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CPT code 26055: Trigger finger release, finger tendon sheath2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area

Reports surgical release of a finger’s constricting tendon sheath for symptomatic triggering, catching, or locking that is treated operatively.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026One payment locality153.6K Medicare services in 2024

In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $727.87 for 26055 in the office and $324.96 when it’s performed in a hospital or facility.

$727.87Office (non-facility)
$324.96Hospital or facility
+15.6%vs the national office rate ($629.61)

Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 26055 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 26055 for the payment locality that covers the ZIP.

On this page 11 sections
  1. Rate in Washington, DC area
  2. What 26055 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 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.

How Washington, DC area compares for 26055

Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the office rate for 26055 runs from $548.44 in Arkansas to $856.74 in San Benito County, CA. Washington, DC area pays $727.87. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.

26055 in Washington, DC area vs other payment areas
  1. Washington, DC area · this page$727.87
  2. Los Angeles, CA · California$720.40−$7.47
  3. Miami, FL · Florida$680.10−$47.77
  4. Chicago, IL · Illinois$657.95−$69.92
  5. Manhattan, NY · New York$729.90+$2.03
  6. Alaska · Alaska$704.60−$23.27
  7. Alabama · Alabama$557.57−$170.30

Other areas in District of Columbia first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.

Every other payment area

26055 in every other Medicare payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
ArkansasArkansas$548.44$254.64
ArizonaArizona$611.04$279.61
Bakersfield, CACalifornia$672.82$297.96
Chico, CACalifornia$671.21$296.35
El Centro, CACalifornia$671.30$296.44
Fresno, CACalifornia$671.21$296.35
Hanford, CACalifornia$671.21$296.35
Madera, CACalifornia$671.21$296.35

26055 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.

$548.44

$763.98

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

View every state and territory as a table
26055 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AK$704.601
AL$557.571
AR$548.441
AZ$611.041
CA$671.21–$856.7429
CO$659.161
CT$674.891
DC$727.871
DE$622.051
FL$616.95–$680.103
GA$578.35–$641.952
GU$691.191
HI$691.191
IA$574.661
ID$578.681
IL$596.23–$659.014
IN$582.491
KS$571.131
KY$571.461
LA$570.25–$602.212
MA$654.27–$730.382
MD$635.14–$727.873
ME$581.56–$617.882
MI$587.82–$625.082
MN$630.731
MO$558.86–$605.213
MS$553.801
MT$629.571
NC$588.511
ND$618.101
NE$578.361
NH$648.061
NJ$682.37–$718.742
NM$591.251
NV$626.881
NY$598.40–$748.895
OH$585.481
OK$570.821
OR$621.82–$682.772
PA$586.80–$656.042
PR$634.921
RI$646.241
SC$588.011
SD$616.741
TN$574.321
TX$582.42–$657.128
UT$597.091
VA$615.26–$727.872
VI$634.921
VT$614.951
WA$653.27–$746.672
WI$594.821
WV$571.271
WY$624.571

See 26055 in every payment locality

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

Office or facility?

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.

The exact Washington, DC area inputs and CMS source lines

PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv

2,537

Code
26055
Physician work
3.03
Practice expense
15.24
Malpractice
0.58

GPCI2026.csv

39

Locality
Washington, DC area
Physician work
1.054
Practice expense
1.178
Malpractice
1.113
Office calculation for 26055 in Washington, DC area
ComponentRVULocality factorAdjusted
Physician work3.03× 1.0543.1936
Practice expense15.24× 1.17817.9527
Malpractice0.58× 1.1130.6455
Total RVUs21.7919
Conversion factor× 33.4009

Office rate, Washington, DC area$727.87

Office: (3.03 × 1.054 + 15.24 × 1.178 + 0.58 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $727.87

Facility: (3.03 × 1.054 + 5 × 1.178 + 0.58 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $324.96

Open 26055 in the RVU calculator

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

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period090Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 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)0.10/0.69/0.21Share 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.

  • 24Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78Unplanned return to the operating room for a related complication
SurgeryVisit
Sep 23, 2026Jan 10, 2027

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%).

When to use modifier 51

Codes related to 26055

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

Codes related to 26055
CodeHow it relatesOffice range, Washington, DC area
Used instead
20550Tendon sheath injection, single tendon sheath, ligament, or aponeurosisTendon-sheath injection may be used for trigger finger instead of operative release.$68.00
26160Tendon sheath excision, hand or finger lesionExcision may be appropriate when a tendon-sheath lesion, rather than stenosis, causes the symptoms.$758.88

How 26055 has changed in Washington, DC area

26055 · Office / nonfacility

$727.87

Effective 2026-10-01

The base rate is $62.93 higher than on 2025-10-01, moving from $664.94 to $727.87 (9.5%).

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

    $664.94changed to$727.87

    • Conversion factor 32.3465 changed to 33.4009
    • Work RVU 3.11 changed to 3.03
    • Practice expense RVU 13.90 changed to 15.24
    • Malpractice RVU 0.60 changed to 0.58
    • Work GPCI 1.057 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.192 changed to 1.178
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.168 changed to 1.113

    Held through RVU26B, RVU26C, RVU26D.

  2. January 1, 2025

    RVU25A

    $692.23changed to$664.94

    • Conversion factor 33.2875 changed to 32.3465
    • Practice expense RVU 14.11 changed to 13.90
    • Malpractice RVU 0.59 changed to 0.60

    Held through RVU25B, RVU25C, RVU25D.

  3. March 9, 2024

    RVU24AR

    $680.93changed to$692.23

    • Conversion factor 32.7442 changed to 33.2875

    Held through RVU24B, RVU24C, RVU24D.

  4. January 1, 2024

    RVU24A

    $720.89changed to$680.93

    • Conversion factor 33.8872 changed to 32.7442
    • Practice expense RVU 14.23 changed to 14.11
    • Malpractice RVU 0.58 changed to 0.59
    • Work GPCI 1.056 changed to 1.057
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.214 changed to 1.192
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.231 changed to 1.168

  5. January 1, 2023

    RVU23A

    $749.40changed to$720.89

    • Conversion factor 34.6062 changed to 33.8872
    • Practice expense RVU 14.24 changed to 14.23
    • Malpractice RVU 0.60 changed to 0.58
    • Work GPCI 1.054 changed to 1.056
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.236 changed to 1.214
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.294 changed to 1.231

    Held through RVU23B, RVU23C, RVU23D.

  6. January 1, 2022

    RVU22A

    $735.73changed to$749.40

    • Conversion factor 34.8931 changed to 34.6062
    • Practice expense RVU 13.80 changed to 14.24
    • Malpractice RVU 0.58 changed to 0.60

    Held through RVU22B, RVU22C, RVU22D.

  7. January 1, 2021

    RVU21A

    $670.13changed to$735.73

    • Conversion factor 36.0896 changed to 34.8931
    • Practice expense RVU 11.95 changed to 13.80
    • Malpractice RVU 0.56 changed to 0.58
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.054
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.221 changed to 1.236
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.277 changed to 1.294

    Held through RVU21B, RVU21C, RVU21D.

  8. January 1, 2020

    RVU20A

    $685.89changed to$670.13

    • Conversion factor 36.0391 changed to 36.0896
    • Practice expense RVU 12.49 changed to 11.95
    • Malpractice RVU 0.58 changed to 0.56
    • Work GPCI 1.045 changed to 1.049
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.221
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.261 changed to 1.277

    Held through RVU20B, RVU20C, RVU20D.

  9. January 1, 2019

    RVU19A

    $676.03changed to$685.89

    • Conversion factor 35.9996 changed to 36.0391
    • Practice expense RVU 12.28 changed to 12.49

    Held through RVU19B, RVU19C, RVU19D.

  10. January 1, 2018

    RVU18AR1

    $669.32changed to$676.03

    • Conversion factor 35.8887 changed to 35.9996
    • Practice expense RVU 12.15 changed to 12.28
    • Malpractice RVU 0.59 changed to 0.58
    • Work GPCI 1.048 changed to 1.045
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.271 changed to 1.261

    Held through RVU18B, RVU18C, RVU18D.

  11. January 1, 2017

    RVU17A

    $667.41changed to$669.32

    • Conversion factor 35.8043 changed to 35.8887
    • Practice expense RVU 12.13 changed to 12.15
    • Work GPCI 1.051 changed to 1.048
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.280 changed to 1.271

    Held through RVU17B, RVU17C, RVU17D.

  12. January 1, 2016

    RVU16A

    $671.12changed to$667.41

    • Conversion factor 35.9335 changed to 35.8043
    • Practice expense RVU 12.16 changed to 12.13

    Held through RVU16B, RVU16C, RVU16D.

  13. July 1, 2015

    RVU15C

    $667.78changed to$671.12

    • Conversion factor 35.7547 changed to 35.9335

    Held through RVU15D.

  14. January 1, 2015

    RVU15A

    $656.14changed to$667.78

    • Conversion factor 35.8228 changed to 35.7547
    • Practice expense RVU 11.98 changed to 12.16
    • Malpractice RVU 0.54 changed to 0.59
    • Work GPCI 1.050 changed to 1.051
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.202 changed to 1.205
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.205 changed to 1.280

    Held through RVU15B.

  15. January 1, 2014

    RVU14A

    $676.26changed to$656.14

    • Conversion factor 34.0230 changed to 35.8228
    • Practice expense RVU 13.34 changed to 11.98
    • Malpractice RVU 0.56 changed to 0.54
    • Work GPCI 1.049 changed to 1.050
    • Practice expense GPCI 1.198 changed to 1.202
    • Malpractice GPCI 1.130 changed to 1.205

    Held through RVU14B, RVU14C, RVU14D.

  16. January 1, 2013

    RVU13AR

    Earliest loaded release: $676.26

    Held through RVU13B, RVU13C, RVU13D.

Rates in every CMS release
Effective fromOfficeFacilityCMS release
2026-10-01$727.87$324.96RVU26D
2026-07-01$727.87$324.96RVU26C
2026-04-01$727.87$324.96RVU26B
2026-01-01$727.87$324.96RVU26A
2025-10-01$664.94$336.82RVU25D
2025-07-01$664.94$336.82RVU25C
2025-04-01$664.94$336.82RVU25B
2025-01-01$664.94$336.82RVU25A
2024-10-01$692.23$341.87RVU24D
2024-07-01$692.23$341.87RVU24C
2024-04-01$692.23$341.87RVU24B
2024-03-09$692.23$341.87RVU24AR
2024-01-01$680.93$336.29RVU24A
2023-10-01$720.89$348.17RVU23D
2023-07-01$720.89$348.17RVU23C
2023-04-01$720.89$348.17RVU23B
2023-01-01$720.89$348.17RVU23A
2022-10-01$749.40$353.32RVU22D
2022-07-01$749.40$353.32RVU22C
2022-04-01$749.40$353.32RVU22B
2022-01-01$749.40$353.32RVU22A
2021-10-01$735.73$353.19RVU21D
2021-07-01$735.73$353.19RVU21C
2021-04-01$735.73$353.19RVU21B
2021-01-01$735.73$353.19RVU21A
2020-10-01$670.13$348.01RVU20D
2020-07-01$670.13$348.01RVU20C
2020-04-01$670.13$348.01RVU20B
2020-01-01$670.13$348.01RVU20A
2019-10-01$685.89$370.17RVU19D
2019-07-01$685.89$370.17RVU19C
2019-04-01$685.89$370.17RVU19B
2019-01-01$685.89$370.17RVU19A
2018-10-01$676.03$369.33RVU18D
2018-07-01$676.03$369.33RVU18C
2018-04-01$676.03$369.33RVU18B
2018-01-01$676.03$369.33RVU18AR1
2017-10-01$669.32$367.03RVU17D
2017-07-01$669.32$367.03RVU17C
2017-04-01$669.32$367.03RVU17B
2017-01-01$669.32$367.03RVU17A
2016-10-01$667.41$366.26RVU16D
2016-07-01$667.41$366.26RVU16C
2016-04-01$667.41$366.26RVU16B
2016-01-01$667.41$366.26RVU16A
2015-10-01$671.12$367.58RVU15D
2015-07-01$671.12$367.58RVU15C
2015-04-01$667.78$365.75RVU15B
2015-01-01$667.78$365.75RVU15A
2014-10-01$656.14$359.89RVU14D
2014-07-01$656.14$359.89RVU14C
2014-04-01$656.14$359.89RVU14B
2014-01-01$656.14$359.89RVU14A
2013-10-01$676.26$361.59RVU13D
2013-07-01$676.26$361.59RVU13C
2013-04-01$676.26$361.59RVU13B
2013-01-01$676.26$361.59RVU13AR

Price 26055 for an earlier date of service

Where the Washington, DC area rate applies

Washington, DC area is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1 cities and communities in District of Columbia. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.

  • Washington

Browse all communities in District of Columbia

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
RVUs for 26055PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 2,537 (RVU26D)
Geographic factors for Washington, DC areaGPCI2026.csv, line 39 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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