CPT code 26030: Palm bursa drainage, complicated drainage2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
Reports operative drainage of a complicated palmar bursa, typically for a substantial or complex infection requiring more than straightforward bursal drainage.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 26030 in California.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
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What 26030 covers
A hand surgeon drains an infected palmar bursa through an operative approach, evacuating its contents and managing the involved bursal space. This procedure is distinct from draining a localized finger abscess or opening a hand tendon sheath. It is generally performed in an operating-room setting; CMS data show facility claims for this service.
Select this code when the operative report supports complicated palmar bursa drainage rather than the simpler service in the same family. Document the involved bursa, infection findings, extent of the procedure, and work performed to support the complexity. CMS assigns a 90-day major-surgery global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures at 50%. Bilateral reporting with modifier 50 is paid at 150%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documented medical necessity; 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.
Where 26030 pays more and less in California
The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.
29 of 29 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | Unavailable | $475.65 |
| Chico, CA | Unavailable | $472.35 |
| El Centro, CA | Unavailable | $472.54 |
| Fresno, CA | Unavailable | $472.35 |
| Hanford, CA | Unavailable | $472.35 |
| Los Angeles, CA | Unavailable | $501.70 |
| Madera, CA | Unavailable | $472.35 |
| Marin County, CA | Unavailable | $555.10 |
| Merced, CA | Unavailable | $472.35 |
| Modesto, CA | Unavailable | $472.35 |
| Napa, CA | Unavailable | $530.05 |
| Oxnard, CA | Unavailable | $497.20 |
| Redding, CA | Unavailable | $472.35 |
| Rest of California | Unavailable | $472.35 |
| Riverside, CA | Unavailable | $485.15 |
| Sacramento, CA | Unavailable | $491.14 |
| Salinas, CA | Unavailable | $489.23 |
| San Benito County, CA | Unavailable | $568.35 |
| San Diego, CA | Unavailable | $497.51 |
| San Francisco, CA | Unavailable | $553.75 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | Unavailable | $481.92 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | Unavailable | $562.82 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | Unavailable | $499.67 |
| Santa Maria, CA | Unavailable | $490.18 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | Unavailable | $504.40 |
| Stockton, CA | Unavailable | $472.35 |
| Vallejo, CA | Unavailable | $528.10 |
| Visalia, CA | Unavailable | $472.35 |
| Yuba City, CA | Unavailable | $472.35 |
How the 26030 rate is calculated
Each of 26030’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 · 26030
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work6.09
6.09 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense6.67
6.67 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.19
1.19 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
13.9500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$465.94
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 26030
26030 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 26030
Palm bursa drainage, complicated drainage
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 1 | Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.10/0.69/0.21 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 26030
Palm bursa drainage, complicated drainage
90-day global period ends
Dec 30, 2026
Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 50 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
26030 without 50 · national facility
$465.94
Palm bursa drainage, complicated drainage
26030-50 · Bilateral: 150%
$698.91
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).
26030 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 26025Palm bursa drainageSingle bursa
- Both concern palmar bursa drainage, but 26030 represents the complicated service. Use 26025 when the drainage is not documented as complicated.
- 26020Tendon sheath drainageHand, infectious tenosynovitis
- 26020 addresses drainage of a hand or finger tendon sheath; 26030 targets a palmar bursa. Choose by the anatomic space treated.
- 26011Finger abscess drainageComplicated abscess
- 26011 is for a complicated abscess of a finger. 26030 is for complicated drainage of a palmar bursa.
26030 billing questions
How does this differ from 26025?
26030 is for complicated palmar bursa drainage; 26025 is the less complex sibling service. The operative note should substantiate the additional complexity.
What documentation supports the complicated service?
Identify the palmar bursa and describe the infection, extent of involvement, and drainage work performed. The record should make clear why the procedure was complicated rather than straightforward.
Should this be used for an infected tendon sheath?
No. A hand tendon-sheath infection is a different anatomic target; consider 26020 when the procedure drains a tendon sheath rather than a palmar bursa.
Can modifier 50 be used for bilateral drainage?
CMS identifies this as a bilateral procedure: modifier 50 is paid at 150%. The operative documentation should establish treatment of both sides.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
Under the standard multiple-procedure rule, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%.
Can an assistant surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is available only when medical necessity is documented. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted for this code.
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
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