CPT code 26426: Tendon repair, secondary, without free graft2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Louisiana
Reports secondary repair of a finger extensor tendon without a free graft, such as reconstruction after an earlier injury or failed initial repair.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 26426 in Louisiana.
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 26426 covers
A hand surgeon repairs an extensor tendon on a finger as a secondary procedure, without using a free tendon graft. The tendon may have been injured in a laceration or may require reconstruction after an earlier repair. The surgeon restores tendon continuity or function through an operative approach; the code is specific to a finger rather than a tendon in the hand more broadly.
Select this code when the operative report supports a secondary repair and documents the finger tendon treated and that no free graft was used. Report the service per tendon. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and others at 50%. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. Medicare does not pay an assistant at surgery; 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 26426 pays more and less in Louisiana
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | Unavailable | $467.64 |
| Rest of Louisiana | Unavailable | $447.74 |
How the 26426 rate is calculated
Each of 26426’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 · 26426
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work6.16
6.16 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense6.92
6.92 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice1.17
1.17 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
14.2500
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$475.96
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 26426
26426 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 26426
Tendon repair, secondary, without free graft
| 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 · 26426
Tendon repair, secondary, without free graft
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
26426 without 51 · national facility
$475.96
Tendon repair, secondary, without free graft
26426-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$237.98
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%).
26426 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 26418Finger tendon repairWithout free graft
- Both describe finger extensor tendon repair without a free graft; choose 26426 for secondary repair and 26418 for primary repair.
- 26428Finger tendon repairSecondary repair, free graft
- Both describe secondary finger extensor tendon repair; 26428 includes use of a free graft, while 26426 is without one.
- 26420Tendon repairFinger, with free graft
- 26420 is primary finger extensor tendon repair with a free graft. 26426 is secondary repair without a free graft.
26426 billing questions
How does this differ from 26418?
26426 is for secondary repair without a free graft. 26418 describes primary repair without a free graft.
When is 26428 a better fit?
Use 26428 when the secondary finger extensor tendon repair uses a free graft. Document graft use and the repair performed.
How many units should be reported?
The code is reported per tendon repaired. The operative report should identify the finger and tendon or tendons treated.
Can modifier 50 be used for repairs on both hands?
No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code; modifier 50 does not apply.
Is an assistant surgeon payable?
No. CMS lists a statutory restriction on assistant-at-surgery payment for this service.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.
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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