CPT code 26055: Trigger finger release, finger tendon sheath2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in California
Reports surgical release of a finger’s constricting tendon sheath for symptomatic triggering, catching, or locking that is treated operatively.
Medicare pays $671.21–$856.74 for 26055 in the office in California, from Chico, CA to San Benito County, CA. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
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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On this page 9 sections
What 26055 covers
This operation treats stenosing tenosynovitis, commonly called trigger finger. The surgeon makes an incision over the affected finger’s flexor tendon sheath and releases the constriction so the tendon can glide more freely. It is typically performed by a hand surgeon, orthopedic surgeon, or plastic surgeon in an operating room or outpatient procedure setting. Patients commonly have painful catching or locking of a finger during flexion and extension.
Report the service when the operative record supports release of the finger tendon sheath, rather than injection or treatment directed at the tendon itself. Document the affected digit, the triggering symptoms, and the release performed. CMS assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate. CMS does not pay an assistant at surgery, and does not permit co-surgeons or team surgery for this code.
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 26055 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 payment localities
$671.21 to $856.74
29 of 29 payment localities
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | $672.82 | $297.96 |
| Chico, CA | $671.21 | $296.35 |
| El Centro, CA | $671.30 | $296.44 |
| Fresno, CA | $671.21 | $296.35 |
| Hanford, CA | $671.21 | $296.35 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $720.40 | $315.78 |
| Madera, CA | $671.21 | $296.35 |
| Marin County, CA | $837.44 | $355.19 |
| Merced, CA | $671.21 | $296.35 |
| Modesto, CA | $671.21 | $296.35 |
| Napa, CA | $788.32 | $337.53 |
| Oxnard, CA | $717.78 | $313.51 |
| Redding, CA | $671.21 | $296.35 |
| Rest of California | $671.21 | $296.35 |
| Riverside, CA | $677.45 | $302.59 |
| Sacramento, CA | $707.23 | $309.46 |
| Salinas, CA | $704.69 | $308.28 |
| San Benito County, CA | $856.74 | $363.54 |
| San Diego, CA | $723.54 | $314.48 |
| San Francisco, CA | $836.78 | $354.53 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $693.09 | $303.53 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | $854.05 | $360.85 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $732.18 | $316.62 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $707.95 | $309.15 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $739.71 | $319.71 |
| Stockton, CA | $671.21 | $296.35 |
| Vallejo, CA | $787.37 | $336.58 |
| Visalia, CA | $671.21 | $296.35 |
| Yuba City, CA | $671.21 | $296.35 |
How the 26055 rate is calculated
Each of 26055’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 · 26055
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work3.03
3.03 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense15.24
15.24 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.58
0.58 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
18.8500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$629.61
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 26055
26055 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 26055
Trigger finger release, finger tendon sheath
| 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) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 1 | Not paid (statutory restriction). |
| 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 · 26055
Trigger finger release, finger tendon sheath
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 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
26055 without 51 · national office
$629.61
Trigger finger release, finger tendon sheath
26055-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$314.81
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%).
26055 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 20550Tendon sheath injectionSingle tendon sheath, ligament, or aponeurosis
- This code reports injection treatment of a tendon sheath; 26055 reports surgical release of the finger sheath.
- 26020Tendon sheath drainageHand, infectious tenosynovitis
- 26020 is used to drain an infected hand tendon sheath. 26055 releases a finger sheath for mechanical triggering.
- 26060Tendon tenotomyOpen, finger tendon
- 26060 involves incision of a finger tendon itself. Use 26055 when the operative target is the tendon sheath.
- 26160Tendon sheath excisionHand or finger lesion
- 26160 removes a lesion of a tendon sheath or joint capsule; 26055 releases a constricting finger sheath.
26055 billing questions
When is this code appropriate instead of a tendon-sheath injection?
Use this code for operative release of a constricting finger tendon sheath. Code 20550 describes injection treatment, not surgical release.
Does the global period include routine postoperative visits?
Yes. The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
Can modifier 50 be used when both hands are treated?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full; other procedures in the session are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction.
Is an assistant surgeon payable?
No. CMS lists a statutory restriction on assistant-at-surgery payment 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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