CPT code 26060: Tendon tenotomy, open, finger tendon2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $243.49 for 26060 nationally in a facility.

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

What 26060 covers

A hand surgeon makes an operative incision to divide a flexor or extensor tendon in a finger, typically to address a tendon-related contracture or deformity. The procedure concerns the tendon itself, rather than the surrounding tendon sheath. It may be performed in a hospital or an outpatient surgical setting; the operative report should identify the finger and tendon treated and describe the reason for the tendon division.

Report the code for each tendon treated, with documentation supporting the open approach and the specific tendon divided. It is distinct from releasing a tendon sheath for trigger finger. Medicare 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. 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 26060 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

26060 rates by state

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

How the 26060 rate is calculated

Each of 26060’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.

Payment rules and modifiers for 26060

26060 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 51

26060 compared with similar codes

How to choose

26055Trigger finger releaseFinger tendon sheath

Choose 26060 when the surgeon divides the finger tendon itself. Choose 26055 when the procedure opens the tendon sheath, as in a trigger-finger release.

26040Palm contracture releasePercutaneous technique

26040 describes a percutaneous release of palmar fascia. It is not the code for open division of a finger tendon.

26045Palmar releaseOpen division of fascia

26045 describes an open partial release of palmar fascia. Use 26060 when the operative target is the finger tendon rather than the fascia.

Codes related to 26060

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

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

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates