Facility: (2.18 × 1 + 2.85 × 0.875 + 0.43 × 0.566) × $33.4009 = $164.24

Open 26011 in the RVU calculator

Payment rules and modifiers for 26011

26011 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 26011

Finger abscess drainage, complicated abscess

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period010Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 days after are included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
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.
Split (54/55/56)0.10/0.80/0.10Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 26011

Finger abscess drainage, complicated abscess

10-day global period ends

Oct 11, 2026

Covers Oct 1, 2026 through Oct 11, 2026 (11 days).

Visit on Oct 31, 2026

After the global period ends: visits and procedures are billed normally.

SurgeryVisit
Sep 28, 2026Oct 14, 2026

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

26011 without 51 · national office

$517.05

Finger abscess drainage, complicated abscess

26011-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$258.53

When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).

When to use modifier 51

Codes related to 26011

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

Codes related to 26011
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Alabama
Same family
26010Abscess drainage, finger, simpleThe sibling code for drainage of a simple finger abscess.$331.79
Used instead
26020Tendon sheath drainage, hand, infectious tenosynovitisTreats infection in a hand tendon sheath rather than an abscess in the finger.No office rate
10060Abscess drainage, simple, single abscessFor simple or single cutaneous abscess drainage when the finger-specific complicated service is not indicated.$116.15

How 26011 has changed in Alabama

26011 · Office / nonfacility

$457.08

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $56.93 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $400.15 to $457.08 (14.2%).

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

    $400.15changed to$457.08

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 2.24 changed to 2.18
    • Practice expense RVU 11.38 changed to 12.87
    • Malpractice RVU 0.42 changed to 0.43
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.869 changed to 0.875
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.575 changed to 0.566

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $420.28changed to$400.15

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 11.68 changed to 11.38
    • Malpractice RVU 0.41 changed to 0.42

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $413.42changed to$420.28

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $441.55changed to$413.42

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 11.94 changed to 11.68
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.878 changed to 0.869
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.748 changed to 0.575

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $461.80changed to$441.55

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 12.09 changed to 11.94
    • Malpractice RVU 0.40 changed to 0.41
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.888 changed to 0.878
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.921 changed to 0.748

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $450.14changed to$461.80

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 11.58 changed to 12.09
    • Malpractice RVU 0.41 changed to 0.40

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $406.36changed to$450.14

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 9.82 changed to 11.58
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.889 changed to 0.888
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.707 changed to 0.921

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $371.83changed to$406.36

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 8.86 changed to 9.82
    • Malpractice RVU 0.39 changed to 0.41
    • Practice expense GPCI 0.890 changed to 0.889
    • Malpractice GPCI 0.492 changed to 0.707

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $361.63changed to$371.83

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 8.56 changed to 8.86
    • Malpractice RVU 0.38 changed to 0.39

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. April 1, 2018

    RVU18B

    No ratechanged to$361.63

    Held through RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: No rate

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D, RVU14A, RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D, RVU15A, RVU15B, RVU15C, RVU15D, RVU16A, RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D, RVU17A, RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D, RVU18AR1.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$457.08$164.24RVU26D
2026-07-01$457.08$164.24RVU26C
2026-04-01$457.08$164.24RVU26B
2026-01-01$457.08$164.24RVU26A
2025-10-01$400.15$165.16RVU25D
2025-07-01$400.15$165.16RVU25C
2025-04-01$400.15$165.16RVU25B
2025-01-01$400.15$165.16RVU25A
2024-10-01$420.28$168.61RVU24D
2024-07-01$420.28$168.61RVU24C
2024-04-01$420.28$168.61RVU24B
2024-03-09$420.28$168.61RVU24AR
2024-01-01$413.42$165.86RVU24A
2023-10-01$441.55$174.07RVU23D
2023-07-01$441.55$174.07RVU23C
2023-04-01$441.55$174.07RVU23B
2023-01-01$441.55$174.07RVU23A
2022-10-01$461.80$178.46RVU22D
2022-07-01$461.80$178.46RVU22C
2022-04-01$461.80$178.46RVU22B
2022-01-01$461.80$178.46RVU22A
2021-10-01$450.14$179.02RVU21D
2021-07-01$450.14$179.02RVU21C
2021-04-01$450.14$179.02RVU21B
2021-01-01$450.14$179.02RVU21A
2020-10-01$406.36$176.97RVU20D
2020-07-01$406.36$176.97RVU20C
2020-04-01$406.36$176.97RVU20B
2020-01-01$406.36$176.97RVU20A
2019-10-01$371.83$172.64RVU19D
2019-07-01$371.83$172.64RVU19C
2019-04-01$371.83$172.64RVU19B
2019-01-01$371.83$172.64RVU19A
2018-10-01$361.63$173.56RVU18D
2018-07-01$361.63$173.56RVU18C
2018-04-01$361.63$173.56RVU18B
2018-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU18AR1
2017-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17D
2017-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17C
2017-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17B
2017-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU17A
2016-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16D
2016-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16C
2016-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16B
2016-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU16A
2015-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15D
2015-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15C
2015-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15B
2015-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU15A
2014-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14D
2014-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14C
2014-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14B
2014-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU14A
2013-10-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13D
2013-07-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13C
2013-04-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13B
2013-01-01Rate data unavailableRate data unavailableRVU13AR

Price 26011 for an earlier date of service

Where the Alabama rate applies

Alabama is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 595 cities and communities in Alabama. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Abanda
  • Abbeville
  • Adamsville
  • Addison
  • Akron
  • Alabaster
  • Albertville
  • Alexander City

Browse all communities in Alabama

26011 billing questions

How is 26011 distinguished from 26010?

Use 26011 for a complicated finger abscess, such as a felon. Code 26010 represents a simple finger abscess.

Does this code include related postoperative visits?

Yes. CMS assigns a 10-day global period, which includes related postoperative visits during that period.

Can modifier 50 be used when abscesses are drained on both hands?

CMS identifies modifier 50 as inappropriate for this descriptor. Do not apply a bilateral adjustment to 26011.

How are other procedures in the same session paid?

Under the standard multiple-procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50%.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

Assistant-at-surgery services are not paid for this code. CMS also does not permit co-surgeon or team-surgery reporting.

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 26011PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,528 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for AlabamaGPCI2026.csv, line 4 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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